Council delays decision on user pay charges

The changes to the transport and water units result in 1.5 fulltime staff to the sustainable transport unit being cut as the other services are provided by external contractors. Photo / File

Fears of "pre-empting and undermining" a public consultation process have prompted the Hamilton City Council to delay a decision on user-pay rubbish bags and water meters.

But it didn't stop the council approving cuts of more than $800,000 in water, waste and transport budgets to save $14.5 million in the next three years and address its growing debt crisis.

The ageing Hamilton Municipal Pool will close next year and entry fees to the Hamilton Zoo will rise despite earlier calls from the community that the council was targeting poorer families.

Councillors considering the city's long-term plan took an hour-and-a-half to decide against making any decision on user-pays fees and charges for rubbish bags within three years or to discuss user-pays water meters in December once they looked at public submissions on the rating review.

As part of the process they were also asked to give their views on a separate rate for refuse and water.

Councillor Ewan Wilson said making any decision before hearing public feedback was flawed.

"My inherent concern is that we are predetermining a process we have gone out and asked our ratepayers to submit on. I see no threat by simply delaying it by a couple of months."

The move was passed 8-3 despite mayor Julie Hardaker arguing it was a separate process, unrelated to the rating review.

Meanwhile people travelling into the city might also get a glimpse of slightly scruffy gardens at the city's gateways as they are left to grow a bit longer, and rubbish in the CBD will be picked up during the night instead of the day.

City roads with fewer than 15,000 vehicles a day travelling on them will be chip sealed instead of asphalted to help save about $603,300 in the transport budget.

The council's general manager of infrastructure Chris Allen dismissed concerns that using chips on those roads would creat a danger for cyclists.

After-hours responses to non-urgent stormwater, wastewater and water matters will be reduced ,and septic tank cleaning services will be scrapped within two years.

The changes to the transport and water units result in 1.5 fulltime staff to the sustainable transport unit being cut as the other services are provided by external contractors.

Long-time anti-fluoride campaigners Christine Cave and Siggi Henry failed in an attempt to re-open the fluoride debate.

Ms Cave threatened councillors with a "class action" and Ms Henry said the council needed to match the amount spent on propaganda from the pro-fluoride Waikato District Health Board to make sure both messages were being promoted.

But the council could not be tempted to save $40,000 a year and stuck to an earlier decision to hold a referendum during the next local body elections.

DEBT REMEDIES
Cuts to services

Close the municipal pool from March 2013 and staff look at future use to protect its heritage site.

Reduce operating hours for public swimming pools during winter.

Reduce after-hours response for stormwater and wastewater.

Stop CBD litter patrol, footpath and other cleaning.

Stop maintaining vehicle crossings.

Fee increases

Zoo - $2 on adult admissions and $1 on children in 2013/14. Family concessions rise to $48 next year and to $54 in 2013/14.

Pools - entry fees, Learn to Swim classes and the gym up by 10 per cent in 2014/15.

Trade waste consents be implemented (additional $50,000 revenue in first year and $100,000 in year two).

Septic tank refusal fees up from $30/m3 to $56/m3 in 2012/13 (additional $70,000).