puff 657 Wheeler’s CornerÓ

Connecting Citizens Who Care

"Broadcast every Thursday at 11.45am on Access 999AM" Contact Peter at wheeler@inspire.net.nz

28 12th July 2007

This Week: 1. Some questions for Jono: 2. Voting history: 3. Recognising PR spin 4. Awapuni tumbles the tight eight: 5. Council says farewell. 6. My God speaks.

1. The campaign for Mayor is now well and truly underway…Headed by Jono Naylor who is really spending up large. So far he’s had an official opening at which he was supported by Deputy Mayor John Hornblow, Ex-Mayor Mark Bell-Booth, Ex-councillor David Ireland and other yet to be named backers possibly from the land developer speculator sector. What the heck, why don’t I ask straight out! I’m sure Jono gets a copy of Wheeler’s Corner. What say Jono, you drop me a line naming your backers and the amounts they are investing? Then I can run a check on their community input and check out past council dealings or likely future dealings. Also let me ask who is authorising your advertisements in the Manawatu Standard each night as well as your latest campaign effort that went to all householders which was delivered by NZ Post [20/30 thousand houses at 20cents a pop plus design and printing costs!]. I hope you’ve read the rules relating to campaign costs, oh, I’m sure you have. Surely the council legal adviser can put you on track if need be regarding authorisation matters. One last question Jono, are you also standing in a Ward as a Ward candidate and if so which? Now let me end by pointing out that I don’t think that the Exclusive Brethren are among his trusty supporters, at least I damn well hope not… I’ll let you all know Jono Naylor’s answers when and if I get one.

2. Cr. Naylor’s voting record in council is worth a look after reading his ‘Message to householders’. These are the real facts, no spin, which demonstrate his input over the last few years.

Voted to remove pensioners’ car parking outside their club.
Voted for the removal of the Lions Wall in the Square.
Voted for the removal of the Community Development Section of Council.
Voted for five years of massive rate increases
Voted for the huge increases in user and fixed charges.
Voted against a grant to PANIC. [Twice]
Voted for the sale of the land on the Corner of Park Road and Fitzherbert Ave plus the sale of the Linklater block.
Voted against the retention of Ward Committees, Low income committee.
Voted to reduce community grants to The Youth One Stop Shop, Highbury Whanau Centre, Safe City Trust.
Voted to remove totally grants to Adult Learning Centre and City Van Trust.
Has one of the worst attendance records among all councillors, and
Has never instigated any progressive or community-based initiatives or shown leadership skills.
So if you read his PR mail out ask yourself this question, "Since Cr. Naylor has been a member of the ‘Majority’ tight eight why is the city in the state it is? Is he putting forward any clear and measurable plan for moving forward? Your answers to these two vital questions should assist in making your mind up who should be Mayor.

3. Recognizing the difference between what people say and what people do can be at times most difficult. But where Cr. Gordon Cruden stands on rates is clearly indicated below. The Rating Commission Review Panel asked the questions. Council staff supplied the answers. While Cr. Gordon Cruden stated publicly that the rating system used in Palmerston North was a mess and needed dramatic change he voted for the very opposite by supporting the PNCC submission answers to the commission. This massive contradiction leads one to suspect that Cr. Gordon Cruden bends according to the direction of the wind.

Question: To what extent could greater use of the available rating tools assist local govt to address "equity" issues for particular groups of ratepayers? (Source: Govt Rating Inquiry, Question 8, on page, 16)

Answer: "To date we have not found a need to make greater use of a wider range of rating tools. One of Council's underlying principles is to keep the rating system as simple as possible." abridged. (Source: PNCC submission to Govt rating inquiry.)

Question: Does the rating system need to be changed to address any continuing "anomalies or inequities". (Source: Govt Rating Inquiry, Question 11, on page.16)

Answer: "The present rating tools are reasonably flexible and no change is required to address Palmerston North's circumstances." (Source: PNCC submission to Govt rating inquiry.)

