If you do anything that involves paying a fee to the council (other than rates and water charges which will be confirmed next month) such as owning a dog or selling food, this is the 31-page pdf on the council website.
It is the subject of a councilors decision at this Thursday’s meeting, but they are sure to simply rubber-stamp it.
Well they are sure to put the dampeners on Kapiti progress. Thank god for the council funded information centre.
But I wonder why they benchmark the fees to inflation when council rates are anything goes or just screw as much as they can from people.
Oh for a council and mayor with integrity and knows the value money.
Not so sure about the alleged ‘rubber stamping’ if you are truly interested in the actual debate just watch the KCDC livestream. The link to this and all councils public meetings is easily located on the KCDC website.
This important transparency measure was brought in last triennium. I suggested it, I supported it. It would be a real pleasure to see that we have viewers in double digits.
Usually we are lucky to have five actual members of the public watching.
Usually we are lucky if one actual news reporter is present at the media desk in chambers.( usually from Kapiti Independent News.)
We have not had one reporter from either the Kapiti News or the Kapiti Observer in chambers during a meeting for over a year.
We are lucky if one person actually sits in the public gallery through most meetings. PEOPLE, do you wonder why KCDC Management think they can get just about anything past the public??????
Those (damned few) councillors who are prepared to engage in actual robust debate on your behalf, about the issues we are voting on, really benefit from your support and presence, especially in the chambers.
It is really easy to throw criticism after the event. But if you are passionate about what goes on in KAPITI, support us, be there. This is a sign of strong democracy. A strengthened democracy that some of us have personally fought for hard, over the past five years, on principle, FOR YOU.
(Note – The Public speaking forum for half an hour before our meetings will be discontinued due to a lack of public coming to chat with us about what bothers you.
We have made this facility available for nearly 18 months. But no one is coming to talk to us) So if you have a burning issue and would like the undivided attention of the Mayor and councillors for half an hour in an environment where we are focused on problem solving, please book and come talk to us. That is what you pay us for. Please ring me if you would like further information. Districtwide Councillor Jackie Elliott 021045762.
Perhaps you would like to suggest to your “communications team” that they sort out the technical issues with the live streaming — sound that cuts out, picture that freezes and a very fuzzy quality that makes it hard to tell which council members are speaking.
Thanks for your comment Geoffrey. We do know that the microphone system sound quality is badly affected by the number of devices in chambers on wifi during meetings. Sometimes the Chair will ask everyone in the room to turn their wifi off to improve the sound. I noticed during the LTP hearings that all our faces are blurred and have asked staff why this is. They say it isn’t intentional which I immediately questioned given only the faces are blurred. Can someone try and get a screen shot of this tomorrow so I can show staff please?