Moving to hire ground

Community-minded people using a community hall say it's a bit rich to demand a hire fee for it from them. Rowena Orejana explains.
Bills are unpleasant realities of life. But when Fred Buck received an invoice from Auckland Council for the use of Weymouth Community Hall, he was shocked.
The Weymouth Residents and Ratepayers Association has used the hall for about 20 years and has never been charged a cent.
Just before the new council was put in place, the residents received an invoice seeking $330 for the use of the hall this year.
 "We've never paid because it's a community thing and it's a community hall," says Mr Buck.
The association meets once a month to discuss neighbourhood concerns such as cracked footpaths and rubbish. It also contributes to local submissions on matters such as housing and alcohol. All this is done voluntarily.
"We can't pay for it," says Mr Buck. "We just don't have the money. Or, if we do, we'll just pay three months rent and that would be it."  The association has $96 in the bank.
Mr Buck shakes his head. "We put our chairs up and back again. And there's no food or drink involved so we don't make a mess. We don't do anything except physically use it. That's it."
He says someone suggested asking the council for money to pay for the hire. "It's ridiculous. We ask money from them to pay them."
The association's free use of the hall was an informal arrangement with the now defunct Manukau City Council. This was spotted as books were turned over to the new council.
Louise Mason, community development manager, says: "The operative pricing policy was, and is in the interim, that of the Manukau City Council. At the time of the recent local government amalgamation, it was observed that the Weymouth Residents and Ratepayers Association had not been previously charged in accordance with the Manukau City Council leisure pricing policy, which resulted in an invoice being issued against future usage."
The Manurewa Local Board has resolved to waive the pricing policy in the meantime.
A permanent waiver seems unlikely because it could set a precedent.
Local board deputy chairwoman Angela Dalton says it is unfair to charge the association  when it is not being compensated for the various services it delivers to the community. "They report to us what is happening in their community and this information is valuable to us."
Meanwhile, a council-wide review of hire policies for halls and other community facilities is under way.
"The community will be consulted on potential options for the new schedule of fees and charges," says Ms Mason.
Mr Buck says the Weymouth Residents and Ratepayers Association just wants the fees waived. "We don't have a business there. It's just for local people to gather once a month for a meeting. It's just a community meeting place. It's a community hall."
Hall of flame
Weymouth Hall was built in 1927 by William Darby. It was acquired by the forerunner of Manukau County Council in 1940 and dedicated as a War Memorial Hall in 1958. The hall burned down in 1982 and was rebuilt the following year at the request of the then mayor of Manukau, Sir Lloyd Elsmore.