Is fare fair for councillors?

Over the past three months, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council had spent $6150 on catering for meetings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Across the wider Hawke's Bay councillors enjoy fairly modest fare for lunch and tea breaks on the ratepayers' tab, but the costs vary depending on the number of councillors and meetings held.

The issue hit the headlines this week when Hutt City councillor Campbell Barry complained about councillors getting free buffet meals, after they had passed a living wage policy he did not think went far enough.

In Hawke's Bay, the Hastings District Council spent on average $975 per month based on 32 individual council meetings to date this financial year, and generally averaged about $303.92 per meeting, a council spokesman said.

The catering provided for between seven people (chairman's committee) and 60 people (the inaugural council), and lunches comprised a selection of finger food from hot savouries such as samosas and chicken kebabs, to club sandwiches, New Zealand cheeses and cracker selection with grapes, fruit platters and sweet slices.

The menu cost about $19, including GST, per person, and was provided through an existing contract with a catering company.

Over the past three months, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council had spent $6150 on catering for meetings, but over the year this varied depending on how many meetings, or workshops were held per month, and how many participants were involved.

Council governance manager Leeanne Hooper said lunches cost $15.50 per person, including sweets and fruit, and were ordered for committee members and invited guests only. Ms Hooper said in February there had been nine meetings at council (including workshops) with catering costing $1825.

Despite having fewer meetings in March - only seven - $2425 was spent. In April, $1900 was spent over the course of eight meetings. The Napier City Council spent $527 on catering for council meetings this financial year -- an equivalent of $47 per month.

Council team leader governance Jane McLoughlin said they did not cater for meetings unless they were longer than four hours and where councillors were required to remain on site. The only food provided at council meetings was a plate of biscuits, costing about $4, and during the financial year there had been one lunch provided -- which included sandwiches, fruit, and cake -- and two afternoon teas with muffins. The CHB District Council averaged about $500 a month, for council and committee meetings and workshops, and meals comprised the likes of sandwiches, soup and quiche for lunch, and cheese, crackers and fruit for morning and afternoon teas.

The catering provider depended on cost and availability, said a council spokesman.

The Tararua District Council's average monthly cost ranged between $400 and $450 a month, with lunch provided at the monthly meeting, and morning and afternoon tea for committee meetings.

Sourced from a local supplier or supermarket the menu included items such as fish bites, pizza, chicken, cold meat, soup, buns, fruit, slices, juice, tea or coffee, said governance manager Richard Taylor.

In Wairoa, the average monthly refreshments bill for council meetings was about $340. The catering varied from providing none at all, to lunch for main council meetings, to other meetings where they only provided morning or afternoon tea.

The food provided also varied -- from a typical cut lunch with sandwiches to seasonal soups or curries -- but was always ordered on a per head cost basis.

Wairoa council official information officer James Baty said they tried to use different caterers.