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

Audit NZ signed off Tauranga City Council's end of year accounts with a clean bill of health.

Staff had pulled out all stops and completed the work a month ahead of last year. The auditor told us there will be changed reporting standards in the future. Contrary to some expectations, the auditor told us this may not mean increased costs.

There was no reporter present from daily print media to hear the good news, who gives plenty of publicity to council finances, including debt. Rarely is it reported part of this debt has been created to provide infrastructural assets, needed as our city grows – just as most people get a mortgage to help fund their homes. For sure, the debt is up there. But as the audit report shows, it's all part of a carefully-managed financial package providing a reasonable standard of living facilities and amenities – and sharing the cost with those, who in future, will benefit.
Talking of assets, the Mayor and I attended Huharua Park to mark completion of another addition to the great asset. At the end of Plummer's Point Rd, towards Omokoroa, this is a joint venture between TCC and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Originally a strategic Maori Pa, it has been restored somewhat to its former function. Latterly, it was a kiwifruit orchard. The original defensive trench is still there along with a huge Pohutukawa tree, reportedly dating back to pre-European times. It's well worth a trip out there.

With the Local Body Elections pending there have been issues raised in the community. It's a good time to do this, as most elected members become really focused at this time. The Greerton Library is one matter, with a public meeting held at Greerton Hall. This project was stood down (at the last minute) after the April floods while council considered the financial effects of the floods. The resolution states: 'That the Greerton Library be assessed through the 2014/15 Annual Plan”. As it's to be funded with $1.8million of development contributions, as part of the budgeted $3.2m cost, it's my opinion it's likely to proceed next year now we have a reasonably clear way forward to address financial costs of the flooding problems.

In the 'oops not again” department the Bay Times ran an online story about Rick Curach with the headline: 'Electoral bungle blow to newbies” but published an accompanying photo of Bill Grainger. There was much hilarity among some election members, as it was contemplated which one got the electoral advantage (or otherwise!).

The red ensign was flying at City Hall on September 3 which was Merchant Navy Remembrance Day – in memorial of all those who gave their lives in the World Wars in order to bring supplies to keep the armed forces operating. As I've noted before, the British merchant seamen's pay stopped from the moment their ship sunk.
I've been in conversation with downtown CBD retailers. They're keen to energise the downtown area and moves are afoot to get this going soon. The $3 per hour parking charge in prime CBD space has been a bridge too far it seems. Did you know once you have purchased a parking slip you can move to other parking spaces within that time? You get 10 minutes' free time allowance as well.
Some elected members attended an on-street meeting with a few Marine Parade residents lobbying for council to permanently ban certificated motor homes from overnighting opposite their homes and businesses on Marine Parade. As I noted previously, council is the meat in a Government-created sandwich. Government passed legislation allowing certificated motor homes to park almost anywhere unless council specifically prohibits it. The only reason allowed in the legislation is for the likes of health, safety, access and nuisance. Whatever the outcome, one sector or other will not be satisfied.
Trees are up for policy review again. Oh joy. Ex-councillor Mary Dillon addressed us in the public forum, speaking in favour of saving silver birch trees. Mary has 10 silver birches on her property.

Trees are guaranteed to generate emotive debate every time and the usual argy bargy on how we would proceed with this review evolved. Current policy is all about 'vegetation and tree management” and nothing about the effect – both good and bad – on the community. I asked a review include a policy objective that considers all aspects of the wellbeing of the community when implementing the policy. We will have a workshop soon to discuss detail. It will be an open workshop and it is anticipated to be a lengthy and lively discussion.
Besides this, it looks as if the tree sub-committee hearing applications for variations to the present policy will get the chop in the next triennium. But you will still be able to be heard by the hearings panel.

We also set policy for elected member's expenses in the next triennium. Not many elected members make claims and those that have claimed are for attendance expenses at conferences and the like. Apparently, councils elsewhere have been flogging the system in the past. Last week we had a presentation on retaining open space at the Phoenix carpark in downtown Mount, instead of building a shopping centre and covered carpark. No decisions have been made and this one is guaranteed to generate plenty of public opinion.

This week's mindbender from Sir Bob Harvey, past Mayor of Waitakere City, at the Greerton Library meeting – 'In politics it's wrong to be right too soon”.