Council comms cost rise

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā council will spend a quarter of a million dollars more than budgeted this financial year because of a restructure in the communications team.

The annual spend will be $722,812 which includes some, but not all, contractor costs.

Additional communication and engagement costs to contractors for key projects such as the Ahu Ake Spatial Plan, Victoria Bridge upgrade, Cambridge Connections and Ōhaupō pedestrian crossing are paid out on top of that figure.

A council spokesperson said contractors provided advice and tasks for a range of council projects but denied they were specifically for media liaison, graphic design, photography and communication/engagement advice.

The News was tipped off to the increase when staff noted changes to the Long Term Plan adopted in 2021 for 2023-24 at the council meeting last month.

Under the heading Operating variances, Strategic Projects driver Melanie Andrews reported to councillors that elected members honorarium had gone up by $87,000.

The Remuneration Authority externally set the rate.

Other increases included interest rates and overhead expenditure. Unspent are community grants to the Cambridge which is offset by increases to the Te Awamutu Safer and Waipā community charitable trusts.

A grant to the Waikato Biodiversity Forum has been redeployed to next financial year.

Communication and engagement had increased by nearly $223,000, said Andrews in her report to councillors.

A Waipā spokesperson said the council had engaged with the community over a number of issues which resulted in additional costs.

They included suggestions on dog policy bylaw, cemetery plans, waste minimisation, playgrounds, fees and charges, reserves, Cambridge and Kihikihi pathways.

Ahu Ake – the spatial plan –was by far the biggest, she noted.

The council has used Beca Group’s in-staff communications advisor, a former staffer at the council for that project.

The communications team was restructured in August 2021 to address workload pressures and clarify roles,

In my wrap up of the week today I note an incident at a supermarket.

I need to say this: toy guns are not toys. A group of teenagers went to a supermarket with toy guns, capable of firing projectiles, and also cap guns.

They were seen loading the pistols and a member of the public called police.

The teenagers had gone into a crowded supermarket and started shooting at each other. Given the high risk around youth offending currently, and the unknown factor of whether the firearms are real or not, it necessitated a response from police.

Incidents of teenagers using these toy guns are fairly frequent and I am highly concerned that someone is going to get hurt. Parents, if your teenager have these “toys” please, throw them in the bin.

Monday - Police attended a civil dispute/ family harm issue involving brothers. A youth offender breached his curfew, a vehicle was broken into on Alexandra Street, responsibilities and priorities and to meet increasing demands for community engagement, said the spokesperson.

“The restructure added a communications and engagement advisor, and a communication and engagement team leader, bringing team numbers from six to eight. It also included grade increases for some positions and allowed for market salary movements over the last three years.”

Since May last year there has not been a time when all roles have been filled and many are a male was arrested as a result of a family harm, a male was trespassed after harassing staff at a commercial premises, a trailer was stolen from Kihikihi and police attended a mental health incident.

Tuesday - Police called to check on an elderly male who had not been seen by neighbours for some time, a male reported being scammed online, a stolen vehicle was recovered on Station road.

A male was served a warning under the Harassment Act and police also attended after a sudden death. Police recovered a stolen vehicle in Te Mawhai, and attended an armed incident at a supermarket, three family harm incidents and a mental health incident.

Wednesday - Police attended four family harm incidents, a male was arrested for breaching bail and discovered to be driving with excess breath alcohol and a vehicle was taken in a burglary.

Thursday - A male and female were still vacant. trespassed from multiple commercial premises and we attended a fatal motor vehicle collision near Ngahinapouri.

The News understands a new Communications and Engagement manager – Hawke’s Bay-based Lisa Nairne – starts next month.

Her previous experience includes nearly eight years in communications at Taupō District Council and a previous two-year stint as a senior communications advisor at Waipā from 2011. Consultants have been used to back fill positions in the communications team while there were vacancies.

Friday - Police attended two family harm incidents, a male had his vehicle impounded after being found to be driving on a suspended licence, a female was found intoxicated and in a distressed state near a licenced premises, police made enquiries to locate a male for whom an arrest warrant had been issued.

Saturday - We attended some suspicious activity where someone called police after hearing noises on her property, Police attended six family harm incidents one of which resulted in a Police Safety Order being issued. We also responded to a non-injury motor vehicle collision, an assault and a mental health incident.

Sunday - Police conducted bail checks and caught up on paperwork.