WRC: RECKLESS

For any proposed items of significant expenditure, councils are required to provide a cost benefit analysis to ratepayers so that a properly informed debate and decision can be arrived at during subsequent planning processes.
The Nelson City Council have loudly and repeatedly proclaimed that just such a cost benefit analysis exists in respect of the World Rugby Cup proposal, but it was to be kept secret. However council promised that, that cost benefit analysis would be publicly released prior to the LTCCP planning round so that ratepayers could make properly informed submissions to the LTCCP.
Given economist Berl's stunning conclusion in their economic activity assessment that, "the economic impact generated as a result of holding the games is effectively ZERO", then it becomes patently obvious that any calculation of cost benefit to ratepayers must also be "ZERO", at best; but in reality it is actually a grossly negative benefit. As any and all expenditure is a direct cost to ratepayers, and as there is "ZERO" balancing income or benefit to ratepayers, then any cost benefit must be 100% negative.
The fact that both the economic activity assessment and the cost benefit analysis existed, prior to any decision being made, seriously calls into question the prudence of that decision. To proceed in the face of such seriously adverse economic assessments, data and analysis, can now be seen as, at best, entirely imprudent and foolhardy if not reckless.
In the light of these economic revelations, that cost benefit analysis must be made public. The LTCCP planning round is now in full swing and the promised cost benefit analysis is still being kept secret, and that continued secrecy raises the distinct suspicion that no such cost benefit analysis actually exists.
It is time for council to put up. They must publish that analysis or admit that it does not exist. If it does not exist then clearly council has been misleading the public. When politicians are found to have been deceiving the public, the usual practice is for resignation or removal. Ethically, they should jump before they are pushed.