I have read with some considerable concern in the Dompost 19/20 th May 2016 that Councillors have now signed secrecy agreements for the Wellington Economic Development Fund and about the banning of Councillors from many parts of the Council for some (alleged incident) This is dictatorial shamef ul behaviour.

The breaches of confidentiality recently are a disgrace and should be investigated. The CEO tells me he knows who they are but is not sure what to do about it. We have offered him help from the outside but that offer has not been taken up.

Councillors should not be breaching confidentiality in the first place and there is no need for these agreements. The perpetrators should be investigated, charged and punished under the Code of Conduct for these indiscretions. if there is any financial damage to the Council or anyone else the cost should be recovered from the Councillor concerned. Afterall they are only doing it for some misguided personal gain. In the meantime they jeopardise commercial sensitivity and the good name of the Wellington City Council. If the story that they went through someones desk is true then that is absolutely unacceptable behavior.

Seondly the banning of Councillors from talking or being in Council Officers rooms is unacceptable. Councillors represent the views and needs of their constituents and have to have open access to officers for advice and support. Why should they have to ask the CEO or the Mayor if they can do this. It reminds me of the days when you had to ask the teacher to go fo a pee at school. Surely the Council is better that that. If there has been a transgression in terms of rifleling through someones drawers then punish the two Councillors who offended. Don't ruin the whole system that has worked for years for the transgressions of a few..

Hundreds of problems are solved every year by Councillors on the behalf of their constituents by these informa/formal interactions. I couldn't cont the number of people I helped in this way over the 12 years I was in office.

The Mayor and CEO need to be reminded that we live in a Western Democracy not some third world banana republic that relies on dictatorship and lack ofinformation.

More accountability, openess and transparency is whats required and the stick for those few that need it and ruin it for others.
Any Councillor who allows this situation to prevail should get out of public office as they are not doing the job they are paid to do (and very well I might addlooking at the latest wage figures for Councillors).

Theres another way to fix this and that to divert all calls to the Mayor and the CEO but I am sure they have more strategic things to do.

Regards
Rob Goulden
ED JP MBA

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