U-turn on children's cash chop

By STUART DYE education reporter

The Auckland City Council has been forced into an election-year u-turn after a public backlash against plans to axe funding for school holiday programmes.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks said yesterday that $95,000 would be restored and shared between 15 community centres for the school holidays starting at Easter.

He stopped short of criticising authority officials, who made the decision to instead use the cash for rubbish, recycling and park maintenance without the approval of councillors.

"I don't blame them because I'm responsible for them," he said.

Councillors last month voted to chop $94,000 given to holiday programmes from next year.

But officials decided to bring that forward and halt the cash before the end of term, with just a few days' notice to programme organisers.

It sparked an angry response and a frantic search for money to enable centres to run the programmes.

Mr Banks said the decision to overturn his officers' ruling was not related to the forthcoming elections.

"It's to do with doing the right thing," he said.

Holiday programme organisers said the cuts had meant some would have to close, while others would be forced to shed staff or raise fees.

Sharon White, who runs the programme at Otahuhu's Riverside Community Centre, said it was imperative, particularly for low-income communities, to have the programmes.


"These are a godsend for families who have to work and simply could not afford to send their kids here at inflated prices."

It is not the first time the council has bowed to public pressure over community funding cuts.

In June last year an outcry stopped plans to axe the mobile library service from visiting rest homes and pensioner villages throughout Auckland.

Mr Banks said he stepped into the holiday programme issue to reassure worried families and community centre organisers.

But he stood by the long-term proposal to scrap the funding from next financial year.

"There are greater priorities for ratepayers' money.

"I'm not being mean spirited, I'm being prudent with that money."

He said his council had followed the lead of other local bodies when it voted to reduce its $144,484 support of 24 holiday programmes for the next financial year.

The decision, which was out for public consultation via the draft annual plan process, was made on the basis that central government was now committed to largely resourcing the programmes.

However, Mr Banks said the authority was planning a $50,000 fund for special holiday alternatives.

Sandy Thompson, executive director of the National Association of Out of School Care, welcomed the backdown but said she was still concerned about the long-term cuts.

"Parents need to know if there will be somewhere safe for their children every holiday.

"They cannot be left in a 'will there, won't there' situation every term break."

A meeting of all programme organisers tomorrow would go ahead as planned to discuss the matter.