hawkesbaycouncilwatch

Comments emanating from the Regional Council about what is projected to happen in the 10 year plan are a bit of a worry.
With a change in the makeup of council there is a lack of continuity and they are now intending to repeat exercises that have already been carried out in the past and to some huge cost as well.
The Chair suggests water is a finite resource.Well where does it come from? If it was finite then we would all be in big trouble.

The other subtle change in commentary is the demotion of the environment as number one on the councils list.
This is a terrible move.The council is there to check those who use the environment.
To shift the emphasis to economic well being is a retrograde step.

It is a shame when representatives of the regions ratepayers don’t even know what they are supposed to be doing.

The release of the decision on a possible future for the governence of Auckland is due to be dropped on the Governments door this week.
MP,s such as Rodney Hide have made their minds up but it is actually a serious decision and it will be interesting to hear what is reccommended.
Any move to make Auckland one super city is fraught with problems .It is scary to think of the bureauacratic night mare it would create as even higher paid staff settle in for big salaries and no accountability.

With the possibility of a Mayor such as John Banks a super city looks silly indeed.
To extrapolate the situation from Auckland to Hawkes Bay we would have a similar situation.

The answer lies in changing Local Government Legislation and redefining the role of Regional Councils.

It should be a shake up not a make up.

New Regional Council chairman has opened a can of worms with his comments about the possibility of a sell down of the Port of Napier.

He campaigned on making decisions but a move such as this reflects the Napier City Councils decision when he was Mayor to sell the electrical assets or MED.What a disaster this proved.

The Port is a brilliant asset and should be kept in ownership for all ratepayers.
Setting up a contestable fund with any resulting sale then gives rise to a further host of issues.Boy there will be a big queue waiting outside the door.

It is also another move that takes the council away from its core responsibilities and this is sad indeed.It is unfortunate one local MP has applauded the move to widen the councils brief.

Behind the curtains is HB Inc that includes  Mr Dicks friends Kirton and Yule. This combination is keen to get their hands on the cash and to build monuments.
The money belongs to ratepayers.They  can best decide what to do with it.

 

The Hastings District Council is looking to buy more mirrors so they can cause more confusion over who the ratepayers are looking at and where the council is going.

Hide the dollars is a new game where the council trys to obscure figures or hide them where noone will find them.

If the Opera House is losing $100,000 per month as reported in HB Today then ratepayers should be up in arms.This is a huge amount and bears out the concerns of those who worry every time the council gets involved in an investment of some kind .The figures and the promises never stack up!

Splash Planet has been presented to council as making a profit for the year but underlying figures suggest it is still making a loss.A large loss.

Where are the new councillors who were going to make changes and challenge the last councils decisions?
Only two seem to be making a stand and they are fobbed off.

Chickens are looking for somewhere to roost.

The Regional Council is in the midst of a huge debate on woodburners,pollution and government directions to curb the so-called damaging effects of these warmth providers.

Most councillors have been outspoken over this issue and have been reported in newspapers outlining their various opinions.

It is very hard for them to now take a supposed neutral stance when hearings take place with no  doubt a mountain of submissions.
It is an issue that the council should seriously consider passing over to commissioners to hear so that some independence can be injected into the decision making.
So far a poor call by the RC. 

One reason elected officials are sitting behind swivel chairs is to make decisions.
 It is surprising and disappointing that the newly seated chair of the Regional Council lacked the basic ability to do what he was elected for ,the minute he is seated in the hot swivel.
Mr Dick abstained on a vote which was not controversial or critical and this action showed a lack of confidence or something a lot deeper and mysterious.

This only goes to show things are not OK within the Regional Council.  

One reason elected officials are sitting behind swivel chairs is to make decisions.
 It is surprising and disappointing that the newly seated chair of the Regional Council lacked the basic ability to do what he was elected for ,the minute he is seated in the hot swivel.
Mr Dick abstained on a vote which was not controversial or critical and this action showed a lack of confidence or something a lot deeper and mysterious.

This only goes to show things are not OK within the Regional Council.