Transparency of Council Finances in Advance of Consultation for LTP
Chris McCashin made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Chris McCashin to read recent responses and update the status.
From: Chris McCashin
Dear Wellington City Council,
In light of the recent Castalia Report please provide
Copy of the Castalia Report
List of the Assumptions that Castalia have wrong in their reporting
The Assumptions that Castalia should have used per councils current situation
Additional to this and in light of the imminent consultation for the long term plan can you please provide
Any and all reports completed relating to council finances
Any and all memos formal and informal in relation to council finances
Specifically in relation to income versus OPEX and CAPEX - I don't want asset values included in the analysis - strictly cash coming in versus cash coming out
Any and all memos / reports notes / requests for Central Government Funds - specifically GST as I know the Mayor was wanting a handout
Ultimately a comprehensive statement of the current accounts so that Wellingtonians can reasonably consult on the long term plan - we need to know the councils financial position
Any and all notes formal and informal relating to council and their 225% debt limit
Recent public information provided noted the following
Rates Revenue - $480m
OPEX - $817.6m
Capital Budget - $566.1m
With the council already being $1B in debt I suspect you are already at and even in excess of your debt limit. I for one wouldn't be loaning you money.
No reasonable household can operate this way. For every dollar that comes in there is three dollars that go out however there is already substantial debt with interest rates going up. You can't hide from the math. Wellingtonians need to know that they aren't going to be lumped with 15% plus rates bills in perpetuity whilst council continue with silly projects using borrowed money. (Lambton Quay, Town Hall, Library, Cycleways, Housing). There you go I just saved you $1B. We can't do our due diligence if you don't provide the proper information knowing we will be hammered with constant rates rises. Do the right thing and please provide as much information you can relating to the councils current financial position so that Wellingtonians can make an informed decision.
Yours faithfully,
Chris
From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council
Kia ora Chris
Thank you for your email dated 26 October requesting information.
Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision as soon as possible, but no later than 23 November, being 20 working days of receipt.
The reference number for your request is IRC-5609.
Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Kind regards
The Assurance Team
Email: [email address]
Wellington City Council | W Wellington.govt.nz | |
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris McCashin <[FOI #24534 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 October 2023 3:54 pm
To: BUS: Assurance <[Wellington City Council request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Transparency of Council Finances in Advance of Consultation for LTP
Dear Wellington City Council,
In light of the recent Castalia Report please provide
Copy of the Castalia Report
List of the Assumptions that Castalia have wrong in their reporting The Assumptions that Castalia should have used per councils current situation
Additional to this and in light of the imminent consultation for the long term plan can you please provide
Any and all reports completed relating to council finances Any and all memos formal and informal in relation to council finances Specifically in relation to income versus OPEX and CAPEX - I don't want asset values included in the analysis - strictly cash coming in versus cash coming out Any and all memos / reports notes / requests for Central Government Funds - specifically GST as I know the Mayor was wanting a handout Ultimately a comprehensive statement of the current accounts so that Wellingtonians can reasonably consult on the long term plan - we need to know the councils financial position Any and all notes formal and informal relating to council and their 225% debt limit
Recent public information provided noted the following
Rates Revenue - $480m
OPEX - $817.6m
Capital Budget - $566.1m
With the council already being $1B in debt I suspect you are already at and even in excess of your debt limit. I for one wouldn't be loaning you money.
No reasonable household can operate this way. For every dollar that comes in there is three dollars that go out however there is already substantial debt with interest rates going up. You can't hide from the math. Wellingtonians need to know that they aren't going to be lumped with 15% plus rates bills in perpetuity whilst council continue with silly projects using borrowed money. (Lambton Quay, Town Hall, Library, Cycleways, Housing). There you go I just saved you $1B. We can't do our due diligence if you don't provide the proper information knowing we will be hammered with constant rates rises. Do the right thing and please provide as much information you can relating to the councils current financial position so that Wellingtonians can make an informed decision.
Yours faithfully,
Chris
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #24534 email]
Is [Wellington City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Wellington City Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council
Kia ora Chris,
Please find attached the response to your request for information.
Kind regards
The Assurance Team
Email: [email address]
Wellington City Council | W Wellington.govt.nz | |
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: BUS: Assurance <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 30 October 2023 1:00 pm
To: Chris McCashin <[FOI #24534 email]>
Cc: BUS: Assurance <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Transparency of Council Finances in Advance of Consultation for LTP
Kia ora Chris
Thank you for your email dated 26 October requesting information.
Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision as soon as possible, but no later than 23 November, being 20 working days of receipt.
The reference number for your request is IRC-5609.
Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Kind regards
The Assurance Team
Email: [email address]
Wellington City Council | W Wellington.govt.nz | |
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris McCashin <[FOI #24534 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 October 2023 3:54 pm
To: BUS: Assurance <[Wellington City Council request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Transparency of Council Finances in Advance of Consultation for LTP
Dear Wellington City Council,
In light of the recent Castalia Report please provide
Copy of the Castalia Report
List of the Assumptions that Castalia have wrong in their reporting The Assumptions that Castalia should have used per councils current situation
Additional to this and in light of the imminent consultation for the long term plan can you please provide
Any and all reports completed relating to council finances Any and all memos formal and informal in relation to council finances Specifically in relation to income versus OPEX and CAPEX - I don't want asset values included in the analysis - strictly cash coming in versus cash coming out Any and all memos / reports notes / requests for Central Government Funds - specifically GST as I know the Mayor was wanting a handout Ultimately a comprehensive statement of the current accounts so that Wellingtonians can reasonably consult on the long term plan - we need to know the councils financial position Any and all notes formal and informal relating to council and their 225% debt limit
Recent public information provided noted the following
Rates Revenue - $480m
OPEX - $817.6m
Capital Budget - $566.1m
With the council already being $1B in debt I suspect you are already at and even in excess of your debt limit. I for one wouldn't be loaning you money.
No reasonable household can operate this way. For every dollar that comes in there is three dollars that go out however there is already substantial debt with interest rates going up. You can't hide from the math. Wellingtonians need to know that they aren't going to be lumped with 15% plus rates bills in perpetuity whilst council continue with silly projects using borrowed money. (Lambton Quay, Town Hall, Library, Cycleways, Housing). There you go I just saved you $1B. We can't do our due diligence if you don't provide the proper information knowing we will be hammered with constant rates rises. Do the right thing and please provide as much information you can relating to the councils current financial position so that Wellingtonians can make an informed decision.
Yours faithfully,
Chris
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #24534 email]
Is [Wellington City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Wellington City Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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