Price of council democracy goes up

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 537, 24 May 1994, Page 1

Price of council democracy goes up

Introducing the Ruapehu District Council's Draft Annual Plan for 1994/95 in Ohakune last Wednesday, mayor Garrick Workman said councillors must decide "whether we move forward or stand still".

In speaking to the Draft Annual Plan chief executi ve Cliff Houston said it had been difficult to contain costs compared with the current and previous years as the planning period ahead poses particular difficulties for the council in that there are now substantial cost pressures on the system which cannot be funded from within the existing revenue schemes. He said these pressures fall into three categories: □ Community pressure for improvements to the basic infrastructure of the area such as roads and water supplies, sewage treatment and waste disposal. □ The significant impact of recent legislation - including the Resource Management Act and the 1991

Building Act- which is to come into force during the 1994/95 year and which will have an effect on basic operating costs. □ The hardening of the insurance market with special emphasis on the phas-

ing out of the Earthquake and War Damage scheme and its replacement by additional insurance premiums to cover infrastructural assets within the Ruapehu district. Tuni to Page 2

Democracy costs

FROMPAGEl "We have had to get our house in order in a number of respects because of new provisions of the Resource Management Act and the Building Act and we now have to put in place an infrastructure to cope in the event of a natural disaster in the area," said Mr Houston. He explained that the cost of operating the council's 'Democracy' account (that part of council activity which deals with the functions of council, its committees, subcommittees, community boards, civic functions, providing information to the public and consultations with the community) had increased markedly, from $725,000 to $897,000, not because more staff had been emp'loyed or extra expenses had been incurred but council was now getting a "better handle" on the actual costs of 'Democracy'. "This account now bears a much more accurate assessment of actual time spent by council and their officers on administering the affairs of council." Gr. Bob Vine (Waiouru) said he could not understand how the cost of democracy had increased by 23.7% ... "I find it hard to accept", he said. Mr Houston explained that an enormous amount of money goes into servicing meetings and dealing with public and ratepayers' enquiries and these are now being recorded on time sheets by all council officers. Cr. Bob Peck (Waimarino) said ratepayers used to be told how these expenses came about (before amalgamation in 1989) and this should continue to be done by the present council so that the public can understand were their money goes.