'Council expected to read minds': DM.

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 275, 21 February 1989, Page 13

'Council expected to read minds': DM.

Some government departments expect council staff to read their minds, said District Manager John Murrihy at the council's last finance and administration committee meeting. He was referring to cases where land is relinquished back to the Crown, making the land exempt from rates. "They are required by law to advise us of a change in ownership," said Mr Murrihy.

He made the comments during a debate on whether to write off rates levied to Mr P.W. Winchcombe on a property that went back to Crown ownership several years ago. He said if the council is not told of a change in ownership there is no way they can know and so rates continue to be levied. "If they can't be bothered (informing the council) then I don't think that we should write off rates," said Mr Murrihy.

Mr Winchcombe had informed the old Waimarino County several times, but the Department of Conservation had still not found time to change the ownership title, the committee heard. "If it is under his name we have to assess it, and that costs us money," said Mr Murrihy. The Finance Committee decided to write off the $155.65 in rates and penalties levied.

In answer to another request to write off rates, the committee decided it could not be held responsible for the non-delivery of a rate demand and so decided a late payment penalty should not be

written off. A ratepayer had asked the council to write off his penalty because he had not received the rate demand, but the committee decided ratepayers should be aware of the due dates for rates.