Bid to boost ‘Summer Times’ funding fails

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 9

Bid to boost ‘Summer Times’ funding fails

An attempt to boost the funding for “Summer Times” failed at last evening’s Christchurch City Council meeting. Cr Vicki Buck sought to have the council underwrite the programme by $BO,OOO transferred from works accounts of the council. That would have boosted the funds for the summer activities without increasing the rates requirement, she said.

The money would have come from the Halswell and Wigram plant renewal account from which $400,000 will already be transferred.

The deputy general manager (works), Mr Harold Surtees, said to take another $BO,OOO out of that account would put at risk the Wigram plant if expensive. equipment was required. The ac-

count balance stood at $206,000.

Cr Buck said it was imperative that the city have some fun in it, and to do that the council had to stand behind the programme.

Of the $BO,OOO she was suggesting she said it was “chickenfeed in the full budget.”

“The rates of 130 households,” retorted Cr Matthew Glubb. Cr Louise Moore said the “Summer Times” programme was falling apart because the Government had withdrawn funding (in the form of P.E.P. labour) and thrown the cost back on to local government. The Labour Government had pulled the rug out from under “Summer Times.”

The council voted against Cr Buck’s suggestion.