Transport paid by employer?

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 9

Transport paid by employer?

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

Council staff required to travel long distances to work after amalgamation should have their transport costs met by their new employer, the Wairewa County Clerk, Mr Kevin Harmer, believes.

Mr Harmer presented a report on amalgamation staffing issues at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairewa County Council. Staffing decisions will be among the most important to be made if the success of any reorganisation is to be guaranteed, he says.

“It must be remembered that reorganisation, while not desired by the majority of local authorities, has not been sought by their staff.”

If staff were required to transfer or travel a long distance to their new place of employment then the employer should pay transport costs for a time, he said.

Mr Harmer suggested such a policy should be valid for up to five years from the date of the final decision on their location.

This suggestion met with a mixed reaction from the council but it was agreed to forward the report to the Banks Peninsula Transitional Committee for consideration.

The report contains comments on standardisation of work conditions, guaranteed employment without loss of privileges, redeployment and stress.

Mr Harmer has been appointed community services manager for the Selwyn District Council and will take up this posi-

tion in September. He expects to work part-time for the Wairewa County Council between September and amalgamation in October. Store wars

The Little River Store is appealing against the council’s recent town planning decision to allow a canteen to sell a limited number of grocery lines at the Okuti Valley Holiday Park.

One of the owners of the Little River Store, Mr Geoffrey Taylor, said it was too early yet to notice any effect on the store’s trading pattern but he expects a decrease in trade in summer as a result of the competing canteen.

He said Christmas was the store’s busy time. When people visited for an item they usually bought something else as well.

Mr Taylor said he and his wife, Jennifer, were very disappointed at the council’s decision to allow the canteen and hoped it would be reversed at the scheduled hearing next month. Sign violation One of the owners of the Okuti Valley Holiday Park, Mr Pat Robson, will be given until August 12 to remove a sign at the park’s entrance which was recently ruled to breach the District Scheme.

Councillors yesterday decided that if it was not removed by then the council will apply to the District Court for an order authorising the council to remove it.