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Community Board makes submissions on TDC's 2 Annual Plan
April 27th, 2011
The Motueka Community Board has made its submission on Tasman District Council's 2 Annual Plan, which be heard on Friday May 13th. In it, three items have been raised including ongoing complaints about the Community Board "target" rate.
The Community Board has in the past requested that the Council review the Community Board "target" rate, particularly as it related to the "Ratepayer Association" offset, asking that the offset be increased to $5.00 per ratepayer, which would go some way to align itself more reasonably and fairly with the other Associations.
This claim is based on the Council grants administration funding to the various associations such as Dovedale ($2200.00), Tapawera ($3500.00), Wakefield ($3750.00) and Brightwater ($2100.00). On a one dollar per ratepayer basis, these amounts vary widely from $5.50 to over $10.00 per ratepayer.
In contrast the Council grant to the Motueka Community Board of $16,629.00 works out at $3.30 per ratepayer. The inconsistency is highlighted further with Council charges for photocopying of Board meeting agendas ($2,300.00) and charges for TDC manager and staff to attend Board meetings ($31,757.00). Some, if not all, of these costs are met by the Council for the Ratepayer/Resident Associations, but not for the Motueka Community Board.
The Board therefore asks that the "Ratepayer Association" offset be increased to $5.00 per ratepayer, which would go some way to align itself more reasonably and fairly with the other Associations.
The Board's submission also asked that Council agrees to funding a survey of Motueka residents with regard to the reconstruction, relocation or expansion of the library.
The Council is recommending $20,000.00 for a study to investigate options such as extending the existing building or developing a new site. The Community Board has suggested that new facility be considered which would include the Library, Council offices and the Information Centre, probably sited at Decks Reserve where the information centre is now. A more recent suggestion is to demolish the current building and rebuild on that site.
The Board wants to conduct a residents' survey (a newspaper survey or a Motueka High School 'Community Issues' class study), either of which would cost less than $1000.00. The balance of the $20,000.00 budget would then be available for design.
The third issue included in the Board's submission relates to the River Rate. It points out an inconsistency in rate increases for ratepayers in designaed X, Y and Z zones and asks for clarification.
Click here to read the full submission »
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