6 outgoing people who voters trusted in 2022 have decided to have an extraordinary Council meeting one day before the 2025 election.

There are a number of people in the community who have been very concerned that 6 outgoing people who voters trusted in 2022 have decided they will have an extraordinary Council meeting one day before the 2025 election.

And in this meeting – which will be closed to the public - they will make a very important decision – appointing the board members for the new Water CCO. Apparently, there is urgency to make this happen as the new entity has to be fully in place in JUNE 2027 !!!

We believe this action is totally inappropriate for elected officials who will not be working at the Council in a week’s time. We thought this was so inappropriate we sought legal advice about how this type of thing should be handled.

We did engage a lawyer to write to the Council today on one aspect of how they have handled this meeting. We’ll keep you posted with how this turns out.

We consulted the Local Government Act 2002 which is pretty clear about some things when creating a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO). The wording in the legislation is attached – with that word “Transparency” front and centre.

A CCO must also have a Constitution and a Statement of Expectation from the Shareholder (in this case the NPDC).

We asked for copies of the transparent process, how people were assessed for the board positions, the Constitution, and the Statement of Expectation today.

Gareth Green’s (non transparent) reply ?

A recommendation of directors will be made tomorrow for Councils consideration. These have been selected to achieve a skill matrix that was developed. This process has been coordinated by an independent HR professional, and have undertaken extensive shortlisting, interviews and testing by a committee. 

There is currently no approved Statement of Expectations or Constitution. These will be finalised once the Board is in place. The legislation requires that the Board has input into these documents, so obviously needs to be established first. 

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Gareth 

There are some elected officials who voters trusted with their votes last time, who seem to think this behaviour is prefectly acceptable. To make a really big decision one day out from an election - an election which will place at least 6 new people around that council table. These arrogant people who are leaving the NPDC think it is their place to vote for others when they will no longer be there.

It may be perfectly legal to do this, but is it morally bankrupt.These are the people who quielty incresed your rates and debt by huge amounts over the last 6 plus years. These are the people who have charged on regardless of what feedback they have been offered by their community.

For the “spenders” who are leaving next week, who will most likely vote in a brand new board tomorrow, there are many people in New Plymouth who are not happy with how you have conducted yourselves in recent times.

And some of you seem to forget - you will still live in this town - among the people you have treated so badly.

Good luck with that.