Wrangle over council funds stays unresolved

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 1

Wrangle over council funds stays unresolved

By

KAY FORRESTER

The Christchurch City Council believes its contribution of half of the Canterbury United Council funds entitles it to some say in the council’s running.

The City Council is irritated by the United Council’s response for more information about the latter’s spending. The City Council sought regular reports as a result of this year’s United Council budget. It had contemplated taking the issue to the Land Valuation Tribunal

and may still do that at budget time next year. City Councillors are unhappy with the seeming lack of budgetary control on the United Council’s spending. They have resolved to keep the United Council’s activities, work and expenditure under scrutiny in the next year. The United Council has refused to supply threemonthly reports to the Council, saying it provides these to United Council councillors. It has also told the City Council it is not subject to the direction of constituent councils, only to itself. Cr Vicki Buck said that without reports to the City Council, the United Council could parade as a responsible body without accounting to the ratepayer. As the collector of half the United Council’s levy

on ratepayers, the City Council had a duty to keep the United Council accountable, she said. The United Council’s reply that it was subject only to its own direction was "offensive and smart alec,” said Cr John Bum. It was accountable to the people and should take a more responsible attitude, he said. The City Council had every right to seek information about its work. It was obliged to do so. Cr Helen Garrett felt the reply was satisfactory. She was unhappy at the “improper” trading of public insults between the councils. The City Council will seek the United Council minutes to be tabled at its meetings and the Town Clerk will report on the significant United Council decisions.