22 August 2013

Media Release Auditor Generals Office confirms KCDC have reversed decision on road revaluing

Despite Councillors voting unanimously to revalue the land under the districts roads, the Auditor General’s office have today announced the Council has reversed the decision.

Leading Mayoral Candidate Jackie Elliott, received confirmation of the decision from a senior resident who had made enquiries following CEO Pat Dougherty’s statement at the Corporate Business meeting that the Auditor General’s office and LGNZ would take too long to answer their request on how to value the land’, so the vote should be and was made on the day without any outside direction. The residents’ request was relied to in a matter of days.

Jude Hutton, enquiries co-ordinator from the Auditor Generals Office said ‘ There is currently no agreed methodology for valuing land under roads. For this reason, our office does not encourage or require local authorities to revalue it’.

”This is  a particularly blatant example of how the incumbent Councillors are bullied by Senior staff to vote the way they are told to.” says Ms Elliott, who spoke, along with Trevor Daniel, and appealed to the Council not to proceed with the motion. “The unanimous vote was a complete surprise to me as at least four Councillors had provided valid reasons why the motion should not be voted on in such a rush, without advice, yet the table voted unanimously minutes later.” said Ms Elliott.

Ms Hutton wrote’ We understand Kapiti Coast District Council has now decided against revaluing the land under roads, following feedback from people such as yourself and also our office.’ This news has been a victory for the people, says Ms Elliott. If the people of Kapiti want change, the first thing they are going to have to do is vote for a clean sweep of this ineffective Council.

ENDS

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