Funds for Promotion Council recommended

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 6

Funds for Promotion Council recommended

The Christchurch City Council should reconsider a budget proposal to provide no financial support for the Canterbury Promotion Council this year, the City Council’s policy and finance committee decided yesterday. Promotion Council members have said that even a substantial cut in City Council support would be disastrous.

By a 6-4 vote, the committee decided that the public relations and convention bureau’s programmes should receive this year's requested contribution of $38,939, representing 23c per head of population in the city. That money should come from the $60,000 on proposed estimates for council information and publicity purposes. Cr M. R. Carter recommended the move after a special plea from the Promotion Council.

Provision of the money would not require a change

in the estimated 20.45 per cent rates rise, but it would leave- only about $21,000 for the council’s other publicity purposes. Mr T. M. Inch, the Promotion Council’s chairman, said the city’s contribution was important because it could provide a lead for other local bodies which were reluctant to fund the council’s activities.

"It seems the City-Council is being asked to provide the deficiency that other local bodies are not contributing.” said Sir Terence McCombs. "The striking defaulters, if you can call them that, are the local bodies around Christchurch.”

Last year, the Heathcote County Council provided nothing towards the Promotion Council. The Waimairi County Council, Paparua County Council, Riccarton Borough Council, and Lyttelton Borough Council provided less than requested. During the last year, the

Promotion Council received about 75 per cent of its income from local body grants. This year, its proposed budget shows 69 per cent from that source, with more coming from private subscriptions and profitable activities.

Mr Inch said that the Promotion Council’s fiveyear goal was to receive half of its funding requirements from the private sector and profitable activities. He said that it was difficult to plan ahead without firm financial commitments. There was growing support for the Promotion Council, and a declining dependence on local body grants. "Fragmentation and bargaining at each local body is no basis on which to operate an organisation,” Mr Inch said.

The recommended council support will be debated at the special budget meeting on May 19.