Thursday 5 July 2018

Statement from Chief Executive Karleen Edwards in response to the Ombudsman’s statement

Chief Executive Karleen Edwards says the Council takes very seriously its responsibilities to comply with all legislative requirements, including those relating to the information it makes publicly available.

She says the Council has had a good relationship with the Office of the Ombudsman and firmly supports its role.

“We have been engaging with the Ombudsman's Office for some time regarding their investigation into our decision on releasing information relating to a particular cost within the Tranga project. We have worked first with Ombudsman Leo Donnelly and latterly Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier with regard to this matter.

“I had a productive and informative conversation with Chief Ombudsman Boshier today,” says Dr Edwards.

She says today's discussion was an opportunity to clarify their respective responses to the Council.

“I regret that Council staff have inadvertently misunderstood the intent and the course of action required of us by the respective Ombudsmen, for which I take responsibility. I have briefed the Mayor and Councillors this afternoon and made this very clear.

“I acknowledge that this has been perceived as the Council not complying with Ombudsman Donnelly's recommendation, but I am pleased to now resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the Chief Ombudsman,” she says.

Dr Edwards says Council staff had no intention of deliberately breaching the Council's legal obligations.

“It was the Council's intention to release the cost of the touch wall, but we had been engaging with the Ombudsman around the timing of this. This was in order to respect commercial sensitivities of the vendor. They have generously contributed to the exciting development of Tranga, which will be a vital centre-point in our city centre and knowledge base.

“We had made the Ombudsman aware of the commercial vendor's proposal for the timing of the release of the cost. From the Ombudsman's subsequent response, we were of the understanding that the release date was a matter for the Council to decide, but understanding that any delay may lead to further action from the requester,” says Dr Edwards.

There will be no further comment on this matter.

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