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

Due to a ‘technical glitch' at Sun Media last week, Bill Faulkner's column was left out of The Weekend Sun. But he's back again this week – enjoy!

Had a round up for a pound up over a LAP last Friday. That's a Local Alcohol Policy. Under the new proposals, Council can change some rules surrounding the sale of alcohol if they choose. TCC and Western Bay District Council have decided to investigate the options together. There are three types of alcohol sale to consider: Restaurants, where you have a drink with a meal. Call it a dining experience and no problems to the police, liquor enforcement or the public. Then there's 'Off License”. That's where you buy the booze and take it away to drink it. Problems created with this are that it can be uncontrolled drinking in inappropriate places leading to unruly, aggressive, anti-social behaviour, no controlled hours and underage drinking. All causing policing problems in that by the time the police are called the troubles are already underway. Likewise, creating problems at the emergency department at the hospital. Elected members had a detailed presentation on the effects of alcohol on the hospital services by those who are unable to control or handle alcohol responsibly. 'On License” is where you drink at a bar in a controlled environment. Problems here are obvious but at least it's in a supervised situation where most issues can be nipped in the bud. But most problems for the police start after 10pm when people leave, we were told. Unfortunately, all this legislation relates to 'problems” and there was minimal reference or consideration for those who enjoy a drink in convivial company and atmosphere, don't cause any problems and go about their relaxation in a responsible manner.

Isn't that always the way – the majority get zapped because of the minority. We will work through the options and any changes will be subject to your input through a submission and consultation process.

A presentation from Hospitality NZ's regional manager was doing quite well until the end. He lost any brownie points and the audience when he told us if we invoked some of the changes being mooted we could lose our seats at the upcoming election. Margaret Murray-Benge from WBOPDC gave him a well-deserved serve for his inappropriate comments. In my time on Council I've only experienced one elected member whose motivation on issues was openly to vote where he considered the popular opinion was to ensure his re-election. He lost his seat regardless. There are still others touting the popularist line but they aren't so obvious.

Talking about voting responsibly – I can't let the opportunity pass but to acknowledge the likes of past councillor Gordon Taylor and others who lost their seats by taking the responsible line and voting for water meters in the face of a vicious and, in my view, sometimes irresponsible campaign conducted via the Bay Times. Even with drought conditions Tauranga has still not had to introduce water restrictions. It may come, but without water meters our city would have been under water restrictions since Christmas.

Eight elected members met with incoming CEO Garry Poole on Saturday. A wide ranging discussion involving governance matters to ensure elected members and Garry are on the same page.

In my opinion this reorganisation appears to have gone astray. My understanding is that elected members asked for a timely check that the organisational structure was fit for purpose in the current economic climate but somewhere along the long and winding road that has evolved it became a slash and burn, cost cutting exercise.

Costs incurred to date are 'significant” (in my view horrendous) and are continuing. Including the CCO review, reorganisation consultant cost, recruitment costs the bill will be well over $500,000.

I asked the present CEO nearly three weeks ago for detailed accounts but at the time of writing I had not received the information. Add into this equation redundancy payments and it's difficult from where I sit to see financial benefit to ratepayers. Local Government Official Information Act information prepared some time ago showed $271,488 paid to Morrison and Low and $203,152 to GHD to end of January – two of the consultancy firms involved.

And as I said at the outset if this reorganisation wasn't handled efficiently and quickly Council ran the risk of losing individuals unnecessarily because some positions were changed so much.

The reorganisation implementation is not an elected Council function but the domain of the incumbent CEO. Garry Poole is due to take over the reins officially in mid-April.

Interesting workshop on Monday on becoming an Age-Friendly City.

Tauranga won't be signing up or registering at the usual fee. Instead, we will be using feedback from our community to identify age related barriers. That's all ages.

We are aware favouring one age sector over another can be the base for subtle and not so subtle discrimination. Despite some wheel barrow pushers we're all in this together, both locally and nationally.

This week's mindbender. Patience is not waiting, it's how you act while you're waiting.