Media release
12 November 2003

Council Workshop Identifies Savings

A Manukau City Council workshop held over the weekend of November 8-9 has identified millions of dollars in expenditure savings and potential income. The theme of the workshop was “Living within our means” and the exercise examined all aspects of Council activity and spending.

The savings, reprioritisation of spending plans and new income sources identified are expected to total around $5 million per year.

City Manager Colin Dale says he is delighted with the workshop which was a great success.

“It’s produced many innovative ideas for working smarter or raising new revenue while keeping rates rises low and within the cost of inflation.

Stronger enforcement of parking infringements and collection system improvements are projected to raise $1.5 million a year. Currently, many parking infringements are not firmly enforced, such as violations outside schools. Mr Dale says the Council has not pushed hard enough on this issue but will do so in future. Extra enforcement officers will also be taken on as part of the clampdown.

Other areas of savings include:

- Review of the roading programme ($750,000)

- A new business structure to take advantage of potential imputation credits from Council’s airport shares (estimated $1 million pa from next year )

- Efficiency savings and reprioritisation of various initiatives Council is making to improve community development, economic development and quality of life outcomes ($1 million)

- Recovery from developers of more growth-related costs such as roading and community facilities.

Colin Dale says, “The multi million dollar savings we’ve identified is on top of the savings of $500,000 from management efficiencies achieved already so far this year, and million dollar per annum savings from corporate restructuring.

“Those savings are not a one-off. Each year they will mean lower operating costs for the Council of around $2 million and that helps keep rate rises low.

“Councillors have clearly understood we cannot afford everything on everyone’s wish list. We have to choose our projects carefully and focus on the key things which will go towards producing a clean, safe, smart city.”

At the workshop the Councillors also reviewed major projects such as the development of Flat Bush Town, the town centre revitalisation projects and nodal developments.

Ends

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