- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
- Messages
- 15,744
- Points
- 83
it seems more prudent to lose much of it in avaricious minibombs invest than to rightfully disembusre it to upgrade a precinct vital facilities like Lift Upgrading Program or LUP.
the conservancy charges from towncouncils should ve made a very nice tidy sum for the "sinking fund". as such, tc should ve used those resource to improve the precinct facilities. it is very strange that the paps gov is claiming credit for something which we the peasants see it as non-existent.
the last paragraph of this letter says it quite clearly.
Private tips on town council benchmarks
I REFER to the Ministry of National Development's reply ('Clearing the air on town council report', Oct 3) and wish to share my limited experience serving on the management council of a private estate.
The size and magnitude of work of management councils and town councils may differ, but the principles in capturing performance and efficiency are the same and they are as follows:
•The town council website should publish quarterly management reports for all to read as the funds contributed to town councils are no different from a public listed company's. The aim of a town council is not to make profit, but to guard against loss. The custodians have a fiduciary duty to prevent abuse and waste.
•It is impractical to expect residents to help the town council in its work. In reality, residents have little say in the actual running of town council affairs. The onus must come from the town council to exercise prudent control and constant vigilance.
•Inspecting some blocks every month and all blocks once a year is ineffective. In fact, each block must be inspected every month, given the council's size and staffing. Cleanliness of rubbish chutes, lifts, verandahs, stairs and compounds must be maintained daily.
•The ministry did not say how council members are appointed or what is their length of service. I would suggest that town council members be elected to serve and the tenure should not exceed two consecutive terms.
•Providing satisfactory service to residents means it is vital to keep an open- door policy whereby every resident has the right to walk into a town council to express his views.
•Management reports must reflect factually the sentiments of the ground with respect to complaints, requests, feedback and opposing views, so grouses can be addressed in a timely and open manner.
•Half-yearly summarised audited financial reports with separate individual details, including resident arrears, posted on the website for residents' scrutiny should reflect transparency on all expenses. Residents can check results of tenders awarded and costs and even test any expenditure figures if necessary.
It is redundant to levy higher conservancy charges and excess sinking funds to burden residents with a 7 per cent goods and services tax locked up for years. In case of a shortfall, residents will eventually have to pay, even with interest.[/COLOR
Paul Chan
the conservancy charges from towncouncils should ve made a very nice tidy sum for the "sinking fund". as such, tc should ve used those resource to improve the precinct facilities. it is very strange that the paps gov is claiming credit for something which we the peasants see it as non-existent.
the last paragraph of this letter says it quite clearly.
Private tips on town council benchmarks
I REFER to the Ministry of National Development's reply ('Clearing the air on town council report', Oct 3) and wish to share my limited experience serving on the management council of a private estate.
The size and magnitude of work of management councils and town councils may differ, but the principles in capturing performance and efficiency are the same and they are as follows:
•The town council website should publish quarterly management reports for all to read as the funds contributed to town councils are no different from a public listed company's. The aim of a town council is not to make profit, but to guard against loss. The custodians have a fiduciary duty to prevent abuse and waste.
•It is impractical to expect residents to help the town council in its work. In reality, residents have little say in the actual running of town council affairs. The onus must come from the town council to exercise prudent control and constant vigilance.
•Inspecting some blocks every month and all blocks once a year is ineffective. In fact, each block must be inspected every month, given the council's size and staffing. Cleanliness of rubbish chutes, lifts, verandahs, stairs and compounds must be maintained daily.
•The ministry did not say how council members are appointed or what is their length of service. I would suggest that town council members be elected to serve and the tenure should not exceed two consecutive terms.
•Providing satisfactory service to residents means it is vital to keep an open- door policy whereby every resident has the right to walk into a town council to express his views.
•Management reports must reflect factually the sentiments of the ground with respect to complaints, requests, feedback and opposing views, so grouses can be addressed in a timely and open manner.
•Half-yearly summarised audited financial reports with separate individual details, including resident arrears, posted on the website for residents' scrutiny should reflect transparency on all expenses. Residents can check results of tenders awarded and costs and even test any expenditure figures if necessary.
It is redundant to levy higher conservancy charges and excess sinking funds to burden residents with a 7 per cent goods and services tax locked up for years. In case of a shortfall, residents will eventually have to pay, even with interest.[/COLOR
Paul Chan
