KEY POINTS:
Under-performing community centres and halls in Auckland City could be sold under a wide-ranging review of community services that targets libraries and recreation centres next.
A stocktake has given community centres in Pt Chevalier, Sandringham and Panmure and halls in Ellerslie, Glendowie, Three Kings, Rakino Island and Waiheke Island a low ranking, making them "potential divestments" in officer-speak.
Officers, under pressure to cut costs so Mayor John Banks and Citizens & Ratepayers can hold down rates, have released the first stage of the "community facilities and libraries plan".
It is meant to provide a 20-year development for the council's 20 community centres, 11 recreation centres, 28 community halls, 17 public libraries and the mobile library. The axe hangs over the future of the mobile library after chief librarian Allison Dobbie put it forward as part of cutting $13.6 million from the $145 million library budget over the next 10 years.
City Vision councillor Cathy Casey yesterday said the community plan was another signal that the city's assets were not safe in the hands of Mr Banks and C&R.
"Just as this council is setting up a holding company to get a better commercial return on assets, so they are clearly signalling the wholesale sell-off of community assets is just around the corner," she said.
Last week, the ruling bloc voted to keep open the option of handing over control of swimming pools, libraries, parks and the zoo to businesspeople to run along commercial lines.
Paul Goldsmith, the C&R councillor who chairs the community services committee, said an officers' paper was the first stage of understanding what community assets the council held, how well they were being used and how best to deliver community services.
"The assurance is this. We want to deliver the best and most accessible community facilities that we can for the money we have available," he said.
Mr Goldsmith said it could make sense to add a meeting room on to a local library rather than have a rundown facility along the street.
The officers' paper, being considered at today's community services committee meeting, said the first stage was a stocktake of community centres, halls and offices. The next step was gathering information on libraries, recreation centres and leased facilities. The paper was written by a senior policy analyst, Jesse Colquhoun, and approved by arts, community and recreation group manager Ruth Stokes - previously a policy analyst in the council's treasury department.
The stocktake includes information about age, the facilities provided and annual visits before they were ranked according to "utilisation" and "fit for purpose" criteria. Those with low, poor or satisfactory rankings are most at risk of being sold with or without the land following consultation with the public and community boards. Alternatives would also be examined for under-performing assets, such as leasing to community groups.
Under threat for the axe:
* Sandringham Community Centre.
* Dunkirk Rd Activity Centre, Panmure
* Pt Chevalier Community Centre
* Sandringham Community Centre
* Ellerslie War Memorial Hall
* Fergusson Park Hall, Onehunga
* Glendowie Hall
* Three Kings Tennis Pavilion
* Rakino Island Hall
* Old Blackpool School Hall, Waiheke Island
* Old Surfdale Post Office, Waiheke Island
* Ostend War Memorial Hall, Waiheke Island
* Surfdale Hall, Waiheke Island
