Thursday, May 24, 2001

Hutt City Vote 7- 6 To Block The Establishment Of Community Boards.

Bullying, Manipulation and Broken Promises are the order of the Day says Cr Scott Dalziell

The public were treated to a lamentable display of bullying, manipulation and broken promises when Hutt City Council voted to block the establishment of further community boards last Tuesday night, according to Cr Scott Dalziell.

"Any member of the public who attended last Tuesday nights council meeting would have been appalled at the behaviour of the Mayor and his team" said Cr Scott Dalziell.

Last Tuesday, the Mayor - who promised in 1995 to "empower community boards" - showed what an empty promise that was, when he and the council voted 7-6 against the establishment of communities in the four wards which currently do not have a community board.

"The way in which the Mayor manipulated this result shows the sad depths to which democratic representation has sunk in Hutt City" said Cr Scott Dalziell.

"These tactics included constant personal attacks on councillors and riding rough-shod over established council procedures in order to stop his opponents from speaking."

"It also included bullying behaviour - which gives some hint as to how he managed to persuade members of his own team to vote against their own consciences."

Cr Angus Finlayson voted in favour of Community Boards at a Northern Ward Committee meeting he attended a few weeks ago. Strangely, he changed his mind at the Council meeting last Tuesday.

"The mayor and his team have let the public know that they are not in favour of increased democratic participation in local government - their true colours are now exposed", said Cr Scott Dalziell.

"The public should not be surprised at this, given the National and Act political affiliations of the majority of the Terris team."

"But the public have a right to ask what is the value of Terris Team members being on council if they don't support democratic participation for either the public or their own members", said Cr Scott Dalziell.

Ends

Scott Dalziell is leader of the Hutt 2020 team on Hutt City Council and the Hutt 2020 mayoral candidate.

Votes for community boards: Dalziell, Ogden, Eady, Baird, Jamieson, Cousins

Opposed: Terris, Austad, Wallace, Barratt, Brosnan, Styles, Finlayson

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