City councillors are in training this weekend aheadof Monday's mammoth council meeting - the biggest of the year so far.
Unlike most gatherings, Monday's meeting is expected to take up most of the day with a morning and afternoon session.
Items for discussion include the Maori vote and whether the city council should have a special Maori seat in future.
It's part of the regular self-analysis the council has to undergo by law, along with the decision about whether to retain ward seats.
Maori seats have been part of the BOP Regional Council for two three-year cycles now where they appear to be operating successfully.
Recent treaty settlements have also resulted in the creation of two new local authorities, giving iwi and hapu representatives 50 per cent of the vote.
Councillors are also set to debate reducing the rent for Marine Reach's ship Pacific Hope, currently undergoing a refit at the former slip jetty.
Marine Reach provides medical, dental and optometry services to isolated pacific island communities and has been based in Tauranga for 24 years.
Though Marine Reach is currently paying $4000 a month rent on the berth, they are seeking a reduction to $2000 until June 2015 when the current work will completed.
The council is also to consider ‘adopting' Marine Reach as an expression of humanitarian support to the peoples of the Pacific.
The afternoon session is full of issues expected to attract involved debate, starting with the Western Corridor and Settlement Pattern Review Project.
Councillors are being asked to finalise the approach to be taken at the next SmartGrowth meeting on November 26.
They shook things up last month by voting to short circuit SmartGrowth's settlement pattern review after Bob Clarkson complained that his land on both sides of the city/district council border at Tauriko has been overlooked.
The issues were thrashed out at a workshop meeting on October 29 and council is now being asked to ratify that Bob's land and land east of SH29 near Keenan Road will also be included in areas being considered for future housing.
The afternoon session will focus on Bay Venues Ltd Status and directions. Councillors are to decide if they should hand over ownership of the city halls the CCO manages to the organisation.
7 comments
Think before you Vot!
Posted on 14-11-2014 12:54 | By DAD
The Councillors are voted to their positions by the Rate Payers of Tauranga,they must vote for what they think that the majority of Rate-payers would want, that is their job!
Maori Seats on TCC !
Posted on 14-11-2014 16:17 | By Jitter
Why ? They are NZers like the rest of us. If they want reps on the Council let them put up candidates and be voted in like the rest of the councillors. If "Maori" are allocated seats and expenses then this is once again racist and separatist and is another nail in the coffin for a multicultural non racist/separatist NZ.I expect the Treaty argument will be used again ie But it says we have to do this in the Treaty! Utter crap.Nowhere in the Treaty does it state that all the special priveleges that "Maori" have been handed on a plate to date have to be given. The Treaty is an excuse to extend and expand racism and separatism and is an easy out for our weak and gutless administrators. That should get Mr Bell going !
No to Marine Reach
Posted on 14-11-2014 16:22 | By BullShtAlert
People should be free to choose their own charities and not have Council decide to support a charity that works overseas. As worthy as that may be, it is not the role of Council. Marine Reach also has religious connotations which is another reason for Council to keep out. It is fine for people to believe in anything they like, and to have imaginary friends, but ratepayers money should not be used to support. Fair enough?
And most can't attend, DO NOT KNOW!
Posted on 14-11-2014 18:01 | By Murray.Guy
And most of the community have no idea what this Council is up to, most decisions predetermined in secret staff led workshops where the public and media are denied access, and they refuse to hold meetings at times more accessible by more people (evenings). No humanitarian support for the many local critical community support organisations at the Historic Village. Is it correct Mayor Crosby is Patron of the Local Marine Reach organisation and other Councillors directly and indirectly associated?
Murray, glad you reminded me
Posted on 15-11-2014 14:29 | By Councillorwatch
Secret meetings and decisions happened in the old council too. As far as I remember, council bought a Speedway business with no public consultation? We still don't know how much that cost. Is it true, Murray Guy, that you are a speedway saloon car driver? I say no to Marine Reach. Ratepayers shouldn't be subsidising peoples beliefs, charities and for that matter buying Speedway businesses either.
Sun;ive, offer Councillorwatch councilling!
Posted on 16-11-2014 12:09 | By Murray.Guy
Yes I am (sort of) a speedway competitor, registered to Kihikihi Speedway. So what? Belief it or not, my push for openness, transparency, integrity of processes and more accessible Council meetings was NOT supported by the Mayor, majority of Councillor or staff when I was a Councillor. You need majority support to achieve desired outcomes, Councillors with a community support focus, rather that Mayor and staff - nothing has changed. I would have supported total public disclosure in regard the speedway business purchase (Which has now been sold as was the intention). I'm guessing you are aware of all I've clarified and just choose to abuse the privilege of public forms for some perverted p personal agenda.
But Murray, consistency
Posted on 16-11-2014 18:40 | By Councillorwatch
If it's good enough for you to throw questions at the Mayor in case he is say the patron of Marine Reach (possible conflict of interest over them wanting a freebie?) then it's good enough to have your associations questioned too. I have yet to see a straight answer from you whether you at Council voted for or against the purchase of the Speedway business and the $5million cash injection to Baypark. Two very fair questions I'd have thought. If you voted for either of them, I can't see how you can get stuck into council for their behaviour now. Do you drive at Baypark Speedway? If so, how can you say so what? Practicing what one preaches is very important.
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