Council priorities get challenged
The vision of a district council has been slammed as short-sighted for asking ratepayers to focus on two ‘‘tiny’’ proposals while ignoring long-term issues affecting the community’s wellbeing.
Hilary Humphrey has challenged her colleagues onmanawatu¯
District Council to think bigger, while questioning why its consultation document for the next decade proposed slashing community event funding to provide incentives for commercial landlords to bring their buildings up to scratch.
Humphrey lamented its myopia at a council meeting yesterday, as it not only failed to address the community’s housing, health and wellbeing needs, but couldn’t even find $75,000 to help fund events such as the Santa Cave, Anzac Day services and the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival.
She said it was evidence the council was ‘‘missing in action’’.
Humphrey took particular issue with the community being asked to choose between financially supporting businesses who needed to earthquake strengthen their buildings, and community development funding.
‘‘It seems a funny trade-off to me,’’ she said. ‘‘Are we not trying hard enough or do we just not care? I honestly can’t believe that across amulti-million dollar organisation, we couldn’t have achieved savings to offset this budget stuff-up if we really wanted to.’’
Deputy mayor Michael Ford disputed the claim. He said that half a decade ago the council funded both a regional and local development organisation to provide business support.