Council business open and transparent
MEDIA RELEASE
12 November 2009
Taupo District Council Communications Manager says claims from an unknown source about conflicts of interest regarding elected members is disappointing given the effort made to ensure these transactions are open and transparent.
Communications Manager Suzanne Takiwa says, “the fact is the information highlighted in the story in the Dominion Post this morning (Thursday 12 November) is freely available and clearly outlined in the Annual Report and Summary which has been signed off by the Auditor General.”
She says “it’s really disappointing that mischievous headlines like the one in today’s Dominion Post undermine the openness and trust we have been working really hard to establish with our community, however in a way its good to get these discussions out in the public arena so the facts become common knowledge.”
The story outlines payments to businesses in the Taupo District Council which are associated with Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper and a number of other elected members.
Mr Alan Menhennet, Group Manager Finance and Corporate Services, says the Annual Report and Summary clearly list disclosures from all elected members in black and white for all to see, “There may be a perception that information like this is hidden away in large Council documents however the opposite is in fact the case. We are very careful to put this information out in the public in a simple easily understood manner to ensure these financial transactions are open and transparent and there is no perceived conflict of interest.”
He says in the case of Wings and Wheels they are the service agents for Hyundai and Mitsubishi and where vehicles are under warranty they are required to be serviced by the authorised service agent. Wings and Wheels is only one of a number that perform this service for Council. “Council has a wide range of vehicles in its fleet including Ford, Holden, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, with business spread around town.”
Mr Menhennet says to make sure everything is above board and within the rules his team ensure the Auditor General is consulted and signs off any business dealings which may be perceived to be a conflict of interest, including those highlighted in the Dominion Post article.
In small towns it is inevitable that business people are elected to positions of authority and that’s why there are strict rules around how to manage these transactions. “In our case we have gone the extra mile by clearly disclosing these in our Annual Report summary which is on the website and feely available to the public,” says Mr Menhennet.