$60k for To¯taranui trust approved

‘‘I found the budget very inclusive of much travel, accommodation and catering ... I’m happy if the $60,000 is approved, but I think it should be tagged to get a bit more back.’’

The trust had a project list that totalled over $2 million, but were ‘‘about $1m short’’, with about $511,000 in funding applications and about $493,000 in the bank, Peters said.

Councillor Trevor Hook, who headed the meeting, said Peters had some ‘‘good and valid questions’’ and there was ‘‘no doubt’’ these would ‘‘have to be worked through’’.

Councillor David Oddie said he had concerns about the trust’s budget, but also didn’t object to its $60,000 funding request.

Heiford said trustees agreed the budget needed ‘‘a lot of work’’. ‘‘Until now, we’ve had a whole lot of unknowns. We’ll keep refining it [the budget], and are more than happy to take up the offer and take up your [Peters] advice,’’ he said.

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett said the funding request was a ‘‘safety belt’’ for the trust, which would leave a ‘‘clear set of accounts’’ and not impact rates.

‘‘We need to show them a very strong message today that we do support them,’’ he said.

Councillor Gerald Hope said the council should not make stepping in a habit when dealing with budgets in future.

‘‘I think if you start delving into an arms-length relationship with the trust that has been empowered to do some work, or an entity, there may be a precedent there I’m not comfortable with,’’ he said.

As the trust’s council appointee, Heiford’s reassurance that the budget was realistic and achievable should be all the council needed, Hope said.