Two instances in two days [Voting closes on Saturday 8 October] of partial information. Really, this means NO INFORMATION at all. Or at best something Tall, the Recipe for FURTHER IRRITATION. Said Ratepayers who’ve seen quite enough of Cull Council fluff.
Be quite sure of that. The future is cracked quacked.
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No. 1
Yesterday, Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) failed to present its Audit Report to the last sitting of the Cull Council. NO AUDIT REPORT. Is there an Audit Report or not, they asked, or is this a process blip with everything under ‘good’ control. Well, some forms of control are the hedge to unwelcome news —before it comes! Again, WHY is the DCHL Audit Report (because it most certainly exists in some form or other) late ENOUGH, TO MISS tabling at Council BEFORE the elections.
THE ELECTIONS. Leaving the new Council to deal to BAD SCRATCHY items from Crombie’s Cookie Jar, about the Gremlins and Duck Itch within, and indeed, the pending wrath of Audit New Zealand (A Gain again!) and Dunedin Ratepayers (A Gain again!).
Was it that the stadium company, one in particular, could upset Ratepayers before they vote. Just one amongst the growing frequency and severity of storms over South Dunedin. DCHL, the ONE STORM too many.
No. 2
A sort of desperate hotel proposal for the Council-owned Filleul St car park. An election freebie in message, carpet fibre thrown over an unravelling pongy DEAD DUCK (political massage). The accommodation market is trending nationally and internationally to Boutique hotels not a CLUNKER. Five star in the New Zealand visitor markets no longer looks or smells this way. [see ODT horreur graphic —So yesterday’s two star, they said]
Let’s hope Chris Morris is asking the owners of Kingsgate Hotel Dunedin, Distinction Dunedin Hotel and the Scenic Circle hotels what they’re thinking about DCC’s plans, and the offer of friable ‘red carpet’ to a private hotel operator who plans a bulwark. Which it’s thought will FALL OVER. The MOU between the Council and the developer has been about a while – we wondered when this glorious axe axiom of accommodation might sling into sight for the central city.
THE ELECTIONS. So Mr Cull’s publicity machine for re-election has left the room at South Dunedin and DUCK SHOVED bang up close to the Dunedin Town Hall, Public Library and Civic Centre – like Real Business is going on. Let’s hasten to suppose Enterprise Dunedin is to thank for all this in some small way.
Waiting for the final Vote Count (“no stars”)
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“JUST TO HAND”
█ Released via LGOIMA:
19 September 2016
EXTRACT FROM THE NON-PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2016C5 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF DCC OWNED CENTRAL CITY SITE
A report from Management and Enterprise Dunedin sought approval for an exclusive six month due diligence period to NZ Horizon Hospitality Group Limited (NZH) for the sale of the Council owned property on the corner of Moray Place and Filleul Street. As part of the due diligence, Council would undertake geotechnical investigations, estimated at $100,000, and provide this to NZH.
NZH was proposing to develop part of the site as a five star hotel, with purchase of the land conditional on development contribution relief of up to $1 million. The purchase would be at market value and require development within a specified timeframe.
There would be no obligation on Council to enter into a sale and purchase agreement for the site either during or after the exclusive period.
The Chief Executive Officer and staff responded to questions from Councillors.
Moved (Cr Chris Staynes/Cr Andrew Noone):
That the Council:
a) Approves a Memorandum of Understanding with NZ Horizon Hospitality Group Limited for a three month exclusive due diligence period for the purposes of determining the viability of a five star hotel development on the property on the corner of Moray Place and Filleul Street.
b) Notes under the Memorandum of Understanding:
a. Council agrees to:
i. Not enter into any discussions or negotiations with any other party other than NZ Horizon Hospitality Group relating to the sale and purchase of the property.
ii. Undertake geotechnical investigations required that will be provided to the NZ Hospitality Group.
b. NZ Hospitality Group agrees to:
i. Undertake due diligence relating to the purchase of the property at Moray Place and Filleul for the development of a five star hotel.c) Notes that should the due diligence confirm the viability of the proposed five star hotel development, Council and NZ Horizon Hospitality Group Limited may negotiate a sale and purchase agreement conditional on:
a. The sale of the land at market value; and
b. Up to $1 million in development contributions relief; and
c. Development timeframes; and
d. Full Council approval.d) Delegates the Chief Executive Officer as the Council’s spokesperson for the purposes of any media about the due diligence process.
e) Notes that the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding is not to be taken as any predetermined Council position on any future sale and purchase, or conditions in a sale and purchase agreement, and specifically that Council has yet to consider any development contributions remission and would do against the Development Contributions Policy should a sale and purchase agreement be pursued.
f) Directs that staff use the three month exclusive period to examine other uses and options for the site, in the context of the city’s Strategic Framework and Central City Plan, and that they be put to the Council at the same time as they consider any sale and purchase agreement from the developer.
Division
Voting was carried out by division.For: Crs Dave Cull, Chris Staynes, David Benson-Pope, Doug Hall, Aaron Hawkins, Mike Lord, Jinty MacTavish, Andrew Noone, Neville Peat, Lee Vandervis, Andrew Whiley and Kate Wilson (12).
Against: Nil
The division was declared CARRIED by 12 votes to 0.
Motion carried (CNL/2016/134)
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.
*Images: With thanks to Daffy Duck from The Looney Tunes Show via (from top) thepinksmoke.com, fanpop.com, toonbarn.com and giphy.com
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