Issue No. 13 - 1st September 2001
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Issue No. 13 - 1st September 2001 |
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Ikebana expert Mitsue Chubachi and her assistant Hideko Tanabe will be a major drawcard at the Wanganui Blooming Artz Festival this month. The women, from Wanganui's sister city Nagaizumi-cho in Japan, have been invited to the festival by the Wanganui Sister City Association. They will demonstrate the arts of Ikebana (flower arranging, using locally sourced flowers) and the tea ceremony at several sessions during the Blooming Artz Festival. The festival will be held at the Wanganui Racecourse on September 14-16.
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Hideko Tanabe learned Ikebana from Mitsue Chubachi and was her best pupil. Since then, she has assisted in Ikebana demonstrations and has more than 10 years' experience in the tea ceremony. They will arrive in Wanganui on September 12 and will attend a function hosted by the Sister City Association on September 13. Wanganui and Nagaizumi-cho have been sister cities since 1988 and later this year will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sister City Friendship Centre at Wanganui East. The Ikebana and tea ceremony programme for the festival is: Friday, September 14 Saturday, September 15 The demonstration is a rare opportunity for Wanganui people to watch
real experts in the arts of Ikebana and the tea ceremony. Admission to
the demonstrations is free (there is a door charge for general admittance
to the festival). |
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Formation of holding company - public consultation process The Council has resolved to proceed with the formation of a holding company, subject to public consultation, to own the Council's shares in Wanganui Gas Ltd and to monitor Council's trading undertakings. A decision on whether to proceed with the formation will be made at a meeting of the Council to be held on 5 October 2001. What is a holding company? A holding company is a company that owns shares in another company. The proposal would not undermine or reduce the work of the Wanganui Gas Ltd Board and it would not replace the Council's overall control of its assets and trading activities. The directors of the holding company would be appointed by, and accountable to, the Council. Formation of holding company - public consultation process
The arguments against forming a holding company are:
The potential gains from a holding company are real. It is a common structure for both local authorities and commercial companies for co-ordinating and monitoring diverse undertakings while maintaining an overall strategic direction for the group. An Investment Report commissioned by the Council establishes a sound reason for ownership of the Gas Company and for investment in other initiatives of strategic advantage to the community. The proposed structure is not about promoting sale or potential sale, but is to put in place a regime of management that can ensure the community gains maximum value both socially and economically from its investment. For that to be achieved, it is important that the structure is not a barrier between the Council and the Gas Company, or that it is perceived as being an asset for potential sale. For 'best value' to be obtained, the Council needs to create an atmosphere where each sector and each body can contribute in the area where it has greatest skill and work together to achieve the overall goals of the Council. The establishment of the holding company will mean that the Council can focus on what is important for the community from Wanganui Gas Ltd. The objectives of investment ownership will be clearly spelled out, and this enhances the policy setting framework for all of the Council's investments. Obtaining independent input into the monitoring of other undertakings will allow new ideas to come forward and enable opportunities to be identified and pursued more readily. Maximising value is the reason for a holding company. It will not usurp
the Council as the owner. The trick is to achieve the correct balance
between economic returns, which can be maximised by the holding company,
and social returns, which will be maximised by the Council. Neither aspect
is any less important, and the holding company is believed to provide
the best opportunity to achieve this balance as it involves commercial
wisdom and social wisdom in a manner that can work, and is working for
a number of local authorities. The constitution of the company sets parameters around what directors and the company are allowed to do. This document would cover the requirement for any sale of assets to be approved by the Council. The Statement of Corporate Intent is required on an annual basis, and this enables strategic direction to be set and co-ordinated between the company and the Council. The Annual Report and Annual General Meeting allow the Council to monitor results in terms of the Statement of Corporate Intent. The Board will report formally to the Council's Finance and Administration Committee on a regular basis. Process The proposal is not about removing control or placing a separate tier between the Council and investments. It is also not about taking advantage of tax legislation, although this will be a beneficial side effect. It is about maximising social and economic returns and ensuring that Wanganui is well placed to move quickly in responding to economic change and social change. This will lead to potential advantages for our community. More information on the proposal is available from the Council Offices at 101 Guyton Street between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Any member of the public interested in making comment on this matter can do so until 4:30pm on 1 October 2001. The decision on whether to proceed with formation will be made at a meeting to be held at 1pm on 5 October 2001. At Your Service The fourth edition of the Council's At Your Service booklet will be available next week. The booklet outlines our 23 major services, the standards we are aiming at, how we monitor our services and how much they cost users and ratepayers. It describes what you can expect from each service. How can you get a copy of the booklet?
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Next week's Council Meetings
Change of Meeting Date Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will commence at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui. Agendas are available at the Help Desk, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.
The Council welcomes members of the public to attend its meetings.
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Notice of temporary road closure
to vehicular traffic
[Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965] The Wanganui Car Club, for the purpose of a hill climb event, will close Matarawa Valley Road and Union Line from the Fordell Sale Yards to the top of Union Line by No. 2 Line on Sunday, 2 September 2001, from 9.00am until 6.00pm. During the closure, provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic which would otherwise use Matarawa Valley Road and Union Line. It will be an offence under the above regulations for any person, other than under authority of an authorised permit, to use the road for ordinary vehicular traffic during the period of closure. Motor Camp Operator Wanted This venture would suit motivated people interested in seasonal work with a lifestyle and those prepared to take a long-term view of growing the business. Lease Applications are to contain details of the interested party as set out in the "Application Form". For an Application Form contact Stephen Horn at the Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui. Telephone (06) 349 0542. Fax (06) 349 0505. Email stephenh@wanganui.govt.nz. Application Forms must be deposited in the Council Tender Box, located at the Help Desk, by 4pm, 18 September 2001. |
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Mitsue
Chubachi gained the Japan Tea Ceremony Society's qualification as a tea
ceremony instructor in 1966 and was admitted as an instructor in flower
arrangement by the Ikenobo School of Flower Arrangement in 1970. She has
given classes in both arts in Nagaizumi and the city of Numazu, and in
1995 she became a director of the Japan tea ceremony branch office in
Numazu.