First Hard 10-Year Plan Decisions Made

The first difficult decisions required of Council to meet its operational savings
target of $14.5 million were made today, with services to the community under
the spotlight.

Council agreed with a number of recommendations from staff covering the
Community Development Unit, which if adopted as part of the 10-Year Plan
would see savings of $1.26 million.

The savings agreed today will accompany other savings decisions being made at
a series of seven meetings running through to the end of October, and which
review the entire business of Council.

Today’s decisions include stopping some community grants, reductions in the
number of community advisors and their work, stopping the Transition to Work
Programme and reducing investigation of taggers. Funding and support for a
new Zeal youth facility was agreed.

Representatives of eight community organisations took the opportunity in the
Public Forum section of the meeting to share their views with Councillors about
the proposals.

The public will formally have their say early next year when the draft 10-Year
Plan is open for public consultation. Views can also be made informally through
an online forum at http://getinvolved.hcc.govt.nz/smartthinking

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker says:”It certainly was tough having to make
these decisions which will see reductions in services and grants to the
community. But we talked about our staff working more innovatively and
smarter, and do need to keep in mind at the end of the day we need to ensure
the city as a whole is in a stronger financial position.”

The next areas for consideration are Parks and Open Spaces, and Indoor
Recreation on 27 September, and Housing on 30 September. The public is welcome to attend all meetings, with a Public Forum at the start from 9.30am.