Auckland Council’s budget lacks financial details

Rodney’s Local Board has raised concerns with Auckland Council regarding the lack of detailed budget information contained in the 2011/12 Annual Plan.

Board representative Tracey Martin, who gave a presentation to Council’s Strategy & Finance Committee on behalf of the board, said information was still required across Auckland Council on specific budget details, the details of programmes to be delivered in Rodney, projects to be implemented by Council Controlled Organisations such as Auckland Transport and ATEED, and programmes being delivered on behalf of the governing body.

The Warkworth Town Hall, Wellsford Library and Te Hana Cultural Centre were three projects highlighted by the board for funding priority.

The board called for a feasibility study to be done on the hall and wants the Wellsford Library completed in one financial year, rather than two. Support was given for the construction of public toilets, road re-sealing and upgrading of the main street in Te Hana.

“These are only the major points we wanted them to deal with – all other monies in the draft document are to be retained and we have given Council a very large document showing our issues and smaller funding areas where we are asking for their support,” Tracey says.

“We are very aware that there is very little money to be added to anyone’s budgets – not that some local boards haven’t asked for millions of unplanned and unbudgeted items – but we have a few issues that we feel we need extra funding for.

“Other issues raised through the process have been included in the three to 10 year vision of the area, the Local Board Plan, so we will be fighting for that funding in the next round.”

The Rodney Board also highlighted the need to support environmental programmes such as WaiCare and enviroschools, and economic development and Business Improvement Districts. They want funding to enable the development of BIDs across Rodney.