The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Chief Executive of Timaru District Council to explain what his staff actually do, given that so much of their work is outsourced.
According to a report published in The Timaru Herald yesterday, Timaru District Council spent $34 million on 214 consultants between 2018 and 2022.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Josh Van Veen said, “It is particularly concerning to see that the CEO alone spent $700,000 on consultants for his office.”
“That would pay the annual rates bill for more than 300 households in the district,” Mr. Van Veen said.
The 2022 Ratepayer Report found that of the staff at Timaru District Council, 42 are paid more than $100,000 per annum.
“What do these people do, given that so much of the Council’s work is outsourced to private contractors?” [Exactly the same question needs to be asked of KCDC —Eds]
Which could mean the council is receiving and acting on advice/instructions from advisers rather than consulting/ listening to the electorate and acting according to the electorate wishes.
It is a sham.
So in other words council decisions are made by the private sector.
They should like you say be using the public for consultation not private consultancy companies.
“What do these people do, given that so much of the Council’s work is outsourced to private contractors?”
They sit on their butts and take their turn operating the money hose that they spray their buddies with. Then when they get ousted, go back to consultancy work and let one of the others take a turn at it.
How many flit between working for the council and contracting to the council?