Former Council candidate opts to focus on school build

For those of you who have asked me over the last couple of months whether I will stand for Council in October....the answer is no.

Since the 2007 election I have gained further senior management responsibilities with my employer. I am also very keen to continue working on the Establishment Board of Trustees to complete the new Amesbury School, in Churton Park, during the next 18 months. These commitments together with some community volunteer projects mean that I am not able to devote the time required for a council campaign this year.

Wellington City Council told to Constrain Spending | Scoop News

Business and residential ratepayer groups have frequently expressed concerns about ongoing increases in rates costs. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce made submissions on this issue earlier this year -
Wellington City Council told to Constrain Spending Scoop News  .   While we may not agree with the WRCC comments about climate change - which we see as everyone's responsibility - we do agree that above inflation rates rises over the long term are having a deleterious effect on the city's growth, private sector job creation and prosperity.

A thorough review of the Council's scope of activities is long overdue.  Central government too has a responsibility to provide funding if it is going to force councils to deliver certain non-core services not previously delivered.

Churton Park To Decide How $1.6million community facility funds should be invested

Cr Best has issued a media statement clarifying the position in relation to Churton Park community facilities. The statement can be found at: News - Churton Park Community Consultation Clarified. It did not make reference to the option of a multi-purpose community centre owned and operated by the Council. Apart from that, however, it did set out the position more clearly than previous Council utterances.

According to Cr Best "Last year we sold some reserve land for the new school in Churton Park and received $812,500 from that sale, and there is a proposal in the 2010/11 draft Annual Plan to use those funds for indoor or outdoor recreation and/or community facilities," Cr Best says. 

"Over the past 12 months we have been developing a city-wide Community Facilities Policy, which is currently in draft form and out for consultation, within it we have an additional sum of $845,000 to develop community space in Churton Park in 2012/13.  So to clarify, we are consulting on spending $845,000 in Churton Park for community facilities and an additional $812,500 for community and/or recreation facilities for Churton Park which may be used for additional facilities at the new school, additional community space or further develop the existing parks and reserves." says Cr Best. 

However, Cr Best did not indicate anything about the history of the land or the development contributions that were given to the council in the form of the land. Those contributions are usually used for facilities for the whole community.

Recently the Council invested almost $3million of ratepayers money into the state of the art Newlands Community Centre - pictured above.  Churton Park, say Council officials, does not have the population to justify getting $3million.  Having said that $1.6million + some additional fundraising could get a modest Community Centre for Churton Park - if that was the wish of residents. Of course that will not be possible if the funding is divided into two or three lots. And that is the decision residents must make.


The Churton Park community now has an opportunity to have its say through the consultation process which includes a public meeting - but not one in Churton Park.  The meeting will be held at the Johnsonville Library on 21 April at 7.00pm and community members can also have their say by making a submission on the draft Community Facilities Policy and Implementation Plan or through the draft Annual Plan.  More information can be found at www.wcc.govt.nz

If residents choose not to have their say then they should not complain later if they miss out on the sort of facilities they would like to see for the next 20-30 years in the community. 

Council to invest $1.6million in Churton Park community facilities - maybe

Wellington City Council is to invest $1.6million into the Churton Park community - one of the most underserved communities in terms of community facilities.  But will the investment actually make it through to the community?

In December 2009 the City Council  received submissions from the Churton Park Community Association, considered community facilities investment in Wellington and agreed in principle to :
"  development of a partnership to deliver facilities in Churton Park - $0.85m; and upgrade of the community facilities."

The news about $850,000 (actually $845,000 according to Council official Jenny Rains) to be allocated for Churton Park community facilities will be warmly welcomed by residents who have been waiting a long time for such investment.
 
In addition to earmarking this funding for the 2012/13 year the Council also had land at Amesbury Drive which, I'm advised by another council official, it received in lieu of development contributions from the developer.  These contributions are meant for developing community infrastructure.  The land was recently sold and consequently the Council now has $812,500 in cash.  Together with the $845,000 earmarked by the Council for community facilities in the 2012/13 plan Churton Park could receive an investment of around $1.6million in community facilities.
 
However, once this money is spent "the forgotten suburb" is unlikely to see much further investment in the short to medium term. 

