Business gripes at council social club's faux pas

A local businessman was frustrated when he received a letter asking for donations on Hawke's Bay Regional Council letterhead and in a postage paid envelope.
The letter was sent to businesses around the region asking for vouchers or merchandise to support a fundraiser for the council's social club.
Moana Park director Dan Barker said the winery received letters from the council throughout the year relating to consents and rates but he was surprised to see one from the social club.
"The issue I have with this is that this letter was posted to me on HBRC letter head, in a HBRC envelope, paid for by the HBRC," Mr Barker said. As a ratepayer and as a business owner paying compliance costs Mr Barker said it was "infuriating" to find those costs helped support the social club.
Social club president Annette Brosnan said the club had run a successful quiz night fundraiser last month and some businesses had donated goods as prizes. At a social club meeting one member offered to contact other businesses to ask if they would offer prizes. "It was really innocent," Ms Brosnan said. "I understand where he's coming from so it won't happen again."
The staff member had not kept a list of businesses contacted, and some vouchers and other products had already been received for the bingo night.
The social club would not use Hawke's Bay Regional Council stationery for any future requests.
Mr Barker said the social club should have its own resources and databases, rather than "brazenly" using council letterhead.
The winery received daily requests for community funding and support for charity events, which they supported "in what we feel is a very generous way, considering the current economic climate," he said.