KEY POINTS:
Proposed massive budget cuts for Auckland City have been moved into a series of secret council workshops by the party that promised greater transparency and openness.
"It is not a u-turn," said Citizens & Ratepayers leader and deputy mayor David Hay. He was speaking after C&R councillors voted to move the proposed budget cuts from public meetings to a series of workshops, with the public and media banned.
Cutbacks to be discussed include the mobile library service, a $15 million pool for Avondale, the continued development of the landing at Okahu Bay and a $10 million contribution towards the Onehunga foreshore masterplan.
High-profile stormwater projects at Coxs Creek, Vale Rd in St Heliers, Stanley St and Eden Park are also under threat. Officers have warned that any more stormwater cutbacks would see sewage pumped on to the city's beaches longer than necessary.
The proposals are part of a new 10-year budget.
The parks programme faces a cut from $512 million to $271 million over the next decade, with no funding to purchase open space for urban growth.
Faced with projections of double-digit rates increases inherited from the previous council, Mayor John Banks and C&R have asked officers to find savings to hold rates to inflation levels and fund favoured projects such as the $56 million package for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The ruling bloc has supported a 180 per cent rise in costs for the cup and a 10 per cent rise in spending on consultants. It has doubled council debt in its first year from $190 million to $380 million.
Last week, the council learned that spending on consultants for Te Wero bridge across the Viaduct Harbour was budgeted at $9.2 million. The price of the bridge has risen from $35 million to $51.2 million under Mr Banks, and officers have warned that "substantial risks exist regarding cost estimates".
Asked why C&R was going behind closed doors to discuss the budget cuts, Mr Hay said the issues would be discussed in the open in "due course".
He said C&R wanted good governance and good, considered decisions at a workshop where all the facts would be put on the table to find balanced cuts across all the council's various activities. The council would then go to the public with its plans.
Possible budget cuts:
$15m Avondale pool.
Mobile library service.
High-profile stormwater projects.
Funding for Onehunga foreshore masterplan.
Blockhouse Bay-to-Onehunga walkway.
$6.6m upgrade of Pt Erin pool.
Park development in urban growth areas.
Pt England beach resanding.
