Council has pushed up both rates over many years, making a change in financial direction even more important than before. We need a council that lives within its means rather than asking ratepayers and residents for more and more.
We need to bring rates down and invest in infrastructure and community facilities over time – not all at once.

Achieved so far:
1) Line-by-line editing of council budgets to remove unneeded spending, resulting in lower rates increases than planned;
2) Increased focus on core operational spending to cut overhead costs;
3) Overhaul underway of councils financial reporting and planning systems.

NOTE: achievements are always by the council as a team, not just me!

Next steps:
1) Full strategic review of council's role and purpose, as well as its high level of overheads, after the separation of waters assets, no more "business as usual";
2) Review of council service levels, involving residents and ratepayers, to decide if promised spending is really affordable;
3) Embrace government's "Back to Basics" approach to running councils;