Through this column I would like to ask The Mayor four questions.
1. What is the ‘actual' cost to ratepayers of providing a cafe for TCC staff?
2. What was the cost comparison with alternatives?
3. What where the alternatives that were considered?
4. Do staff family and friends use the cafe?
5. When will the council get an independent staff audit done?
Nigel Barker, Tauranga.
TCC responds: The cafe is a totally independent business and won the contract from other businesses that tendered for the space. There is a retainer paid to the company that runs the cafe for provision of generic tea, coffee etc and being available on site for meeting catering and cleaning services.
Any visitor in the building is welcome to use the cafe and pay for their purchases. There is no subsidy for staff or visitor purchases.
All activities of Council are independently audited by Audit New Zealand on an annual basis.
7 comments
TCC responds - I wanted answers please
Posted on 01-04-2011 16:41 | By Lostzone
Again via Sun Live I would ask the questions again. 1) What is the ‘actual' cost to ratepayers of providing a cafe for TCC staff? 2. What was the cost comparison with alternatives? 3. What where the alternatives that were considered? 5. When will the council get an independent staff audit done? The council is being very mischievous (IMO) by 'responding' as opposed to 'answering' the questions. What do we 'The Ratepayer" have to do to get TCC to be upfront, show respect for the people instead of consistently showing contempt? As long as this paper will print "my messages/questions" I will continue to ask.If I have to attend public meetings tp get an answer so be it. That of course will include pre election meetings."Citizens Monitoring Council" sounds like a dam good idea to me. Thanks Sun Live for your efforts. N. Barker
Actual cafe cost
Posted on 02-04-2011 08:46 | By Murray.Guy
Surely it is quite reasonable that any employer make appropriate provision for staff facilities, be in the case of TCC, an area to rest, eat their own food, purchase food
Last post incomplete
Posted on 02-04-2011 08:54 | By Murray.Guy
Silly lap top, sillier operater ... The time loss incurred by staff accessing a private inner city cafe, taking all their breaks (morning / afternoon to, just not practicle. The cafe lounge area is also used as a meeting space with groups of 2-8 common, along with an area for staff training, seminar type activities. To determine the actual cost is certainly not a straight forward 5 minute task. Firstly define the area (square meters), have it valued, list multiple use activities and the percentage of use by each, cost of building, depreciation, loan payments, etc...
Thats a cop out Murray
Posted on 02-04-2011 18:47 | By Lostzone
How do you get some one to supply their price etc with out appropriate information? One would have thought that appropriate information/schedules would have been available to get quotes/tenders for the supply of. Maybe it was not tendered ~ please advise on this. I have at no stage suggested that TCC do not provide adequate smoko provisions for staff.My questions are to identify if TCC are really cost efficient and if due process followed or if decisions are based opinions of staff or others. I have a keen interest in these things having had considerable experience with my own business's, many years in Local Authority management and as a small business mentor. Happy to meet with you and do the exercise with you at little or no cost to council. N Barker
Zombies with preprogrammed responses
Posted on 03-04-2011 17:01 | By Hebegeebies
Lostzone /N Barker Don't waste your time on TCC tossers. Most of your questions were very reasonable but apart from Cr.Guy who only jumps in and thrashes around aimlessly you do not get any direct answers.You never will and nobody states who the Council response is from.Actual costs alternatives and cost comparisons queries all get the flick and no indication is given what the generics(whatever that means) cost nor are you told if any rental for premises is paid either.All activities audited by Audit NZ that's a new ingenious slant on its role I am sure Audit NZ does not do staff audits and they seem to struggle even with TCC financials.Try an Official Information request that might rivet TCC attention although I doubt it.They will drag you down to their level then win with experience using your money to fend you off.
THE BILL AND MURRAY SHOW
Posted on 03-04-2011 21:50 | By TERMITE
lavish coffee and facilities, total indulgent food and other addons all at TCC cost, when does it stop adding to rates.
Hebegeebies
Posted on 04-04-2011 16:29 | By Lostzone
Thanks for your comments. Why not join me in setting up "Citizens Monitoring Council"? I have had many years involvement with Local Authorities so am well aware of the "fob off" answers. As long as I have the support of a paper (Sun Live) that will print the questions & results I intend to keep at it! Those questions are only the beginning. The are many more and it will cost me zilch to pursue. It is my guess that as election time gets closer or the questions get hotter someone "will" respond. That could well mean 'hitting a pin with a sledge hammer' so to speak.The contempt and total disrespect that TCC (councillors & employees) continually demonstrates to the citizens of Tauranga is worth considerable effort to change. A challenge that with support from a few others I will take on. Their actions, or lack of certainly get me thinking about words like 'deceptive' 'insincere' 'evasive' 'clandestine' 'surreptitious'. So simple for them really to just front up. At least Murray does make an attempt - which is more than some of the others. "Citizens Monitoring Council" N Barker
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