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Council's Private Garage Sale Suggests Lack of Governance

Council's Private Garage Sale Suggests Lack of Governance

THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union is asking why Hastings Mayor, Laurence Yule, isn’t demanding his staff return the ratepayer assets obtained through a secret 'division staff only' garage sale. Responding to this morning's Hawke's Bay Today report that the Council’s Maintenance Group staff held a private auction for items such as lawnmowers and weed-eaters, apparently resulting in ‘give-away prices’, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says:

“Mr Yule’s excuses that the Council’s internal policies may not have been breached suggests a serious lack of governance and ignorance of his role as steward of ratepayer money. Ratepayer assets should be disposed of at market price, no ifs, buts or maybes.”

“Doubts about what policies should apply aren’t good enough. Effective governance would not permit a small group of staff to run a secret jack-up to flog of Council assets at bargain basement prices.”

“Incredibly Mr Yule’s comments appear to be more concerned with the ‘perception’ of the actions rather than ratepayers getting a lousy deal. He should show some leadership, demand that all the assets be returned and refunded, then have Council staff put the gear on TradeMe."

ENDS


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