Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 


We got the message, says Mayor

Tuesday, 7 February 2012, 1:02 pm
Press Release: Kapiti Coast District Council

February 7, 2012
We got the message, says Mayor

Mayor Jenny Rowan said she and fellow councillors were not insensitive to the messages from the protest outside Council EOC building this morning.

“We got the message, which is why we are looking to prune $50 million dollars of work from our 10 year budget and bring the forecasted rates increases down to around 6.5% or lower for the immediate outlook and lower still over the longer term.

“We understand what people are saying. And I can understand people being upset about the pay catch-up for our CEO, especially if you are on a fixed income of $30,000.

“We went through a process over the CEO’s salary late last year. It involved taking professional advice. It became clear during that process that the CEO’s salary was completely out of kilter with his responsibilities, which are considerable, and the salaries being paid to other CEOs in the region.

“Despite the increase, he is still ranked 5th for local government CEs in the Wellington region.

“If Local Government Minister Nick Smith wishes to take an interest in our processes, then that is fine by me. We have a strong and focussed Council that works hard to understand the issues and even harder to achieve consensus.”

Mayor Rowan said there were no parallels with the situation in Christchurch. “The situation there is substantially different with a Council facing entirely different issues (both externally and internally) and a CE paid in excess of half a million dollars.”

She said it was difficult facing the protest and some of the anger, especially given the amount of time that she and her councillors spent on public work.

She noted that the placards refereed to a variety of issues, and not just the CE’s salary, and that it was every one’s right to make their views heard.

She will be meeting with Mr Cooper, however, to discuss his concerns, at a time yet to be arranged.


ENDS

 
 
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >


 

Waikato-Tainui Celebrates End of Lock-Out

Tom Roa, Chair of Te Arataura, Waikato Tainui’s executive has welcomed news that the ten week lock-out of Horotiu workers is drawing to a dramatic close.
“We are all extremely pleased to see this day finally arrive,” said Tom Roa. More>>

Also:

Meridian dumps West Coast hydro plan

(Image: blog.greens.org.nz by Q)

May 22 (BusinessDesk) - Opposition to Meridian Energy's plans for a 100 Megawatt hydro-electric scheme on the undammed Mokihinui River on the South Island's West Coast has forced its abandonment, the state-owned power company has announced. More >>

Fisheries: Slave Labour And Foreign Vessels
The Government has announced it is to require reflagging of foreign-owned fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters to address labour, safety and fisheries practice concerns. More >>

Also


Budget 2012: Crime And Punishment
Budget 2012 will contribute to a 25 per cent reduction in reoffending by 2017, and 18,500 fewer victims of crime every year from 2017, Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Corrections Minister Dr Pita Sharples say. More >>

Also:


Elections: Time Running Out to Take Part in Electoral Commission’s MMP Review

Time is running out to have your say on improvements you’d like to see made to our MMP voting system. With only two weeks to go until the first consultation period of the MMP Review closes, the Electoral Commission has received more than 3700 submissions ... More >>


Christchurch: More Green Zoning And More Red Zoning

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced the final decision in almost 11 months of flat land residential zoning in Canterbury…

“It brings the number of residential properties zoned red because they are unsuitable for residential occupation to 7256.” More >>

Gerry Brownlee also announced the green zoning of 421 residential properties in the Port Hills, leaving 1679 houses still under review. More>>

ALSO:


Budget 2012: Squeezing Every Drop Out Of A Zero Budget
The Government is trying to squeeze every drop of publicity out of its ``Zero Budget’’ ahead of its delivery next Thursday.More >>

Gordon Campbell On the Politics of Austerity: Later this month, New Zealand will be subjected to its second austerity Budget in a row. Zero budgeting is being presented as the only path of virtue. This is despite the fact that - elsewhere in the real world - it has been a very bad week indeed for the politics of austerity.More >>
Also

  • Business.Desk - Smokes, booze and property tax breaks prime targets for Budget
  • Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure
  • Labour - Cuts to classes result of government failure
  • ACT - Performance Based Pay for Teachers Long Overdue

  • Budget 2012: Recovery of Canterbury on Track
  • Budget 2012 - Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
  • Budget 2012: Education – Larger Classes For More Money
  • Budget 2012: $144m more for disability support

    • Housing: Social Housing Money Handed Out
    People in need will get the most benefit from Government funding for new housing projects, to be developed by non-government providers. Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the successful applicants to the $25.3 million Social Housing Unit ... More >>

    ALSO:

    Parliament Today: Urgency To Follow Budget
    The House will go into Urgency on Thursday following the delivery of Budget 2012 at 2pm. The Government informed the Business Committee of the decision at a meeting yesterday.More...

    Also:


    Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
    Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. More >>
    Also:

    Court of Appeal: Govt Should Pay Family Caregivers
    The victory in the Court of Appeal for families caring for disabled family members should be taken notice of by the Government says Green MP Catherine DelahuntyMore >>

    ALSO:

    LATEST HEADLINES

    More RSS  RSS
     
     
     
     
    Regional
    Search Scoop  
     
     
    powered by newsagent
    NZ independent news