The word is around the CBD is that if you want to join the 'City Partners Scheme” then all you do is agree to pay in 'cash or kind” about $10,000 - $15,000pa, and you only pay in some years if you want to.
For this 'payment” the member gets: -
1 Invites to regular parties at Council chambers, WBOPDC etc.
2 Invites to a range of other events all paid by Council e.g. Tauranga Golf Course.
3 The Council picks up 100% of the tab for this from the City Partner money received.
4 Often contracts will be signed up by a Council department without any tendered, e.g. the annual road contract.
5 Preference to Council contracts and preferential treatment in the tendering process (Council to date has failed to provide the audio tapes of the 'public excluded” or 'secret meetings”).
The parties invitees include: The City Partner members and staff, TECT trustees, sundry others, senior Council Staff (including staff whom sign off the tenders and contract), and the Mayor and Councillors.
Taking the City Partners who are businesses (that also pay in) payment by Council are about $30-$43 million a year. Their contributions in are about $430,000pa (1.0% or less of the total received). After you allow for the numerous costs associated with Council doing anything: like salaries, administration, legal costs, and the social and entertainment there would seem to be little left that would make it of any use, so why does it remain?
In addition when a tender is considered (e.g. the annual maintenance contract tender in 2007) by Council staff who then recommend to Councillor's the highest tender be accepted when it is about $350,000 (41%) higher than the second / nearest tender. You have to ask who is really paying for the City Partner scheme? Maybe the truth is the ratepayers! The total cost to ratepayers are not visible at first but must be a lot more than purported.
I challenge Council to say nothing but instead to open the books on it all and pleading the fifth amendment does not cut the mustard! In essence this has the same smell as a CV for a job at the Devonport NZ Naval base.
Ian Stevenson, Tauranga.