To Core or not to Core, that is the Question

The following 2 quotes are from:

CITY OF NANAIMO FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN 2012 – 2016

SECTION 1 Page 1

Executive Summary  

Report from the City Manager    

"A core services review is not the best way.............to deal with this concern about City operations"

"There is no point doing a core review without first undertaking a strategic plan" 

So is a Core Review bad or good?  

I don't need to know what a Core Review is, to sense the uncertainty in the "mixed" message contained in those 2 statements above.  If it is an inappropriate tool or misguided exercise then qualifying its use just makes me wonder if there is in fact, some good to be had.

The question of a Core Review dominates the City Managers Report on Page 1 and 2 of the 210 pages of accompanying explanations, graphs, charts and account by account, year by year details.  Good, Staff has a plan.  Life (and city operations) goes on.  City operations is a dynamic, moving process.    Corners are not turned, rather gentle changes of direction are "initiated". Unless someone "moves" to change it, an "internal auditor" will be hired to answer a question that I see as:

 "Can Nanaimo be more functional and efficient"?

Clear direction is required. It is time for unambiguous policy decision from Nanaimo Council.  What do the people want?  

Are we going to see debate and vote on this question? 

Is it "Core" time?