Guy Burns, Deputy Chair of the Raumati Paraparaumu Community Board is urging Councillors to drop the economic development arm of Kapiti Coast District Council.
“We have entered the silly season when rates raise their ugly head. Currently Council are considering introducing a commercial targeted rate for economic development, which will further increase costs for businesses.
“History shows that Council is ineffective and wasteful when attempting economic development. For example, $1.5 million was loaned to Otaki’s Clean Tech Park in 2012; within a couple of years Clean Tech was wound up at a great cost to ratepayers.
“Kapiti Coast District Council’s current economic development activities seem to consist of developing a website, grants, and coordinating and reporting on economic matters. Such things are best left for businesses and private enterprise to organise and develop. The best way Council can facilitate economic growth is to reduce red-tape and cumbersome compliance requirements.
“The Long Term Plan is currently being developed. KCDC has budgeted over 5 million dollars a year for economic development. I urge Councillors to disestablish the economic development arm of Council and put the money instead towards lower rates.”
I have made similar comments in my LTP submission. $2.7M a year, where are the measurable results? Council’s role is to make it easy to do business in Kapiti and that should be part of their normal culture anyway.
Reblogged this on Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch.