Liz Hughes, Council's Public Relations Manager response (The Weekend Sun 3 September) to Andrea Hoyle is in my view incorrect. Baypark does not qualify under 4.5 (General) or 4.6 (Sewage) of Council rating policy 2009.
I refer to my letter of 31 August 2010 to you setting out the position fully as I saw it in respect of both Baypark and Mount Greens.
On Baypark, Council may be the owner of the land and have received the rates demand but the lessee(s) have responsibility for payment of rates. However it matters little who gets the rates demand, the critical words are 'not used for pecuniary profit” in relation to the land. The activity is the test. Incidentally, I have never been able to get copies of the TCC rates demands for the past nine years, the reason was given ‘privacy' etc. the end result is Mr Clarkson, TCVL or TCC can't and couldn't ever in my view qualify for General or Sewage rates remissions under Council's own policy.
Council would not disclose what other facilities might qualify (if any) on the basis of commercial sensitivity.
Incidentally, I ask why have TCC apparently given TCVL a 10 year rating holiday?
R Paterson, Matapihi.