Submission No: 2012‐000525 Name: Sandra Perry Organisation: Waikato chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. Do you wish to attend a hearing: No Do you agree with the Council’s plan to return to surplus within 5 years? Yes Comments: No response. Would you pay higher rates to keep Council services at the same level they are now? No Comments: No response. Do you agree with selling assets to pay off debt? Yes Comments: Refer attached. General Comments: No response. Did you find the draft 10‐Year Plan documents easy to use and understand? Yes Did you find this online form easy to use? Yes Do you have any comments about the 10‐Year Plan documents or this submission form? Refer attached. Submission No: 2012-000525
“To Inspire and enable business vitality”
19th April 2012
Submission to Hamilton City Council 2012-2022 Draft 10 year plan.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit on the Hamilton City Council 2012-2022 Draft 10 year
plan.
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (WCOC) is a membership based organisation
consisting of 530 members from varying industries and business sizes.
Membership is predominately from within Hamilton city.
WCOC’s membership was invited to contact the Chief Executive Officer regarding the draft plan
outlining any areas of concern.
Members were advised a consensus of opinions and concerns would form the WCOC submission to
the Draft 10 year plan.
The WCOC, on behalf of its members, wishes to record the following:
1. An appreciation of the clear, succinct presentation of Hamilton’s 2012-22 Draft 10-year plan.
The document is well presented, contains informative detail, and enables the business
community to understand issues Council faces, particularly in relation to ‘Living within our
means’.
2. The breakdown of how rates are spent on the various Council services is appreciated.
3. It has been noted that the document confirms every aspect of council business has been
examined and scrutinized in detail.

The WCOC supports the need to address balancing the city’s budget as referred to in Page
14 and 15 of the plan, noting debt will continue to increase to $440 million because of
previous committed projects.

Capping debt at around $440 million must be a firm commitment by the Council when
signing off the 10 year plan.

The issue of asset sales referred to on Page 16 and 17 need further investigation although
membership generally supported the rationale to sell off non-core assets.
Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc, Business Floor, Wintec House, Corner Nisbet and Anglesea Streets, Hamilton New Zealand
PO Box 1122 Hamilton 3240, Tel 07 839 5895, Fax 07 839 4581
Email admin@waikatochamber.co.nz, Web www.waikatochamber.co.nz
Submission No: 2012-000525
Hamilton Central Business Association members are a ‘collective’ membership of the WCOC. We
are aware they prepared a submission to the Draft Plan to support extending the Business
Improvement District to include more commercial properties which pay a targeted rate as outlined
in Page 37.

Several members who are not part of the BID pointed out they provided rates review
submissions in relation to the Business Improvement District area with the commonality of
opinion that more strategic work was required to understand the rationale for this proposed
extended area which mentions further encouraging development and vitality in the CBD.
Further work is required / HCC should consult further before proceeding.
When referring to Page 14, members noted it costs approximately $200 million to run the city for a
year. We are aware future potential changes are currently being reviewed by Central Government
to clearly define the role and services local territorial authorities are expected to provide.
We note no reference to efficiency gains through partnerships and amalgamations with the regional
council and other territorial authorities is outlined in the 10 year plan but are aware that there is
early discussion on this point.

The WCOC members support and would encourage further consideration of the potential
areas for efficiency and effectiveness gains that can be achieved through partnerships and
amalgamations to create a Waikato region.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to provide comment on the Draft 10 year plan.
We welcome further discussion with you to clarify any of the points noted above if need be.
Sandra Perry
Chief Executive Officer.
Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc, Business Floor, Wintec House, Corner Nisbet and Anglesea Streets, Hamilton New Zealand
PO Box 1122 Hamilton 3240, Tel 07 839 5895, Fax 07 839 4581
Email admin@waikatochamber.co.nz, Web www.waikatochamber.co.nz