Annual plan concerns

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 493, 6 July 1993, Page 13

Annual plan concerns

At last week's special meeting of the Ruapehu District Council to consider public submissions to the 1993-94 Draft Annual Plan, former District councillor Doug Bennet presented a submission expressing concern about the lack of information about Council's administrative costs and suggesting additional information which he considered would give the public a better understanding of the Anrtual Plan. He proposed a summary or 'precis' of the Strategic Plan, an administration statement to show the build-up of administrative costs as well as an explanation of each activity so that administration and service delivery costs can be itemised and identified within each total. He said that much more . information should be made available in order to get more public involvement and input. Mr Bennet, who appeared in person to sup-

port his written submission, also drew the attention of councillors to other items revealed by the Draft Annual Plan a copy of which he had been able to borrow from the local (Raetihi) library. The points noted were: • The increase in administration staff numbers over the preceding year and as proposed in the current year. • The regulatory activity vote which shows an increase of $84,000 following on from last year's increase of $100,000. • The District Scheme Review which has increased from $124,000 to $312,000 in two years. The sum of $260,000 proposed for computer hardware upgrade as well as new software. He suggested that this could be delayed for a year or two until the District Scheme Review was completed. He concluded by say-

ing that, with closer scrutiny of administration costs and by keep-

ing administration staff levels down, a rate rise could be avoided.