Malvern rates to rise 2.5 per cent

Press, 14 May 1984, Page 4

Malvern rates to rise 2.5 per cent

Rates in Malvern county will increase 2.5 per cent this year. Malvern is one of the first full councils to decide on the level of rates. The increase will mean an extra $40,000. At a meeting on Friday, the County Treasurer, Mr W. E. Findley, told the council that it was in a sound financial position which continued to improve, and this allowed the council certain luxuries this year. “We are proposing rate increases and we are also proposing decreases and the end effect is almost nil,” he said.

The main change is in reading works costs, which have been allowed under

National Roads Board policy to increase from 4 per cent to 8 per cent. Mr Findley said that the estimates were similar to last year’s. Specific increases had been made where the council had overspent last year, or where they had been asked to put money aside.

Town planning fees had been kept much the same as last year but how much was spent correlated with how many applications the council received, he said.

Another change this year is that no provision has been made for discount on rates paid by a given date. Mr Findley said that this had cost $15,000 last year and effectively the rates this year will be increased by that amount.

The chairman of the council, Mr G. E. Wright, said this was a change from a tradition that had been in practice for as long as he could remember.

“People can still pay in full or quarterly, with a penalty fee if not paid on time,” he said.

Mr Findley said that the council was going to start shifting expenditure from storing money in accounts to storing it in assets. An example of this redirection from direct reserve funding into land purchase was the purchase of some Darfield land for $28,330. This was going to be only a temporary direction, he said.

The estimated closing balance for the last financial year had been $319,987 and the actual balance was $363,885. This was because the council had firmly established expenditure controls, said Mr Findley.

More changes were needed, particularly in rating, but these were in degree rather than type, he said.

The former HororataSnowden water race has been divided into two in this year’s estimates. The new Selwyn water race, a triangular area to the south of the Selwyn River, has had a water rate decrease from $4.35 to $3.90 a hectare. The Snowden subdivision race, the former race above the highway, has an increase from $4.35 to $8.71 a hectare.

The Darfield Community Council submits a set of estimates for Darfield for

approval by the County Council and Cr Wright was concerned that the administration fee to the county had remained the same as last year. Contributions to other schemes including halls and reserves had also decreased about $3OOO, he said. Cr G. Hutton said that he did not believe that Darfield was paying its share of administration costs.

Cr R. J. Gibson disagreed and said that Darfield was the centre of Malvern county. It had many facilities, such as a high school, hospital and medical centre, that all the county used. If the costs of these were worked out, Darfield would be paying more than its fair share, he said. Mr Perrin said that the council could get into a town versus country argument if the extra money was demanded, and recommended that it be referred back to the Community Council for consideration. Haunui Trust The council decided to make a contribution to the Haunui Trust which provides a home for the elderly. Cr R. H. White said that the trust had originally asked for $lO,OOO and the council was not in a position to “hand out” that amount. The driveways to the trust’s house needed tidying and sealing, which would cost $3500, and the council could do this, he said. He suggested that the money come from the contingency fund. Cr N. G. Clucas, the council’s representative on the trust, said that it would be of considerable help if the council’s contribution was to tidy the driveways. Cr Wright said the money would come from the public amenities reserve or the contingency fund. Swimming pool The council decided to accept a tender for the construction of a learner’s swimming pool at Darfield, on the condition that the pool committee raise the money. The County Engineer, Mr A. C. Watson, said the tender was from W. J. Reynolds and Sons, of Christchurch, and quoted $23,766. Cr J. M. Shipley, a member of the pool committee, said that the balance of funds was about $lB,OOO with more to come from a work-day at Darfield High School. There was also $5OOO in the estimates that she hoped would be granted to the pool fund, she said. The decision was delayed for consideration with the swimming pool maintenance and assistance section of the estimates. A total of $6OOO was allowed for pools in the district with $5OOO from the Malvern County Council and $lOOO from the Darfield Community Council.

Cr Clucas queried why so little of the amount was coming from Darfield when they would use the pool as

much as the rest of the county. She said the proportion should be the same as for the library with Malvern paying 75 per cent and Darfield 25 per cent. Cr Shipley said that hundreds of school children would use the pool and they would come from all over the county and not just Darfield.

The council agreed that Darfield should be asked to pay 25 per cent of the $6OOO. A motion was then carried giving $5OOO of the money to the pool fund and $lOOO to other pools in the county. Castle Hill

Further development was not urgently needed at Castle Hill, and plans for expansion have been held until the next review of the District Scheme, the council decided. There should be further investigations before then to assess the need and feasibility of providing for further development on the west side of the State highway. The Rural D zone would be deleted on the east side

of the State highway and on the west side, Rural D would be deleted from two lots.

The reduction of the zone on the west side and the removal from the east would reduce the possible accommodation capacity which is to remain at a maximum of 1400. The decision follows a hearing of objections and' submissions to a proposed change of the council’s District Scheme. Under the change, land north of Castle Hill village would have lost its Rural D zoning, and land to the east of State highway 73 would be zoned Rural D to provide industrial and recreational use.

Objectors had said that a development straddling the highway would cause crosstraffic which would be hazardous to traffic using the highway.

The restriction on the size of the shopping centre at Castle Hill village will be removed, as the demand was already restricted through the accommodation limits. > '