At its recent day-long retreat, Council unanimously resolved that a family-friendly philosophy should be at the heart of all future Council planning and policy.

This philosophy and the family-friendly Wanganui policy will be discussed at the Council meeting on Monday, August 11.

The aim of the family-friendly policy will be to retain families – and attract new ones – by improving the quality of life for all Wanganui citizens, arresting the population decline. The family-friendly approach has been adopted in other cities around the world and by a small number of New Zealand cities.

For Wanganui, this will mean a focus on areas including economic opportunities, safe community, good health care services, community networks, connectivity, affordable and quality housing, quality educational opportunities, and access to recreational and cultural opportunities.

Mayor Michael Laws acknowledged, "The adoption of a family-friendly credo is a significant step for the council. It means that we are attempting to improve and assist the quality of life for people living here, and particularly families".

"I want Wanganui people to know that we offer their kids and themselves a range of modern, up-to-date amenities that are free, inviting and fun. I want Wanganui people to feel safe, and know that their health and welfare can be catered for no better than here."

The philosophy of a family-friendly district should also flow through to the Council being a family-friendly workplace. Decisions relating to the family-friendly policy will feed into the 10-Year Plan 2009-2019

The Council's proposal to ban gang patches has moved a step closer to becoming law.

Accompanied by Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon, Senior Cr Randhir Dahya and Cr Rana Waitai, Mayor Michael Laws explained the reasons behind the bill at a Law and Order select committee in Wellington last week. The bill is sponsored by Whanganui MP Chester Borrows.

In the 2007 referendum, over two-thirds of respondents voted in favour of progressing the bill to ban the wearing of gang patches in Wanganui. Mayor Laws told the committee banning gang patches would mean law-abiding citizens could walk the street free from intimidation. It would send the message that gang activities would not be tolerated.

Mayor Laws presented statistics showing that gang criminal activity in Wanganui had increased in recent years. Violent offences had increased from 12 in 2004 to 99 reported last year. Dishonesty offences had also risen over the same period. The Mayor accepts that the bill is not a "silver bullet" in the fight against gangs; however, it would provide police officers with another tool to use in creating a safer community.

Mayor Laws was aware of concerns that the bill infringed on gang members' human rights but argued that the safety of the Wanganui community took priority.

The bill must pass two more readings in the House before becoming law.

This month visitors to the Sarjeant Gallery will be treated to a rare exhibition of Persian rugs from the collection of Jalaleddin Takesh and his sister Torkan Takesh.

The rugs have only been exhibited once before, in San Francisco. The decision to exhibit them at the Sarjeant Gallery was made by the Takesh family, who believe in Wanganui's potential to become a major arts centre.

The detailed pictures on the rugs were created by weaving together thousands of fine fibres of wool and silk on a loom. Vegetable dyes were used to colour the fibres.

The exhibition, titled 1001 Nights, will be on display from August 10 to September 28 at the Sarjeant Gallery.

Community organisations working within the Wanganui District are advised that applications for Community Contracts for the 2008/2009 financial year (July 1-June 30) are now invited.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 11 August 2008, at 5.00pm.

The Community Contracts programme provides funding to community organisations which provide service initiatives that:

• Support the 10-Year Plan
• Provide depth of value and benefit to the wider Wanganui community
• Increase community capacity in the Wanganui community

There is $80,000 of contestable funding available for the 2008/2009 year. Please note that the Community Contracts Fund is separate from the Impact Fund which supports initiatives that attract visitors and deliver a significant economic impact to Wanganui, and deliver sustainable programmes that raise the national profile of Wanganui.

Community organisations interested in Community Contract funding can obtain a specific application form, explanation notes, guidelines and criteria at:

• Wanganui District Council Office, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• Community House, 53A Ridgway Street, Wanganui
• Wanganui District Library (Central City @ Queens Park, Mobile Library) www.wanganuilibrary.com

Thinking of applying?

Thinking of applying and not sure you meet the criteria? Please contact Keith Smith or Marion Gibbard at the Council, phone 349 0001, for further information.

The Wanganui District Council recently proposed a new policy for leases of Council land and buildings to community organisations, presented at a workshop on 28 July 2008.

The Council now invites community organisations affected to provide feedback on the draft policy.

Consultation
Copies of the draft Community Organisation Leases Policy and the workshop presentation are available on this page.

The consultation period has been extended until Thursday, 28 August 2008.

Submissions are welcomed and should be addressed to:
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui 4540
Attn: Sarah Stuart

or delivered to our Customer Services Desk at 101 Guyton Street, faxed to (06) 349 0000, or emailed to Sarah Stuart.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Thursday, 28 August 2008.

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Sarah Stuart, Property Officer, at the District Council, telephone (06) 349 0001 or email Sarah Stuart.

The Wanganui District Council is proposing to amend the Wanganui District Council Bylaw 2005/1 to include a variable 40kph speed limit on Mosston Road between Tayforth Road and Buxton Road to operate during student arrival and departure times to provide a safer environment for schoolchildren.

We welcome your comments on the proposed amendment to the Speed Limit Bylaw. A Statement of Proposal and a submission form are available at the Council's Customer Services Desk.

You can make a submission by completing a submission form or you can make a verbal submission by phoning us on (06) 349 0001 (8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

If you have any queries, you can contact the Council on (06) 349 0001 or email us.

Submissions must reach the Wanganui District Council no later than 5.00pm on Friday, 29 August 2008.

The proposal is that Wanganui District Council becomes a shareholder in a Manawatu-Wanganui region Local Authority Shared Services CCO and that the form of the CCO is a limited liability company.

There will be seven shareholders, with a director from each local authority and up to three professional directors to supplement the expertise of the chief executives and the local authority directors. The councils involved are Horowhenua District Council, Manawatu District Council, Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council (Horizons), Rangitikei District Council, Ruapehu District Council, Tararua District Council and Wanganui District Council.

A Statement of Proposal, a Summary of the information and the proposal are available from the Customer Services Desk at the Wanganui District Council Municipal Building, 101 Guyton Street, and also at the District Library, Queens Park, during normal opening hours; and on this page.

Submissions are invited on the proposal.

Submissions may be made on the submission form available from the Customer Services Desk at the Wanganui District Council or the District Library, Queens Park.

Post submissions to:
Proposal to establish a Council Controlled Organisation
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui

Or deliver to:
Customer Service Desk
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Or email us

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 22 August 2008.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, August 11
The Council will consider reports from all Committee meetings held in July.

Community Development – Thursday, August 21 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2) (to be confirmed)
- Community Contract Approvals

Youth – Monday, August 25 (4.00pm)

Hearings – Tuesday, August 26 (9.00am, Committee Room 2)
- Resource Consent Application – demolition and site development at 11 Rutland Street, Wanganui.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, August 27 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.