WATER IS THE ELECTION ISSUE

We have been given a wonderful opportunity with the Wellingtonian. We must now respond with letters about what happened with the vote to bring water management back into Council and out of the hands of the profit takers at Capacity.

THIS IS THE TOUCH STONE ON THE WATER ISSUE RAISED IN THE WELLINGTONIAN EDITORIAL TODAY:

The fact is Councillor Wade-Brown and the others who voted against bringing water management back in -house have no interest in public enterprise offering a service at cost, as is the case when services are delivered in house.
Celia voted to increase Capacity directors’ fees by fifty percent. Capacity contracts its water delivery and maintenance to the profit sector thereby adding extra cost to the consumer. Profit is an extra cost to the consumer. Water delivery in the hands of profit takers is privatising and adding extra cost. Water is a core service and should be delivered at cost in house. A board of directors is also an unnecessary extra cost to the ratepayers.
Cr Bryan Pepperell

Those opposing the new pay deal for directors of LATES and TRUSTS were Councillors Pannett, Pepperell, Ritchie and Goulden.

Those voting for the new pay deal for directors of LATES and TRUSTS at the beginning of the triennium were
Councillors Ahipene-Mercer, Best, Cook, Coughlan, Gill, McKinnon, Morrison, Wade-Brown, Wain and Mayor Prendergast.

MOST RECENT DECISION by those who support Capacity and the profit takers managing and servicing our water:

UPDATE – media release from Councillor Bryan Pepperell

day’s meeting of the council’s strategy and policy committee:

Report One – re Capacity
Water management for WCC and HCC
I put forward the following amendment
Recommend to Council that:
(a) it agree to consult under section 88 of the Local Government Act 2002 on a proposal to bring water management back in house and instead pursue joint venture with local authorities and Wellington Regional Council.

(b) it instruct officers to prepare the necessary consultation documentation for approval by the Strategy and Policy Committee

MOVED Cr Pepperell
SECONDED Cr Ritchie
Voting for the amendment were Councillors Cook, Pannett, Pepperell, Ritchie

Voting against were Councillors Ahipene-Mercer, Best, Coughlan, Gill, McKinnon, Morrison, Wade-Brown, Wain and Mayor Prendergast.

Abstaining was Cr Foster ( Capacity Board Member)
Absent Cr Goulden