At monitoring committee, Tauranga Leisure Ltd, which runs council's community leisure facilities (not to be confused with Leisure Co who ran Baywave but is now in liquidation) reported a successful year.

A 40 per cent increase in user hours and a total of 683,817 people used the amenities. This was an increase of 117,090 people. Forty two per cent of its income came from ‘pay for play' where the sport is organised by the company and people just turn up and play their sport. Ratepayers subsidise these facilities to the tune of $610,545, which we were told is at the low end of subsidies nationwide. To put this in perspective, there is about $6.7m subsidy for libraries and about $1.5m for Baycourt. An operating surplus of $39,178, over and above budget, is split 50-50 with Tauranga City Council. The contract is 'open book” where both parties (council and the company) know what all the financials are. The presentation noted that Mount Sports Hall and Memorial Hall are 'iceboxes” in winter and that the Mount Action Centre is at its use-by date. So it seems that a significant majority of people who support the proposed new Indoor Sport and Recreation Centre have got it right.
An interesting aside, elected members were told of ongoing costs each time there was a big event at QEII Hall of up to $900 for a traffic management plan (that's each event). Once upon a time a traffic police points man did the job – just another small example of central government foisting costs onto councils.

Possible ‘talkfest'
Bay of Connections, the region's economic strategy run by Environment BOP, has been going eight months. It's possibly another ‘talkfest', full of visions, mission statements and action plans; but time will tell. They have filed consent applications for development of the Harbour Central Marine Precinct. This is a proposed new boat servicing facility to replace the 600 tonne slip that was demolished three or four years ago to make way for the new harbour bridge. The object of the exercise is to offer a consented project to the private sector. Mayor Stuart Crosby noted that land ownership could be a major impediment as investors preferred to own land rather than lease it. Council owns the land adjacent to the harbour bridge and the original intention was to retain ownership and lease the land. The main reason is to preserve public access to the waterfront; but any facility that lifts boats on to land, by definition, denies public access anyway so this issue may have to be addressed.

Developing strategies
Bay of Connections is developing strategies for aquaculture food and energy as well, these being 'key focus areas”. NZ Trade and Enterprise put up $360,000 to kick start these projects and the power sector (EECA) chipped in $25,000 for the energy part.
All good keen stuff until the government pulls the pin on funding and tries to dump it onto ratepayers/councils. They've just done this to the local environment centre based in Elizabeth Street.
They've had $150,000 each year for the past few years and recently were advised their funding will cease in June next year. Council/ratepayers are not in a position to pick this up.

Strapped for cash
With $2.5 million cut from existing operational budgets there's no money left for any unbudgeted items such as the environment centre or CCTV cameras in Greerton. Council is now forced to prioritise, plan, budget and then stick to it. This requires big tummy muscles and so far is doing okay. Elected members briefly discussed a staff report on the gym at Baywave. The report said the gym was consistent with the business plan and statement of corporate intent of Tauranga City Aquatics Ltd who run Baywave. Certainly any alteration to the present set up will cost ratepayers if there is a reduction in Baywave income. We will thrash this one around in detail shortly.

Road danger focus
After the meeting we had a roundup for a ‘poundup' on the government's proposed new road safety initiatives. There is some sensationalism creeping in as everyone chucks in their two bobs worth.
We were told there are 700,000 heavy drinkers in NZ. How do they measure that? What is a heavy drinker?
The focus is on drink-driving and solving the problem seems to be a major goal. If about 35 per cent of crashes involve alcohol, that leaves about 65 per cent as non alcohol impacted crashes and the risk is that these won't get the attention they demand. Our council is strong on compulsory third party insurance as required in most overseas countries as a mechanism to limit inexperience and high powered cars. Breath limits are arbitrary and not an accurate measure of driving ability. People's alcohol tolerance varies hugely and some would be unsafe at a quarter the present limits and others okay over the limit. From my observations some completely sober drivers are a menace too!
There will be more on this.

How much? – too much?
Your property revaluation is due out. An increase does not necessarily mean a rate increase. Council collects so much to run the city and this valuation is the mechanism that decides your rates bill share of that. It's only when your value increase or decreases out of kilter with everyone else that you get an alteration.

You can appeal your valuation if it seems out of whack. Your rights are on the back of the valuation form.
At full council the proposed new bus terminal's location was decided with a vote of four for Willow Street, two for Durham Street and one abstention.
This is subject to NZTA funding subsidy. Rick Curach and I were absent at a long, pre-booked procurement seminar and Greg Brownless and Hayden Evans are on leave. My Clark Kent lookalike stand-in reported a lengthy debate and an excellent well researched presentation opposing Willow Street by Tony Young. Council's annual report was received at this meeting. There would have been a surplus if we hadn't had to make up the costs of the defunct waterfront museum project out of rates income; short term pain for long term gain.
Council's chief executive pay is listed in the report at $400,467 (in 2008, $377,740), of which $58,071 is withheld pending achievement of listed performance requirements (KPI's). Five staff received severance payments ranging from $19,985 to $56,727 for a total of $121,679. This area is the sole domain of the CEO and this is the first advice that we receive. Elected members' incomes with expenses and hearings fees in brackets as follows:
Mike Baker $74,448 ($3269), Greg Brownless $74,448 ($5710), Mayor Stuart Crosby $109,923 plus car. Rick Curach $70,536, Hayden Evans $70,536, Bill Faulkner $79,837 ($1568), Bill Grainger $70,536 ($2809), Murray Guy $79,837, Wayne Moultrie $74,448 ($7352), Catherine Stewart $70,536 ($53), David Stewart $86,204 ($7459).