Outgoing mayor Neil Holdom has allegedly declared a “Conflict of Interest” during today’s extraordinary meeting where councillors were voting to appoint directors to the board of New Plymouth’s new Water Services CCO. This portion of the meeting took place behind closed doors after a vote to exclude the public succeeded by majority.
Councillors Gordon Brown and Murray Chong walked out of the meeting in protest, while mayoral candidate Max Brough, who is currently in Australia and was unable to attend the last minute extraordinary meeting, sent a letter to his fellow councillors registering his protest.
He says it’s “not good practice” to have a meeting this late in the cycle – one day before voting closes. In the letter, he outlines his views that appointing an interim board for the Water CCO should be postponed until a new council is formed, whomever the new mayor may be.
A press release sent out by NPDC shortly after the meeting contains a list of directors who have been appointed to the board, however it makes no mention of Holdom’s alleged conflict of interest declaration and subsequent self-exclusion from the remainder of the meeting, nor does it make any references to the CEO position of the new Water CCO (apart from a “Fast Facts” footnote saying “The new interim Chief Executive, who will report to the board, is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.”). The release states that the meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor David Bublitz.
It also states “NPDC submitted its water service delivery plans for drinking water and wastewater to the Department of Internal Affairs in August and is awaiting approval, expected before the end of October.”
Mayoral candidate Max Brough has advised that, since learning of these developments, he has engaged a law firm that specialises in local body law to investigate the process to date – in his personal capacity, and at his own expense.
One Response
Good on you Max, this type of action leaves a stink and will tarnish NPDC reputation for some time.