Residents will need to speak up - and soon - if they want, for example, a multi-purpose community centre such as the one in Newlands  - although probably not on quite such a grand scale.  Should the money be spent on playgrounds in the area?  Should it be spent on "extras" at the new school planned for Amesbury Drive?  Or should it be invested in a multipurpose Community Centre accessable during days - as well as evenings and weekdays - as well as weekends? - or something else? 
 
The Council, on request from the Community Association, has agreed to "consult" with the community.  However, the nature of this "consultation" is apparently to be discussions with "potential partners" - the Ministry of Education, the Boards of Trustees, discussions with the private developer and a quick phone poll of 300 residents.  Oh and some focus groups for some hand-picked residents.
 
In my view one concern with schools hosting "community facilities" (especially if there are no other community halls - is that most days of the week, and most hours of each day school property is not available for community use.  Community facilities should be available first and foremost to the community - unless the Ministry of Education are funding them. .  
 
It should be up to residents to decide what they want the $1.6million of their rates &development contribution money invested.  This means that when the Council does its community consultation it should hold a public meeting to allow residents to engage with Council directly, it should also provide a comprehensive list of potential options with associated price tag estimates.   But residents need to understand that this is their one shot at getting some good facilities for their community. It's important to get this one right.

Wellington Ratepayers face the Cost of another Council budget blowout

Dominion Post today broke the story of another series of losses made by entities in which it has an interest.  How much longer will ratepayers tolerate these ongoing failures?

With ordinary Wellingtonians having to make cuts to make their spending match their income ratepayers are well within their rights to wonder why Council bureaucrats seem to operate to a different set of rules.  Hapless ratepayers should not be forced to cover for inefficient council decisions.

Johnsonville Needs Infrastructure Upgrade First

Proposed changes to the Wellington City Council District Plan risk exacerbating current traffic congestion problems in Johnsonville. The City Council is closing off public submissions on Friday 27th November - despite reports that it won't get around to hearing public submissions until May 2010. The question is why the hurry to stifle public debate?

Johnsonville today simply does not have the infrastructure required to support a large increase in infill housing. Our roads are congested at peak times, our on-street parking is already difficult to navigate and other services are also likely to come under pressure in the wake of a surge in population growth.

The Council should defer consideration of this proposal until more local residents have had an opportunity to comment. Many are unaware of the scale of change being proposed and the likely impact on the community. If sitting councillors are confident about the proposed changes then I invite them to test public opinion at the ballot box during next year's local body elections.

Time to provide rates relief to kiwi battlers

The Report of the Local Government Rates Inquiry last year “identified affordability problems for rates for some sections of the community which will increase over the next ten years.” In other words councils are pushing up rates so fast that low income households can’t afford to pay and its going to get worse over the next ten years.

Senior citizens and others on fixed incomes face a constant struggle trying to budget in the face of local authorities which seem to have an insatiable appetite for ratepayer dollars.

It is not acceptable for local authorities to demand rates rises above the rate of inflation and population growth. Rates rises should be capped at the inflation rate plus an allowance for population growth. This will inevitably mean that Councils have to prioritise like the rest of us. Pet projects might have to be delayed or scrapped until they can be afforded.

Allow local retailers to compete - end council protectionism

Yesterday's Dominion Post editorial exposed the City Council's fast tracking of measures to protect CBD business interests over and above local Johnsonville shop owners. In an age of rising concerns about pollution and increasing petrol prices surely we should allow the market to operate for benefit of local retailers and residents alike?

Wellington's Regular Rates Rise

WELLINGTONIANS face another rates rises this year. The average rates increase is likely to be around five percent - almost twice the inflation rate. The Council's Draft Annual Report also recommends increases to fees and charges for sports fields, burials and cremations, and swimming pools.

At a time when central government is urging people to get fit the Council is proposing a 10% increase in fitness centre fees and 5% in learn to swim programmes. Pool entry fees are expected to increase in 2009. At the other end of the spectrum burial and cremation fees will go up by an average of 8.5%.

Surely its time for much greater rigour to be brought to bear on Council spending. Perhaps the Council could focus more on those items that promote the city's economic development - such as improved infrastructure in the north of the City - and less on some of the never-ending series of Council-sponsored events or the rate-payer funded sculptures dotted around the central city?

The Draft Annual Plan will be debated and finalised for consultation at a council meeting on March 27. Wellingtonians will then get their say between April 16 and May 19. For more information visit www.wellington.govt.nz