DCC adds staff positions, significant ratepayer cost

Two permanent full-time project co-ordinators to run the Project China and Export Education Uplift initiatives.

### ODT Online Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Vandervis takes aim over funding request
By Chris Morris
There were heated exchanges between Dunedin city councillors as a debate over an economic development funding request turned into a spat yesterday. The dust-up came as councillors considered a request from the Grow Dunedin Partnership to use $190,000 a year from existing council budgets to pay staff salaries for two projects during the next three years.
Read more

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█ Report – EDC – 20/10/2014 (PDF, 126.7 KB)
Economic Development Strategy Projects Budget – Project Co-ordinators’ Funding Request

From the report…

Enterprise Dunedin’s EDS projects budget is $518,000 for the current 2014/2015 financial year and has yet to be ratified for the 2015/16 year and future years. This budget pays for progressing EDS projects and includes payment for the project co-ordinators and project management costs.

RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:

1. Approve the earmarking of $190,000 on an annual basis from the Economic Development Project Budget for the purpose of employing two project co-ordinators.

2. That this funding be included as two line items within the Economic Development Project fund for a period of three years:
- Export Education Uplift Co-ordinator – $95,000
- Project China Co-ordinator – $95,000

BACKGROUND
Dunedin’s Economic Development Strategy (EDS) was adopted in 2013 by its six partners. There are two specific economic goals:

1. 10,000 extra jobs over 10 years (requiring employment growth of approximately 2% per annum.

2. An average of $10,000 extra income for each person (requiring GDP per capita to rise by about 2.5% per annum).

. . .

The Strategy is built around five themes:
1. Business vitality
2. Alliances for innovation
3. A hub of skills and talent
4. Linkages beyond our borders
5. A compelling destination

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: More loose spending on Cull’s watch #SexySummerJobs wtf

The initiative was run by Enterprise Dunedin but supported by the Grow Dunedin partnership, itself a product of the city’s economic development strategy, which recommended the funding increase to the council.

The rules allowed Mr [Des] Adamson to approve grants not exceeding $10,000, while those worth between $10,000 and $50,000 needed sign-off by three senior figures, including council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose. In addition, individual grants worth more than $50,000 needed the approval of the finance committee.

### ODT Online Tue, 9 Sep 2014
Funding boost approved for intern programme
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council has approved a funding boost to help expand the Sexy Summer Jobs business internship programme. Councillors at yesterday’s economic development committee meeting approved the request for $72,000, a $12,000 increase from last year, to help pay for the programme in 2014-15. They also voted to tweak the rules allowing staff to approve similar funding requests for the remainder of the year, despite concerns from Cr Lee Vandervis.
Read more

Report – EDC – 08/09/2014 (PDF, 384.9 KB)
Sexy Summer Jobs Business Internship Project Funding Request

Report – EDC – 08/09/2014 (PDF, 61.2 KB)
Economic Development Strategy (EDS) Projects Budget – Delegations Clarification

What Daaave said (ODT 29.7.14)
“Mayor Dave Cull said it was ironic the community rated economic development, jobs and businesses so highly given changes to local Government meant councils no longer had a mandate to work in that area.”
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/310914/ratepayers-wishes-clear-survey

█ But still ratepayer monies are being used like a SLUSH FUND lubricant by this council and cohort/corrupt business via the Economic Development Strategy (note bed partners) and DCC’s slippery credit card ‘Enterprise Dunedin’.

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Updated post 15.9.14 at 2:25 p.m.

DCC Sep 14, 2014

Dunedin City Council – Economic Development Committee – Sept 8 2014
Coverage of the Dunedin City Council Economic Development Committee held on Monday, 8 September 2014. Minutes, agendas and reports related to this meeting can be found at http://goo.gl/gXTGk9

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr