Australian study tour report

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 16

Australian study tour report

Increased efficiency, increased revenue from "trad-ing-type" activities, and savr ings through better buying procedures were more obvious ways to improve financial resources. Waimairi District Council's finance and by-laws committee has been told.

This was one conclusion in a report from a study tour earlier this year by the committee chairman, Cr M. P. Hobby, and the council’s deputy clerk. Mr P. W. Chapple. It was received by the committee last evening, and

referred to next month's meeting for discussion. Improved finances through increased Government grants were becoming increasingly remote, and rates were getting to a level where they were a genuine hardship to more homeowners, said the report which covered 11 councils visited in Sydney and Melbourne. The tour, which was opposed by at least two councillors, was to study financially related matters such as sources of finance, computerisation, cost sharing and budgeting systems. Cr Hobby and Mr Chapple have put forward 10 recommendations to the council.

The 11-day. tour had cost almost $2BOO, they said. This was about $125 a day each, and . compared favourably with the cost to the council for councillors and staff members to go on courses within New Zealand.

On increased efficiency,

the. report said that all authorities visited had been analysed, or were about to, where they intended to develop over the next three to eight' years. Recently suggestions had been made that Waimairi raise loans for reading, a library workroom, books, major plant, land, and computers. All were worthy in their own right, but only a careful study would give a priority order, said the report. A three or five-year capital works plan would suit admirably. Cr Hobby and Mr Chapple have recommended to the council that it take early action to establish a three or five-year capital works programme, incorporating the source of funds for each project. Many local authorities in Australia had adopted pro-gramme-priority budgeting, which evaluated projects on their own merits in terms of

cost and benefit, said the report. They recommended that Waimairi set up such a programme. Cr Hobby and Mr Chapple also recommended that a study group be set up to report back on the most suitable ways of implementing these two recommendations. On computers, the report recommended that hardware ordered be able to handle all work likely to be computerised, or that can be upgraded to do so. Staff should prepare a programme of priorities for computerisation of council work. On increased revenue, Cr Hobbv and .Mr Chapple said that the council should fully review its user charges policies. This would include such matters as charging to cover administration costs for some activities, which are-at present free, or with a low fee.

It was also suggested that the council's recreation planning and development committee put more emphasis on forward planning for revenue producing recreational facilities. and that the council be vigilant for ways to enter profit making ventures jointly with private sector interests. The report further recommended that the council continue to press for the same sates tax rebate entitlements for local bodies as government departments, and that information be sought on the special buying facilities for Australian local government: Cr P. M. Carter said he did have some doubts about the trip, but these had been dispelled. It was a very helpful report, with useful ideas.

"I hope that some of the ideas are not lost, and that the report is not just filed to gather dust," said Cr Carter.'.