Submissions councils’ own

Press, 18 January 1986, Page 9

Submissions councils’ own

The Heathcote and Riccarton councils did not use a public relations consultant to prepare their submissions to the Local Government Commission.

The Heathcote County Clerk, Mr Pat Cooney, said the submissions to the commission were prepared en-

tirely by the councils and their staff.

The councils employed a public consultant only to assist them to communicate with their residents and the public in general, he said. Their consultant is Mr Roy Hughes, executive director of the newly

formed Christchurch Ratepayers’ Protection Committee. At least one Christchurch City councillor believes Mr Hughes’s role as consultant for other councils conflicts with his investigation, for the committee, of City Council spending, Mr Cooney yesterday took issue with a statement from Cr Matthew Glubb, of the City Council. Cr Glubb said this council had not employed outside consultants on the local government issue because it felt to do so would not have been a proper use of ratepayers’ money. Mr Cooney said the use of outside consultants was a proper use of funds and often a more efficient and less wasteful means of providing services to rate-

payers. Mr Hughes is paid $4O an hour for the work he does for the Riccarton and Heathcote councils. Each council pays half his fee. Using outside consultants provided savings on wages and general staff costs, a wider breadth of experience and skill and an impartial view, Mr Cooney said.

It was essential that ratepayers were fully informed on the local government issue and for that reason the Heathcote council included the view of the City Council in its newsletter to residents. Mr Hughes produced the newsletter.

Mr Cooney said the City Council had employed consultants for various functions in the past and probably still did.