Yesterdays process by council to conside project deferrals was shabby. It highlighted the bloated and clumsy governance structure council is forced to work in. The mayor chairs a committee overseeing the Long Term Funding Plan and Penny Webster chairs the the Finance Committee but the two are not disconnected. Some cuts are inevitable as we need to cap rates increases but Local Boards, representing local communities, have the right to express their views - not just at workshops, as workshops are not a substitution for open democratic process. It is only at committees that councillors can be held to account for decisons taken. I believe council has mislead the local boards. If a project is deferred into the period of the LTP there is no certainty that the project can proceed. In Parks and sports the budget is facing cuts of 40%. It is a whole new reality and Local Boards are entitled to have a voice.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 19:52:49 +0000
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