Starting at the beginning may have made more sense

And then the sting in the tail stung.

It was a drama sandwich, in which the outsides were more interesting than the filling.

The Palmerston North City Council’s annual deliberations on its draft budget and submissions took place at what was arguably the most significant debate of the year.

But it was a giddy ride, with councillors coming dangerously close to forgetting to factor in one of the most important pieces of new information they had to consider.

That was the last item of business toward the end of a sevenhour meeting – that the council needed to put aside $500,000 to help pay for permanent protection works at the Ashhurst Domain to stop more of it falling into the Manawatu River.

From the outside, it seemed obvious this change should have janine.rankin@fairfaxmedia.co.nz

been considered first, not last.

But what was considered first, in light of staff recommendations for a more realistic and practical capital works programme for the coming year, was what to do with the potential savings.

Instead of the 3.1 per cent total rates rise forecast, the meeting began with a revised budget that would require only an extra 2 per cent. Councillors were quite gleeful. Some, like Karen Naylor, were keen to pass on all or most of the happy circumstances to ratepayers, but Jim Jefferies and nine others wanted to make a $600,000 dent in the debt.

That would have required a 2.7 per cent rates increase, leaving a few percentage points to be allocated among other worthy programmes.

Cr Rachel Bowen showed considerable foresight in calling the proposal premature.

‘‘We are in a process to consider submissions and there are significant items we might want to put in. I do not want to lose capacity to do that at 11.20am on the first day of a two-day meeting. I might like to look at it later.’’

Deputy mayor Tangi Utikere agreed, and proposed the debtrepayment proposal should lie on the table until other matters were considered.

But that option was narrowly defeated, by a 7-8 vote, which guaranteed there would be a great muddle to sort out at the end of a long day.

Some time around afternoon teatime, after mayor Grant Smith had declared the meeting would adjourn at 4.30pm, a mood developed that the business would all be completed by the end of the day and councillors would have the second day off.

The latest information was that the implications of decisions so far would mean a 2.9 per cent increase.

And then the sting in the tail stung. It was the need to set aside $500,000 as a one-third share of what still has to be negotiated as a three-party agreement to fix the Manawatu River banks at the Ashhurst Domain.

Chief executive Paddy Clifford explained council policy precluded the option of borrowing, because it would not ultimately own the river management asset.

So the $500,000 would have to come from an operational budget, paid for all in one year.

Councillors were grumpy about the loss of domain land, and the bill, but only Naylor voted against it. And so, the rates rise was looking like 3.5 per cent.

Councillors had to go through the laborious business of rescinding their debt-repayment plan and replacing it with a modest $130,000 payback, the number cunningly calculated to keep the rates rise below the psychological barrier of 3 per cent.

Maybe they finally reached a position that makes sense. But what a contorted way to do business. End Note: It is with huge relief that we can report the heat is back on in the chamber.

The ageing heat exchange system that was supposed to bathe the Palmerston North City Council chamber in warmth has been playing up for some time.

Embarrassingly, when the chamber was unusually highly populated by members of the public for the hearing of submissions on the proposed annual budget, it was declared dead.

Inhabitants hunkered down under layers of thermal clothing, scarves and coats, gloves, and, we believe, the occasional hot-water bottle, while an industrial-style gas hot-air blower was temporarily imported to warm things up.

It was too noisy to keep running while people were trying to speak and listen.

Councillors abandoned the room. Meetings were shifted to what we still refer to as the Convention Centre for a couple of weeks.

A further delay with fixing the heating saw the sport and recreation committee and public submitters on plans for Clearview Reserve cram into the Missoula Room along from the council chamber. It was snug.

But now, a new airconditioning system has allowed the return to civilisation, and to attending meetings in appropriate indoor attire.

People have assured me the accompanying pungent smell of damp socks or dead animals is just the ‘‘new’’ smell of glue and whatever ingredients have been used, and will wear off.

That would be nice.