Media statement from the Independent Peninsula Group.

10 October, 2005

City council can't manage its own affairs

The recent disclosure of improper processes by the Christchurch City Council gives a further warning to Banks Peninsula residents should their affairs become controlled from Christchurch, according to David Tranter of the Independent Peninsula Group.

With Garry Moore's apology for $800,000 being used on "unauthorised renovations of the civic buildings" (Press, 14 October) the city council's credibility to manage an additional district has taken a further dive, following as it does on repeated expressions of dissatisfaction from rural ratepayers over the city's approach to their affairs, particularly over higher rates for inadequate services.

The seriousness of this matter is further emphasised by Garry Moore's admission in the Press that "the auditor-general's letter raised serious concerns over the way the council made decisions and implied the council was breaching proper process at almost every meeting". Whatever the problems that might face small district councils one of their huge advantages is that the district's elected representatives can be removed from office at the next election whereas under the proposed abolition agenda peninsula ratepayers will be powerless to remove the councillors who act against their interests as must inevitably happen when the city already has more than it can cope with now.

Support for the independent peninsula campaign is growing with a further $700 in donations promised in the last 24 hours Mr. Tranter said. The latest donation pledge was from a caller who owns property in the city and on the peninsula and who referred to his being "bulldozed by the city council".

ENDS
Contact; David Tranter,
Independent Peninsula Group spokesman,
ph. 03 3295131
email; davidtranter@clear.net.nz

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