Venue for retreat concerns group

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 6

Venue for retreat concerns group

, A Christchurch voluntary group is concerned that the Christchurch City Council is planning to use Methven as the venue for a team-building exercise this week-end. Ms Diane Draper, of the Shirley Handiscope group, said the council should be promoting

Christchurch and using its conference facilities. Handiscope is a project which aims to help people with disabilities and she said that most of the members could not themselves afford a week-end in Methven. They were concerned that their 1 rates would be used to cover the

cost of the council retreat. About 70 people, including councillors and community board members, will take part in the exercise at the Centrepoint Hotel. The city manager, Mr John Gray, said it was a one-off event and would not be a luxury week-

end. The new council faced big changes and there were many issues that had to be discussed. Mr Gray said it was being held in Methven so that those taking part coulij give the exercise their full attention without the distractions that would occur in their home town.