Wanganui District Council has included a new line in the rates demand for 2008/09. Anti-social activity is costing the Council over $1 million per annum, and for the first time these costs have been itemised in the rates demand.

The Council has considered the financial impact of tagging, vandalism, littering and other anti-social behaviour, and measures required to combat these activities. Additional funding has been included in this year's budget for upgrading the graffiti and vandalism teams, CCTV upgrade, employment of an enforcement officer, security monitoring and the establishment of 'city rangers'. Mayor Michael Laws believes "these things will make a significant difference to our community and assist in our aim of becoming a family-friendly city".

Mayor Laws said that making our city and community safer was the prime imperative of these measures and "given the gaps in policing and enforcement, we are given no option but to plug the gaps. And for every dollar we spend in this area, that's a dollar less that community groups get or the ratepayer can keep in their pocket".

"We want to be able to promote ourselves as the best place in New Zealand to live so we can attract more families to Wanganui. That means we must be able to show that this is a safe place with zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour. The initiatives introduced this year will go a long way toward that goal."

The average cost per residential ratepayer for 2008/09 is $44.16.

Pictured are members of the Council's Graffiti Team who regularly paint out tagging, graffiti and similar vandalism. The cost of doing so has exploded over the past three years.

The Council has had a long-standing policy of not allowing pets in Council-owned pensioner flats. The policy is designed to avoid potential conflict and reflects tenant preference.

As recently as May 2006, the Council conducted a pensioner survey on this issue. 239 returns were received from residents in Council-owned pensioner flats. With regard to cats, more than half of the tenants did not wants cats in their pensioner flat complex, one third were ambivalent, and only 6% would like them. When asked about dogs as pets, the response was stronger. Three quarters of tenants said that residents should "definitely not" be allowed to have a dog, and only 3% "definitely" thought they should be allowed.

Council staff have received resident complaints on this issue. They have been required to remind some residents of their contractual commitment, entered into as part of their tenancy agreement, which includes the clause:

"Not [to] keep any animals, including dogs, cats or birds, on the premises or grounds, without the written permission of the Landlord."

Despite the clear policy, Mayor Laws appreciates that the issue has caused discussion among the public. He has indicated to Community Development Committee chairman Cr Ray Stevens that the matter can properly be raised at his committee.

Wanganui District Council has been registered by the Department of Building and Housing as a building consent authority under the Building Act 2004.

The Council's Team Leader Building Control, Jeff Jamieson, is pictured being presented with the registration certificate on August 6 by the Department's Chief Executive, Katrina Bach. Wanganui District Council is the 53rd of the 76 territorial and regional authorities nationwide seeking to be registered. Fifty-five councils have been accredited and registered to date.

The registration is the result of hard work by many members of staff and will be reflected in the improved service that the team provides.

Arts organisations and artists in Wanganui have once again benefited from Creative Communities Funding. A total of $31,000 was distributed to 16 local organisations and individuals, representing the diverse nature of the arts community in Wanganui.

Successful projects included a range of classical music performances, a photographic exhibition and a secondary school portrait competition. Projects covered all art forms – visual and performing arts, crafts and literature.

The successful applicants were:

• Albert D Sword 'The Troubadeurs' (musical concerts for no cost)
• Hazel Menehira and Morris Richards (history of Four Seasons Theatre 1970 – 2000)
• Kate de St Amand (exhibition of Wanganui artists)
• Mars Hill Trust (Easter art Wanganui 2009)
• Pasifika Vision Forum Charitable Trust (Pacific Pride Celebration)
• Patricia Gail Imhoff (Photographic exhibition of Iwi events)
• Riverain Trust (Last Thursday Club venue at Stella Bar and Grill)
• Wanganui Community Arts Council (emerging artist scholarship project)
• Wanganui Competitions Society Inc (dance festival and speech festival)
• Wanganui Festival of Organ Music (9 concerts)
• Wanganui Girls College (secondary schools portrait competition)
• Wanganui High School (stage challenge)
• Wanganui Potters Society (workshops)
• Wanganui Schola Sacra Choir (performances of Handel's Messiah)
• Wanganui Glass Group (Glass Festival)

Money for Creative Communities is provided by Creative New Zealand and administered by Wanganui District Council. Projects seeking assistance must either increase participation in the arts at a local level, or increase the range and diversity of arts at a local level, or enhance and strengthen the local arts sector.

Local Assessment Committee for Creative Communities Scheme 2008
Cr Nicki Higgie
Sally Patrick – Community and Cultural Manager, WDC
Sharon Duff – Coordinator of Creative Communities, WDC
Emma Camden – Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Vine – Community Arts Council
Barney Haami – Iwi Representative
Joan Rosier-Jones – Wanganui Literary Society

A reminder to all ratepayers that the due date for payment of Instalment 1 is Wednesday, 20 August 2008. Please ensure payments reach our office by close of business on this day.

Council offers direct debit as a method of payment. Frequency of payments can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. Please contact the rates department for further information, phone 349 0519.

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

Community Development – Thursday, August 21 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)
- 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)

Community Development – Tuesday, September 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.