A ratepayer launched a blistering attack on South Wairarapa District Council during a meeting yesterday, claiming councillors had blocked his emails.
Greytown resident Derek Anderton raised questions about the council’s finance management and administration at the beginning of Wednesday’s finance committee meeting.
Anderton noted the meeting time had changed, at short notice, from 10am to 9.30am on the day, meaning he had risked missing his allocated slot, something he described as “unacceptable for democracy and transparency”.
Anderton then claimed his emails to some councillors have been blocked.
“That is out of order. I have no difficulty with the CE [chief executive] blocking my emails to staff, but not to councillors.
“They are elected by ratepayers and are accountable to ratepayers.”
He then raised a number of complaints about the council’s administration.
“SWDC officers are not able to provide reports to the required standard and do not have the required understanding of finances,” he claimed.
As an example, he cited a comment that annual leave balances have not been identified as a significant risk [but are getting there], although he said Audit NZ had raised the issue in the 2017/18 financial year.
Anderton said he had been provided minutes for the annual plan.
“I asked a question on the last annual report because it had Harry’s [Wilson, the former CE] signature on it, on the statement of compliance, dated something June. A month after he had resigned.
“How have you guys approved that statement of compliance with his signature sitting there is beyond me.”
Anderton said it is often the case that the way local bodies are elected means “you end up in a situation where you have people around the table that don’t have all the expertise needed”.
He said he was surprised the statement of compliance had been approved.
“This report has a $1.5 million dollar surplus for ratepayers. You could have used that to reduce rates in the current rating year by 7.5 per cent.”
In a discussion after Anderton’s presentation, Mayor Martin Connelly asked the chief executive to prepare a report on one of the matters raised.
“One of the comments that Mr Anderton made was that after the council had approved the annual report, alterations were made to it without reference [to] or the approval of council.
“I would like a report from the CE on that matter, please,” he said.
When Connelly was asked if he knew to what extent the report had been altered, he replied, “That’s why I’d like a report.”
The Department of Internal Affairs and Local Government NZ have been called in to help address issues at SWDC, after councillors passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in Connelly.
SWDC has been approached for comment on whether any councillors have blocked Anderton’s emails.
− NZLDR
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United rate payers have a voice but with 3 district councils not a hope in H_ _ L.