Manukau Councillors Question Mayoral Credit Card Use

Two Manukau City councillors are questioning the spending habits of Manukau Mayor Len Brown after details of his personal spending with a council credit card were revealed on Sunday.

Councillors Dick Quax and Jami-Lee Ross are calling for a full review of Mr Brown’s mayoral credit card usage after it was reported that he had purchased family groceries, a stereo system, and paid to take his wife to Auckland’s Rendezvous Hotel with his ratepayer funded credit card.

“It is important for the mayor of a large metropolitan city to show judgement when spending ratepayer funds,” said Mr Quax.

“He is a lawyer and mayor. There is no excuse for him not to know that taking his wife to an up-market hotel on the ratepayer tab, and buying the family groceries with a ratepayer funded credit card, is wrong.

“Mr Brown may have since paid some money back, but purchasing personal items in the first place is highly questionable and undoubtedly against council policy,” says Mr Quax.
Jami-Lee Ross, who is also chairman of the Manukau City Council Accountability and Performance Committee, says he will be asking the Council Chief Executive for a full report on mayoral credit card usage for the last two years.

“There should be no personal spending of any kind being charged to a credit card funded by Manukau City ratepayers,” said Mr Ross.

“The Council and community need to have confidence that Mr Brown is not abusing his ratepayer funded credit card.

“I am particularly concerned over reports of a number of purchases at restaurants and bars not being itemised,” said Mr Ross. ”In light of other personal spending taking place it is reasonable to expect a proper explanation for any food or alcohol being purchased.”

Mr Ross says he will request a breakdown of mayoral credit card use in his capacity as chairman of the Council’s Accountability and Performance Committee. If there are any inconsistencies with council policy Mr Ross intends to refer the matter to the full Committee for review.

ENDS

© Scoop Media