XN000022-1985-04-03 — Page 40

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985

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THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURE IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR BEGINNING FROM LAST MONDAY (APRIL 1) SHOULD TOTAL AN ESTIMATED $1,832 MILLION.

AGAINST THIS, INCOME IN 1985/86 SHOULD TOTAL AN ESTIMATED $1,652 MILLION, OF WHICH JUST UNDER 74 PER CENT WOULD COME FROM THE COUNCIL'S SHARE OF THE RATE, AND THE BALANCE FROM FEES, CHARGES AND OTHER LESSER SOURCES OF INCOME.

+WHILE THE AGGREGATE INVOLVED -- A TOTAL OF $3,484 MILLION REPRESENTING BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE IS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR ALL EXPENDITURE AND MAKE ECONOMIES WHERE POSSIBLE,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

+ IN THE MEANTIME, HOWEVER THERE IS NO INTENTION OF REDUCING IN ANY WAY THE PRESENT EFFICIENT RANGE OF URBAN SERVICES.

+RATHER, WITH THE REORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AS FROM LAST MONDAY, AND THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OVER CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORT THAT IT NOW ASSUMES, THE USD WILL BE LOOKING TO AN EVEN GREATER ROLE IN CONTRIBUTING TO AN IMPROVED LIFESTYLE FOR THE 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE URBAN AREAS.+

NO INTENTION TO +HIVE OFF+ USD STAFF

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COMMENTING ON A SUGGESTION MADE TODAY THAT THE STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE HIVED OFF FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE, AN URBAN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUCH A PROPOSAL WAS DEFINITELY NOT FAVOURED EITHER BY THE COUNCIL OR THE GOVERNMENT. HE ADDED THAT STAFF OF THE USD COULD REST ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANCE TO SUCH A PROPOSAL, WHICH HAD BEEN VOICED TODAY PURELY AS A PERSONAL OPINION.

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