I included the sentence, “But now these services (library and Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre) could ‘be at the mercy’ of short term leases”.

I also wrote, “Hopefully our wonderful centrally located library and SNRC will not be ultimately shut down or suffer ‘death by a thousand cuts’ for the sake of an accounting ‘operating performance ratio’”.

Now, in The Scone Advocate of August 6, 2015 Councillor Kiwa Fisher writes, “…council is working with the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SNRC) with a view to them also remaining in the same space they currently occupy. 

It is worth noting that the SNRC has been a long term beneficiary of council support and alternative means of providing similar levels of support are also being discussed in light of the change in circumstance regarding the building”.

My query is: is council going to consult with the Scone residents/ratepayers about possible operating changes for SNRC or possible changes to funding levels, perhaps also forcing SNRC to increase their charges for computer use, etc?

Were SNRC’s financial matters discussed/decided at a ‘closed’ Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 11?

Recently I received a ‘flyer’ from council dated ‘July 2015’ and headed ‘A Big Shire’.

On the front page there is a colour photograph of the Upper Hunter Shire Council mayor Wayne Bedggood and the message “UHSC Mayor Wayne Bedggood is hitting the road to every corner of the shire and hearing the views of residents”.

This seems, in my opinion, a little ironic considering the secret sale of the old council building and a closed meeting of council about the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre’s future!

And, did council publish the flyer itself?

How much did the flyer cost for colour photographs instead of black and white photographs, and why was glossy paper used instead of lower cost paper?

Do such flyers come within the ambit of council’s sacred ‘Operating Performance Ratios’ or other financial ratios?