Conducting sessions on important matters in secret only raises the question — what do they have to hide? The present mayor of Kapiti made a campaign feature of the statement in Section 14 of the Local Government Act that a council must “conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner”. Well, he did a U turn on that once elected and except for David Scott, none of the councilors care about it.
Familiar story isn’t it? Public excluded. Causing ongoing controversy everywhere. What are they hiding? Oh, that’s right. Sensitive information. Sure. It’s not rocket science is it with everything else that they’re making headlines for these days? Especially recent revelations on the developers’ & fire sale prices in the Horowhenua. Anyway, this one is on the topic […]
Clearly we need a new mayor and council. Its time to prepare and make sure that there is no vote splitting in the next election.
One problem is that there is no ‘heir apparent’ to Guru on the council. David Scott would have been, but he’s been mentally exhausted by the malicious crap that’s been thrown at him by Dougherty, Guru, Power and their female accomplice with the very intent of doing that. There is one person not on the council, however, who would make a good mayor, and we’re going try to persuade him to run.
With preferential voting there isn’t really any vote splitting; but the challenge is to educate the people who don’t follow the news/blogs/social media in what goes on in the council — and there’s plenty in that category.
KCDC Councillors do not have any choice as to which reports are heard in public excluded. It is a decision made by staff and the Chair in preparing the agenda. Take this issue up with the Chairs.
Yes we all have a vote to go into public excluded or not. Go back over the minutes and see who opposes that most often (If the names are recorded in a division, which is hardly ever called for this vote).You may be surprised at who argues against public excluded the most often, by far. If you actually watch the meetings, you would know.
Secondly more public excluded decisions have been released to the public this triennium than every before. WHY? Because one or two councillors argue very hard for the release of the information, and sometimes we win.
Would you be surprised to see just how hard I still work for transparency in this council? Yes probably because most people make comments based on very little information.