4 February 2009
 
“No More Free Lunches” –  North Shore Mayor
 
 
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams has brought to an abrupt halt any further ”free lunches” for Councillors of North Shore City. At today’s council meeting considering North Shore’s 15 year Long Term Council Community Plan the Mayor was successful in securing majority support from his Councillors to institute “user pays” charges for food catering provided to Councillors.
 
“Quite frankly I inherited the “George Wood Gravy Train” which was a big spending gold plated council where money was no option.” says Mayor Williams “They spent up large across the board like there was no tomorrow, including Councillor meals, and I was not comfortable in the least with this.” says Mayor Williams.
 
“I have come out of the corporate world where I paid for my daily lunch, unless I was someone else’s guest, and that’s what I expect from my council. I will pay my own way for any meals in the future, as will my Councillors, and we will make sure that this also filters down through the North Shore City bureaucracy.”
 
A number of Councillors opposed the Mayor’s determined firm stance on this matter at today’s meeting but it was passed by a two thirds majority in support of the Mayor. In future Councillors who use the meal facilities provided will be charged $25 per week for this service. On average there are three meetings per week so this equates to just over $8 per lunch.
 
North Shore City has also finalised a draft 15 year LTCCP (Long Term Council Community Council Plan), the first council in New Zealand to change from 10 year planning to 15 years, which sees previous average rates rises drop from 8.4% p.a. to 5.4% p.a..
 
“This council is well and truly on the ball. We have knocked 3% p.a. off our long term annual rates charges for the next 15 years while still making sure that the North Shore remains one of New Zealand’s top ranked cities for all the civic services we provide. Food for thought for the likes of Rodney Hide and John Key I would have thought” says Mayor Williams in relation to the restructuring of the Auckland region.
 
Ends
 

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