Official Information Request - 23 March 2018

Sent: Friday, 20 April 2018 8:48 a.m.

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - entertainment, catering and gifts expenses 2017

I refer to your request of 23 March 2018 for information regarding Council's entertainment, catering and gift expenditure, and reply as follows:

1. A list of all entertainment, gifts and catering expenses for the period 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017.The total cost coded to the 'catering and food services' code for Council's in-house catering company for the 2017 year is $142,498.08.The total cost coded to the 'donations, gifts and contributions' code for the 2017 year is $6,220.58.To break the above down further as per your request (if possible) would require a significant amount of staff time and for this reason any further breakdown is declined under section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act "that the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research" Council does not have a cost code or keep a list of 'entertainment' expenses. To try and retrieve this information (if possible) would also require a significant amount of staff time and for this reason is also declined under the above section of the Act.
2. The number of purchase cards as at December 2017 - 51
3. If the Mayor now has a Council purchase card - Yes Mayor Chadwick has a purchasing card

As per the Act, we are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards