Legacy of Secrecy Bequeathed to Super City

A move that could have set a precedent for Super City CCOs to meet and report in public was defeated today at the Auckland City Council’s Finance & Strategy Committee.

All of the Citizens & Ratepayers (C&R) councillors voted against a motion by Councillor Cathy Casey that all the Council Controlled Organisation items on the Committee’s confidential agenda be considered in the open meeting.

This vote means that consideration of items concerning Watercare, Parking Advisory Board, Property Enterprise Board Marina SABU (Stand Alone Business Unit) and City Parks will continue to be considered with the public locked out.

Councillor Cathy Casey said
“Metrowater and The Edge give the Committee two reports - one in public and one in confidential. They have already set a precedent and the majority of the Committee’s discussion on those CCOs is in the public arena. The fears of the public that the new Super City and the CCOs will hide their decision-making from the public are well founded. This is not the legacy I want.”

Councillor Richard Northey said,
“The public is quite right to be very afraid that the great majority of the activities and decisions of the Super City will be shrouded in secrecy. Based on today’s decision it is clear that any Citizens & Ratepayers councillors that might get elected to the Super City will push for decisions around CCOs to remain hidden from the public. This means that that Minister Rodney Hide and the C&R intend to hide more than 75 per cent of council spending in these secret CCOs.

“I will continue to advocate against the forced establishment of powerful and secret CCOs and fight to make sure all decisions apart from those that involve clear commercial sensitivity and personal privacy must be opened up for public scrutiny.”

ENDS

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