Gallery trust seeks more council help

THE Percy Thompson Gallery Trust has asked the Stratford District Council to contribute more with the gallery's running costs.
The trust is short of cash because its income, some of which comes from interest on the bequest from the late Percy Thompson, is down due to world market conditions.
At last week's Policy and Services Committee meeting, chairman Roger Hignett, who is also chairman of the trust, suggested the committee raise the amount to $70,000 for next year. The council's contribution helps pay administration costs, including wages and other overheads.
"The capital fund is not returning enough to keep our business afloat.
"If we were to start digging into our equity, our accountant tells us it would be all gone in four years. Then we'd be putting it all back onto the ratepayers or closing it down." he says.
When it was set up, the council agreed to make an annual grant that would cost ratepayers no more than one per cent of the rate take each year. The council has contributed $25,000 a year to the running costs of the gallery since it opened eight years ago. In 2002, $25,000 was close to 0.5% of rates. It is now about 0.28%.
As well as income from the bequest, the trust is supported by generous grants from the TET and the TSB Community Trust, along with grants and sponsorships from other groups.
The immediate costs of painting are being covered by grants from the TSB and TET, Mr Hignett says, but the trust wants to set in place a maintenance schedule for the next decade.
Mayor Volzke moved an amendment to bring the council's suggested contribution back to $50,000, which was seconded by Sue Pugh and passed unanimously. This means the request will be included for discussion in the district's draft annual plan, which goes out for public consultation early next year. Meanwhile, the committee agreed in principal to a request from the Central Taranaki Safe Community trust that its annual grant is increased from $10,000 to $15,000. The extra money is needed because the trust's activities have expanded to setting up and running community patrols and monitoring the town's security cameras, as well as its other work with neighbourhood support groups, crime and injury prevention and road safety.
The recommendation that $15,000 be given is to be added to the draft annual plan.