$100k boost for chamber of commerce

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce has done a u-turn on accepting city council funding.

In February, the chamber, which has 706 members, announced it had restructured its organisation after the resignation of chief executive Mark Futter.

President and acting chief executive Neville Hyde signalled then that the chamber would be heading in a new direction and from June would no longer accept the $200,000 annually provided by Hutt City Council.

‘‘This year we celebrate 75 years of operation, so we are taking this opportunity to rethink our work in the community and set ourselves up for the future.’’

At that time, Hyde did not clarify the decision to stop taking council money.

Councillors last week agreed to give the chamber $100,000 per annum for services ranging from running workshops promote sister cities.

City growth manager Gary Craig told the city development committee the council had a good relationship with the chamber.

It provided the council with services it would otherwise have to pay for itself and he supported an on-going financial commitment.

‘‘A particular strength of the chamber which council makes use of is access to senior politicians across all parties, including Cabinet ministers and the prime minister.’’

Hyde said the restructure had provided the chamber with a chance to look at the way it was being run and what it wanted to achieve.

The new, lower grant more accurately reflected the level of services the chamber could supply.

Hyde rejected a claim by a former councillor that continuing to take money from the council compromised its ability to criticise the council. Rather than seeking confrontation, he said members should develop a positive relationship. to helping