Someone told me the other day that he believed the only achievement of this council so far this term is that we have not undone the work of the last council. He then went on to say that the city is progressing DESPITE council. This got me thinking - what has this council achieved?

What’s been done in the six months since the new council took office? If you have answers please post them below, because, try as I might, I cannot disagree with the gentleman I mentioned above.

At our last council meeting of the year we debated The Square redevelopment yet again. It seems that this is an issue which will dominate this term of council. The Mayor stated that it is “an unnecessary luxury which the city cannot afford”. This was certainly my feeling when I first stood for council. However, the proposals put forward last night ignored the fact that the Stage 2 works had been previously approved, relitigated, and approved again numerous times. Also ignored was the fact that the current rates include the Stage 2 works. The recommendation to not proceed with the proposed kowhai grove and lime chip paths was unnecessary as the designers, landscapers, stakeholders (including the Police) and safety experts had already agreed that pohutukawa and grass was more suitable in this location. The type of pohutukawa under investigation is one of the new hybrids, a cross between pohutukawa and rata, which lends itself to limbing up.

People often say they never hear from their councillors between elections. There also seems to be a perception out there that if a councillor does not get his/her name into the paper on a regular basis that means the councillor concerned cannot possibly be working. As a councillor, newly re-elected, I have spent a lot of time wondering how to communicate with residents who are interested in knowing what I am doing. My website has been up now for two years and is getting a reasonable number of visitors but I felt that should I add everything I want to add to the site these visitors would quickly lose interest in trawling through hundreds of pages.
So, I have launched this “Blog” (aka “web log” - an online diary). This will replace my website and you will be able to comment on what I post, either directly to me via my contact form, or on the blog itself.
I won’t have time to write every day, but I will be writing regularly to let you know what I am doing, how I have voted on the big issues, and just generally to keep in touch.
I hope you find this useful.

I believe in being accountable to residents and ratepayers in Palmerston North and had been wondering how I could communicate better so all would know what I am actually doing in my role as city councillor.

This website has been attracting some interest however if I was to post an item here for everything I wish to report this site would quickly become unmanageable, both for you, the users, and for me with managing vast numbers of pages of information.

On the first Saturday morning of every month over this last year I have been at the Milson Community Centre so people could drop in for a chat. I have always had a lot of the information which is normally available at the Customer Services Centre, plus copies of council plans and any consultation documents.

While some mornings have been busy, with a number of people calling in to talk with me, a number of days have seen no visitors at all.

What does a councillor actually do?
I have been asked this question so many times since my election that I have decided to answer here. Please click this link to read my article.

Remuneration

The remuneration paid to the Mayor and Councillors for Palmerston North City Council has been determined by the Remuneration Authority. The remuneration, effective from 1 July 2003, is set out below. Some adjustments are likely to be made for the incoming Council:
Annual Salary before tax:

Mayor $83,581
Deputy Mayor $33,430
Level 1 Committee Chairperson $30,175
Level 2 Committee Chairperson $27,660
Councillor $25,146 (this is my remuneration)

Milson Community Centre
First Saturday of EVERY month
Call in anytime between 10am and midday to have a chat with your councillor.
The Milson Community Centre is at the left of the Milson shops, at the corner of Milson Line and Purdie Place. Cr Lynne Pope is available every month to chat with you and will bring issues you raise back to council. Any consultation documents out for submission will be available during these times and many of the information leaflets normally available at the Customer Services Centre will also be able to be picked up from the centre.

“I can offer tea and biscuits and a councillor’s ear. I hope to see you there”.