There has been a return to true democratic processes down at City Hall.

That is, nothing is pre-determined, pre-arranged, no sure voting majority, no behind the scenes manipulation that I have observed periodically over my seven terms on Council.
From time to time, various things were all jacked up beforehand so that the debate was just a formality. It was very frustrating being on the other side, suspecting what was going on and being powerless to do anything about it.

Greerton Hall
This week at Full Council we had a very full agenda (334 pages) on Tuesday. It started with a chamber full of spectators/ratepayers/citizens there to support a presentation of a 2000 plus petition to retain the Greerton Hall.
It was delightful to hear that even though this Hall is nearly 50 years old the users were lavish in their praise of the facility. It's been a while since Council was told it was doing something right by a 2000-plus petition.
Of course no decision has been made on the Greerton Hall. Council has been investigating options to rebuild the Greerton Library and has proposed an attached community centre. A number of us have said that if we do anything, we can't afford a community centre and keep the hall as well.
So we're costing the options and these will go out for public consultation early next year. After that, a decision will be made around April. After a lot of discussion Catherine Stewart's notice of motion to stop the current proposal was watered down, with her agreement and seconder Murray Guy to 'reassess” the proposal to include the option of retaining the hall, which was already an option anyway. But this made it clear and on that basis it was supported.

Plan Change 48
Rick Curach made a lengthy attempt to bring the resolutions for Plan Change 48 out of confidential. I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say the resolutions will be made public soon. Council's lawyer gave us legal advice as to why it should remain in confidential but that didn't deter Rick. He got little support and the item remains confidential. Rick wanted you to hear the debate but luckily for you, you were spared. In the event it is a legal process, not a democratic one, and the items were duly passed in the confidential section with little discussion.

A fourth bowling green
The matter of a fourth Bowling Green on Matua Park was also on the agenda. Council is in support but undecided as to whether the bowling club's preferred plan is best for the rest of the park and other users. Plus the expense to ratepayers.
The bowling club preference would see a large number of trees removed and I consider that would be a shame if there are other options. These trees are not inappropriate. Council agreed with me to look at another proposal that could save trees and achieve a similar outcome. Staff are to report back. In the event whatever is decided there will be another opportunity for public input when Council amends the Active Reserves Management Plan to accommodate the fourth green.

Debate alterations
A staff report in response to some elected members' requests suggested an alteration to Standing Orders and Notices of Motion (NOM). NOM are a mechanism whereby elected members can bring items for debate before Council and get a decision. At present one elected member can bring forward a NOM. The report suggested changing that to get four signatories plus giving 10 full working days' notice.
I'm one who uses this process from time to time – that was how the motion to can the waterfront museum was done. Because it's 'outside” normal process some staff and some elected members are uncomfortable. It's hard to control. Sometimes boring, repetitious and frivolous. Well tough!
I agree with all the above but would defend the elected members right to do it almost to the death. I also would do the same to alert members that they are being all of the above. But it is the democratic process tried and tested over the years and we aren't going to change that on a whim. Incidentally most of the NOM given as examples hadn't succeeded anyway. The vote went 8-3 with only Mayor Stuart, David Stewart and Wayne Moultrie supporting the change.

Beyond its means
Council has so far taken a butter knife to the 10 year plan discussions. It will need an electric scythe to take the $half billion out that is needed to keep within the debt envelope of around $400 million. Like the rest of the world it is now clear that Council has been living beyond its means. Irresponsible social spending at the expense of infrastructure. Lack of direct monitoring of spending. Governance, helicopters and all that nonsense.
In short the financial projections are unaffordable and unsustainable. Unless we get government assistance for the likes of the Southern Pipeline, council's financial future is grim. Some past decisions weren't that bright.

Next in sight
Heritage sites and objects are next in the sights of the planners pursuing our heritage. Get this. You own a building, deemed to be by a heritage 'expert”, of historic value. They whack a 'classification” on it and hey presto you lose a lot of your rights about what you can and cannot do with it. Sometimes it means a loss in value.
I argued that if the building was of such value then taxpayers should buy it, do what was to be done and then resell it. This is what happened to the Old Post Office in Willow Street. Except it was ratepayers who carried the loss. This would have the effect of all those who benefited sharing the cost instead of the hapless owner. My arguments were in vain and on a vote of 6-4 this nanny state legislation will progress to the next stage.
Someone will drive around making decrees on your property and then you will have to defend your position. Absolutely outrageous. Of course other people like Brian and Claire at The Weekend Sun entered enthusiastically into the preservation status at 1 The Strand. That I wholeheartedly applaud. But it was their free choice.

Container stacks
I had an approach from the Port Company over my article concerning the container stacks at Sulphur Point. I was highlighting some of the nonsense of town planning and hadn't intended whacking the Port Company who are there as of right. The Port Company is a good corporate citizen and has offered to try to lessen the effects of the container stacks on the city by plantings down Keith Allen Drive. They don't have to do this and I am impressed with their initiative. Well done!
Cr Bill Faulkner.