hawkesbaycouncilwatch

Terry Coxon has been nominated to stand for a Hastings seat on the Regional Council.Mr Coxon was a member of the Hastings Council that made so many blunders and caused havoc with the ring road. What on earth a land agent wants to stand for the regional council while the housing boom continues goodness knows.

It would be a sad day if the body ended up with three land agents on an environmentally focused council. It could be that the Chamber of Commerce is wanting to influence decisions.

Comments today on radio and in newspapers have not been hugely supportive of the Independent Rates Enquiry.

There is some favourable reaction to the idea that crown entities pay rates but I have heard no-one comment that if that ocurred then guess who would end up paying  ….yes the ratepayer.You can’t win.  There was the odd comment about a poll tax but every one runs a mile when it is mentioned.

Rating Maori land with its many owners is a major problem and trying to keep rates to inflation is impossible.

In many instances if councillors said NO to big item expenditure it would help immensely and prioritising would also help.

I am still to read the report and hope there is some mention of the so called ‘power of general competence ‘ which has the ability to see huge expenditure that is un called for.