Northern Ward Committee Meeting Notes

The Northern Ward Committee met on Monday night, 24 June at 6pm, at the Stokes Valley Community House. Public comment came from:

• Colin Parker, who wanted to know when the beautification at the entrance of Stokes Valley was taking to take place. He also complained about the amount of red tape and set up costs required by Council for new business adventures especially small businesses.
• Peter Pettersen, who commented that the request for speed humps in Churton Crescent to slow down boy racers, has had an unacceptable response from Council Officers who say they face a wait of two to three years.
• Steve Ritchie, who said he doubted that the $60,000 approved in the Councils annual plan would fully cover the cost of the beautification paln was publicised just prior to the Council elections. He also said that he was pleased to see the council was going to discuss the location of the two sets of clothing bins near the entrance of the Valley and wanted to see them relocated to commercial areas as soon as possible.
• Janet Te Huia, from the Community Centre, who asked the committee to approve the funds that had been promised last year for the youth camp.

The Mayors comments included the fact that rates will increase by an average of 5.75 percent this year. Next year the increase will 3.5% the year after 1.5% plus inflation.

The issue of the Taita Community Hall coming back into public ownership was discussed, Sylvia Stevenson is concerned that if the hall is rented to groups at night, there could be stabbings and shootings in or around the hall as there has been in the past. Julie Hosnell from the 5 Star Gym presented a petition to the Ward Committee from the children who attend the Gym asking if there could be some form of Gymnasium at Taita.

The Committee was asked to consider the electoral system to be used in future and opted to support the status quo rather than move to the STV (single transferable vote) system.

Council has decided that the Stokes Valley Pool will be closed for maintenance for three weeks, not the seven that was being proposed as a cost saving measure.

$8,000 has been put aside for two gas barbeques for Speldhurst Park.