No decision was made on a rates remission request at the Waitaki District Council's finance, audit and risk committee meeting yesterday.
The council's chief financial officer Paul Hope said the request from the St Vincent de Paul Oamaru branch, for the rating on its Tees St property to be changed from business to residential, brought to his attention last week, did not meet the criteria for rates remission.
He advised the committee to reject the appeal and confirm the rates as charged.
However, the committee delayed the decision and sought more information from the church-based non-profit shop.
Cr Colin Wollstein, who chaired the meeting, cautioned the committee against granting the appeal.
He said there were several similar businesses in the area.
''If we open the door, others will attempt to walk through the door as well,'' he said.
His was the only vote against delaying the decision yesterday.
Cr Jim Hopkins spoke in favour of investigating the council's options.
''I'm loath to say no immediately,'' he said.
He asked whether rewording the current remission policy to recognise ''charitable entities'' was possible ''if we have any intention of assisting people doing the Lord's work''.
In a brief letter to Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, the Rev Wayne Healey noted all of the shop's proceeds were ''distributed to the poor and needy in Oamaru and districts by means of food vouchers, petrol vouchers, firewood, potatoes and counselling''.
Cr Melanie Tavendale argued the request might not best be served as a ''rates argument''.
She said the council could instead look to a grant or award for the charitable operation.
She said as the request was accompanied by very limited information, the council could do more to inform similar groups what information was required in such requests.
Deputy Mayor Hugh Perkins said the business was ''undoubtedly a good cause'', and supported Cr Tavendale's proposal.
The motion to delay the decision on the rates remission was passed 3-1.
Crs Peter Garvan, Sally Hope and Hopkins voted in favour of the delay while Cr Wollstein voted against it.
A second motion to have council officers review the remissions policy received unanimous committee support.
