Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz

A special (extraordinary) full council meeting on Monday with only one earth shattering agenda item to be considered.

With Catherine Stewart, Larry Baldock and Tony Christiansen absent, it was left to eight elected members to decide whether or not there would be a big screen TV provided on The Strand for the last three or four Rugby World Cup games funded by ratepayers/council at costs ranging up to $47,158 – less $8500 offered by a bar owner.

It is easy to get carried away in the excitement of the moment, but it didn't happen this time. Terry Molloy, an avid rugby fan, moved ‘Option E' – a watered down version, one of six options – at a ratepayer cost of $29,850.

Wayne Moultrie seconded this, ‘pro forma' (for the purpose of allowing a debate) after Terry had started to speak to his resolution before anyone had seconded it.

Terry said 'economic development will be assisted in the long run with this sort of investment in the city”.

'Heart and soul is in question and we needed to prove we had one.”

After his impassioned speech, no-one else, including Wayne Moultrie, spoke in support and that resolution was lost 7-1.

David Stewart said he could see benefit to Strand businesses and the council's role was to come in behind any initiative those businesses might propose.

He moved council could contribute up to $10,000 for road and traffic management and security, but the organisation required for a big screen project and funding was more properly left to private enterprise which would be direct beneficiaries.

Terry, understandably, spoke against (even though he eventually voted for it) saying he was frustrated with the negativity and what was needed to show leadership and find ways of doing things. He said the commercial sector was really struggling.

I said so were ratepayers, council's finances, and ongoing rate increases.

The resolution was passed with Murray Guy opposing.

This will likely be the end of matters unless a rugby fairy godmother materialises with around $40,000.

As far as council goes, I don't remember the last time we had a special full council meeting over one minor item like this and it really begs the question as to why, when there are so many major issues requiring this sort of urgent consideration, resourcing and staff time facing council/ratepayers.

Picking up on regional

In other meetings, I had raised the issue of ratepayers being confused with the layout of the rates bills.

TCC collects the regional council rates as part of TCC rates account and a cursory glance for many people goes something like this.

Ratepayer gets envelope marked ‘Tauranga City Council', opens it, sees rates bill – amount at bottom thinks, ‘Oh no, oh my goodness… how does it get to that much, (or words to that effect), oh well, must remember to pay by due date.'

Once again the regional council flies below the radar screen and it is a source of constant wonderment how many people are either unaware or only vaguely aware of the regional council's existence or what they do.

Mayor Stuart Crosby also remarked that as the regional council heavily subsidised their rates requirement with port company profits, TCC should also consider what effect on their rates requirement would be if those profits didn't arrive in future years. Economically there is a $300,000 or so saving to ratepayers by TCC performing this service so we don't want to stop it. We just need to differentiate between the two councils and the two separate rates accounts.

Gallery gobsmack

In response to questions last week about council payments to the art gallery over and above the ratepayer grant/subsidy of $847,400, elected members were advised by staff that of the $18,000 or so in question, most of it was for sponsorship of exhibitions by private sponsors, but the money was channelled through the City Partners account as it quite properly should be. But it was absolutely astounding to learn that the art gallery had charged council $625 plus GST for the use of the gallery for former CEO Stephen Town's farewell function. Talk about biting the hand the feeds you.

This function could easily have been held over at the council building where there are a number of suitable venues.

Stephen had always quietly supported the art gallery and in my view is that this charge was quite inappropriate on this occasion.

Interesting too – you only find out about it one year later. Yes, Stephen left council a year ago.

Park rumblings

At TECT Park sub-committee, a joint committee between TCC and Western Bay there was a very full agenda, great attendance from users and even a rare appearance from the Bay Times at the WBOPDC offices, possibly expecting some blood on the carpet over a proposal to allow a Bush Railway and Old Sawmill at the park.

Happily this didn't occur and the charitable trust proposing this addition was agreed in principle with the User Group Forum being given opportunity to comment as the formal details are worked out.

Some fears from other park users are competition for diminishing funding opportunities, location and suitability.

I said I couldn't imagine anything more noisy than a 1920s sawmill and would fit the park well.

Te Matai Motorsport lease is about to be signed after a long arduous path that has taken a long time.

With a 35 year term plus two rights of renewal it is important that it is right first time.

As various users get to accept each other plus the owners (council/ratepayers) and as investment from all parties increases the potential in this public asset will become easier to administer and manage.

This week's mindbender – don't forget until too late that the business of life is not business, but living. BC Forbes – Forbes Magazine.