'Get real' Hamilton mayor says in clash over cuts

Mayor Julie Hardaker. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker told councillors to "get real" as they started to falter over plans to hack more than a million dollars from community organisations and services.

The city council yesterday voted 8-4 to cut $1.26 million from its community development budget despite impassioned pleas from affected groups that the move would affect areas with the greatest need.

As a result of the cuts, the transition-to-work programme will be scrapped, neighbourhood and youth development teams will be merged, and the council's community facilities will have to scale back their programmes and administration.

Grants of $470,000 towards out-of-school care programmes, sports and youth and family violence grant funds are also on the chopping block.

The changes would result in about 11 job losses.

Councillors who supported the changes said the public would get a further say over the decision next March when the entire draft long-term plan for 2012-22 was put out for public consultation.

Ms Hardaker urged councillors not to back down from the first of 22 areas in which they have committed to save $14.5 million in the next three years.

"Get real people," she said. "Don't falter ... I'm imploring you to stick to the game plan or the community won't thank us."

She said it was time for the council to cease being the only provider of community services and grants and and to work alongside other agencies.

Councillor Peter Bos said he trusted staff advice that services could still operate - albeit in a different way - on a smaller budget.

But Martin Gallagher said being "brave and bold" must not be a byword for "being mean and cold".

He reminded councillors they were to blame for council's debt being more than $400 million and for putting $40 million into the V8 Super Car series.

"A cutback in services to the vulnerable in our community could reap us in years to come a bad harvest."

Community groups told councillors they would be undoing all the good work by going ahead with the cuts.

Holly Snape, from Te Whare Kokonga, said any cuts to the community development services would have a serious long-term effect and undo council achievements.

Neil Tolan, of Western Community Centre, argued against reducing the number of youth and neighbourhood advisers from 11 to eight, saying they were essential. He said the council could save money on the well-attended children's events by getting them to "play marbles".

Community funders commended the council on cutting their cloth accordingly but urged them to look at the bigger picture.

Trust Waikato chief executive Dr Bev Gatenby told councillors that every thousand dollars gained $1000 of volunteer input.

SkyCity Hamilton Community Trust chairwoman Margaret Evans told councillors to look at everything.

She pointed out that with an annual rent of $12,000, St Andrews Golf Course paid less than Volunteer Waikato ($17,500) and Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust ($37,000).

Councillors also discussed selling up to $150 million of community assets in a closed section of the meeting.