Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[Perry]

But witty and pithy, nonetheless.

[Don't believe the Hype]

last week on one of my building sites the council drains truck pulled up saw we were trenching and the council bloke said to me that if i paid him and his mate $50 each they would do the sewer connection immediately. i told them we would wait till our booked connection date the following week. he came back on our alloted day and flat out refused to connect as he was busy with some emergency work... but if i paid him, it would be done.

is this normal behaviour of council workers?

[eri]

of course not

hope you noted rego

had witnesses took photos

reported it

[Don't believe the Hype]

of course not

hope you noted rego

had witnesses took photos

reported it

have witnesses, know the bloke's name and will be reporting in my upcoming meeting with heads of department at council.

[Davo36]

Corruption pure and simple.

Needs to be stamped out.

So yes, report him.

[eri]

lyin' len

replaced for lyin' goff

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is refusing to rule out breaking a key election promise to keep rates increases to 2.5 per cent or less this term.

Goff said officers should provide advice on general rates increases of between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent, and on the rate increase required to fund critical infrastructure, which could be between 16 per cent and 27 per cent, Goff said.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11908367

how about a line by line review of council spending

cutting any crap not council core?

[Perry]

how about a line by line review of council spending

A look-see at the Taxpayers' Union Ratepayers Report might be insightful.

You do need to 'sign up' to read it, unfortunately.

[flyernzl]

how about a line by line review of council spending

Line-by-line never works. That just saves paperclips.

Much better to look at whole departments and ask "If this department ceased to exist, would ratepayers be any worse off?"
When the answer is No, then you can just get rid of the whole department, and the paperclip savings become irrelevant.

However, I did hear on NatRadio today that some of Goff's economy drive may have worked:
They found some unnecessary costs, and have removed them. Saved $800k apparently.
Unfortunately, the cost to do so was $1.2mil !!

[Perry]

Typical Woodenhead Waffle

But which part was spread over how many years?

[Davo36]

Line-by-line never works. That just saves paperclips.

Much better to look at whole departments and ask "If this department ceased to exist, would ratepayers be any worse off?"
When the answer is No, then you can just get rid of the whole department, and the paperclip savings become irrelevant.

However, I did hear on NatRadio today that some of Goff's economy drive may have worked:
They found some unnecessary costs, and have removed them. Saved $800k apparently.
Unfortunately, the cost to do so was $1.2mil !!

I believe that. Makes no sense that it'd cost more to identify cost savings than the cost savings are worth, but this is the council so you know...

[eri]

now that council lifts speak te reo

the push is on for buses + stations too

wonder how many tickets AT will have to hand out to pay for that

[Davo36]

now that council lifts speak te reo

the push is on for buses + stations too

wonder how many tickets AT will have to hand out to pay for that

The Beast must be fed alright.

They know what's best for us, best we just hand over all our money now so they can run things.

[flyernzl]

Those who are busy inventing Te Reo will be so very happy.

[Perry]

Good float - when you can get it.
Interest free, too.
10 Sep 2017

A woman who found her HOP card balance had mysteriously gone to zero was shocked to find Auckland Transport (AT) had taken the money. And it turns out, other HOP card holders are experiencing similar losses. In the year to the end of April, $342,000 was wiped from HOP cards under AT's "60 day" rule.

That didn't reflect the amount kept by AT, as it also included money "reinstated" when people complained. "If someone does not tag on within 60 days, they can call us and we will reinstate the money."

Steal first : return later - if you're lucky.

[Wayne]

Good float - when you can get it.
Interest free, too.
10 Sep 2017


Steal first : return later - if you're lucky.

Poor software that it can't sort better than that and can only look back 60 days or slows down.
Needs a better database.