Rates of course are a very touchy subject and there are many differing views. I can understand the pressure that those on low-incomes or fixed incomes have with ever increasing rates. Rates of course are based not on income but are based on the value of land and as in the case of Palmerston North part value of what is on that land. Even the valuations are now in the hands of a private company and it’s to the very same company that complaints are addressed. This naturally leads to great doubts that any complaints are treated with the respect they deserve. One of the really fundamental issues is of democracy and transparency in respect to setting the level of rate charges. One of the areas that need attention is the fixed charge that all ratepayers are charged. We should never forget that once these charges reach a certain point people simply would not be able to pay them. Council keeps putting them up but they can be lowered! but this possibility never seems to enter their heads.

The Government has at last recognised the huge pressure on the low-income ratepayers by introducing a new and more equitable ‘Rates rebate scheme’ and while it assisted in the short term its real value has already been mitigated by the huge rate rises this year. While the Government move was about ten years too late it did at least and at long last accept that there was a very real problem out there in the real world.

For some rates aren’t even a problem, no doubt their rate demand is paid automatically and without notice. For others a reorganising of the budget is necessary after the arrival of the yearly rate demand and this for those in that predicament is deeply concerning. Power bill vs. rates, food vs. rates, transport vs. rates or even health vs. rates are choices that many have to make. The government is about eighteen months behind in adjusting pensions and any increase barely equals the inflation rate. Councils increase rates by treble the inflation rate, which in turn defeats any relief received by those on fixed incomes. No one seems to realise that this lack of prudence is killing the city in which we live. This is not simply an age issue for it effects all ages, young or old. It is a social issue of real importance, and councils can help by being prudent and innovative something we have yet to see from this council.

4. So called rebel Awapuni Ward rattled the Tight Eight in council on Monday when it called for a ‘Social Impact Report’ be carried out in regard to the spending of millions of dollars on the redesign of and alterations to Te Manawa and the cultural precinct. The tight eight had forced on council the removal of ‘Social Impact Reports’ two years ago. Cr. Naylor sought to do the same to the Awapuni resolution, but alas his so-called leadership halo was down around his ankles. The voting was seven all, the Mayor used her casting vote and council staff has now been instructed to carry out a Social Impact Report. This behaviour of the tight eight is the exact opposite to that preached by Cr. Naylor their self appointed leader, of both unity and listening to the citizens. They seem to listen more closely to the property developers and speculators. This particular group doesn’t like ‘Social Impact Reports’ because the reports can and do point out the dangers of moving down a particular track and can save huge sums of money going into the wrong pockets as well as positively doing the right things well. This successful move by a Ward Committee proves their real value for you and I who pay the bills. The tight eight members who voted against Awapuni were Cr. Naylor, Pope, Podd, Dennison, Gordon Cruden, Hornblow and Jefferies. Voting for was Cr. Claridge, Kelly, Etheridge, Craig, Findlay, Ian Cruden and Mayor Heather Tanguay. Not present were Cr. Broad and Wall.

5. Council said good bye to Clare Hadley and Brian Trott. I know little of Brian but had dealings with Clare over a period of years. Her style of management was not mine and was more in line with past CEO Paul Wylie. She organised the rapid and steady collapse of the community development section. I believe she ignored key community aspirations.

6. My God was greatly amused by the behaviour of Cr. Hornblow and Cr. Naylor. When they rushed from their chairs to speak with a local Iwi deputation as they departed the council chamber. After kicking up a fuss about the clock tower changes the deputation recommended that the crosses should be more visible during the daylight hours. No doubt Cr Hornblow and buddy Naylor, told them how they agreed with them…I bet they never told them how they voted for the changes. It was a little like watching a pair of hungry children chasing a lolly scramble at school picnics’…only it was votes they were chasing. Sad really to see grown men reduced to this obvious and insulting behaviour. I can only but agree with my God. I reminded her it was election year and for once she agreed with me.




Peter J Wheeler

Wheeler@inspire.net.nz