Grants fund set up

Ruapehu Bulletin, 11 August 1992, Page 16

Grants fund set up

A fund of $10,000 for extraordinary grants has been set up by the Ruapehu District Council. A subcommittee of the mayor, deputy mayor and chief executive will administer the fund. The fund was set up after the council received several submissions for funding to its annual plan. At the time council decided to defer making decisions on each individual case, and to set aside a fund for such things. Mayor Garrick Workman said he thought it was important that the council take some responsibility for social services in the district. Cr Ken Malcolm agreed but said the council would need to be very careful not to be seen as a soft touch by groups. Cr Doug Bennett said he was totally opposed to the council taking ratepayers' money and setting up a 'Father Christmas ' fund. He said it was presumptuous of council to decide it knew better how to spend ratepayers' money. Most councillors agreed with the idea, but many thought it should be for one-off setting up costs by groups. Grants should not be made to the same group year after year. Mr Workman said the council should have funds available to help groups set up such things as Task Force Green and Community Task Force schemes.