cashflow debt democracy ecocare fairness financial accountability public excluded rates sewage transparency watewater
WorkBoot had another Council day in Dargaville on Wednesday. Surprises a plenty. As readers of this blog will know, I believe our current Proposed District Plan should be withdrawn. I am supported by reasons and the views of many including the eminent QC Paul Cavanagh. Prior to the morning workshop it was announced that there were some “housekeeping matters” to deal with. This is where the sur...
I’m pleased to report that the notice of motion I lodged on 9 August has been listed for debate at the 24 August meeting due to the efforts of other councillors, and I’m very deeply appreciative of their support. I’m hoping that they will focus the debate on curbing the Council’s debt addiction. Just to repeat my point – Do we make a decision to try and stop spending more of your money? ...
I’m trying to get the issue of Council’s plans to take on further debt debated. I have asked the subcommittee that controls the agenda, being Mayor Neil Tiller, Deputy Mayor Julie Geange, and CEO Jack McKerchar, whether or not this will be debated. I have asked them to confirm that my notice of motion will be debated, and that we will be supplied with cashflow details of when the planned fu...
Is the Kaipara District Council addicted to debt? Does it need to go into rehab? Certainly there is now no doubt that Council is in a very high debt, low cash reserves position. I have submitted a notice of motion to be considered at the 24 August meeting. You can read the notice of motion here. The motion proposes the appointment of a committee of Council to urgently review the planned borrowings...
All this fuss - why should we care? It is just the Council.Here are my 6 reasons why we should care:1. if your rates bill goes up by 10% next year and that could be avoided - what else could you buy - it is after all your money - is that fair?2. if your rates have been levied illegally (see Clive 'Legal Eagle' Boonham's posting here and his Kaipara Concerns website here) and you have paid ...
On the 14th of July, under the banner “Strong Governance Gives Strong Financial Management”, our Mayor accused me of, amongst other things, wanting to “re-litigate decisions of Council made in the past” and adopting a “model of behaviour” like Bill Guest. Was the Mayor trying to be deliberately ironic, attacking me for referring to the past by referring to his past relationship with ...
Jack McKerchar, the long time CEO of KDC, has resigned effective 31 October - the press release is hereIs that the news?For me the news is not about personalities but progress, and while fresh eyes are needed, as a Councillor, I realise that we cannot wait until 31 October or a new CEO appointment to make the changes that are so obviously needed and urgent.The urgent and obvious is our finan...
The issues of Council's financial situation are obviously receiving some analysis - see the Dargaville and Districts News' story here. But is this the start of the story or the end of the story? There are still many questions that need to be addressed - my bet is that this is only the beginning.