The submission is in response to the
Council's Draft Annual Plan and is critical of Mayor Terris's City Vision team for
being elected on the platform of "No Rates Rises." It asks why Council are
asking for a 3.5% rates rise now, just to maintain the status quo, and questions why City
Vision didn't seem to know such a rise would be necessary 6-9 months ago when they were
campaigning. Further, the submission accuses City Vision of playing political tricks, by
presenting rate-payers with a choice of options under the strapline "How Much Would
You Like To Pay?" which, the submission contends, is a just a way of appearing clever
and innovative, attempting to distract the Hutt City public away from their original No
Rates Rise promise. The Public Survey opens by asking, "Do you want economic growth
in the Hutt City?" which is a leading question designed to put the reader immediately
into a frame of mind supporting a rates rise.The submission goes on to criticise the present Council's stewardship of public funds, questioning the amount so far spent on feasibility studies (which only serves to place the public's money into the hands of rich consultants), council meetings, workshops and mayoral luncheons that are little more than PR exercises.
The Council's plans for creating development also come under fire in the submission which contends that upgrading the Dowse Art Museum and re-developing the Petone foreshore are not real economic drivers. Instead the Council are accused of missing the point that the best way for Council to encourage economic development is to make it easier for those who wish to set up business in Hutt City. The Council seems to want t become an active player in creating jobs itself despite its own claims that it is the private sector that is best at creating jobs.
According to the submission, the Council seems intent on spending the vast majority of Hutt City public money on projects south of the city including: