Put it in Writing

Address to HMLB on 6 August 2015 by Gary Osborne
Madam Chair, Board members, ladies and gentlemen.
On the Council web-site is stated “Local boards provide important input into region-wide strategies and plans including those of the council-controlled organisations.”
Ratepayers often rely on reports from CCO’s to their local board and expect them to be accurate. It is therefore vital that when “mistakes” occur they are corrected in writing in a timely manner.
On 2 July the report regarding the Te Atatu Rd corridor that was presented to this Board, stated “Affected residents and businesses have been contacted directly.” That was untrue. I was told the mistake was corrected verbally at the meeting but such a report becomes a matter of public record unless corrected in writing. Only one member from your entire board, your chair, remembers that correction.
At my insistence, Glenn Boyd, Relationship Manager sent me an email on 13 July advising me the minutes had been updated accordingly. However when the minutes were presented for confirmation as published on 16 July on the official council website, the secretarial note was missing. At 5.30 pm tonight we have the farcical situation of two different resolutions for approval the minutes of the meeting on 2 July. They are resolutions HM/2015/101 and HM/2015/108. The record on the official council website remains unchanged.
In future it should be incumbent on any person presenting a report to the Local Board, if they are aware of errors in that report, to produce a written statement of correction that can be tabled and presented to the Board chair at the time of presentation. Furthermore they should advise the Board secretary in writing as soon as they become aware of the errors prior to the meeting, especially in cases when reports are prepared weeks in advance of an actual meeting.
In theory we live in a democratic society. In practice, since the advent of the Super City I know many ratepayers dispute that. I look forward to action from my representatives on this board in future. Action is far better than excuses.
At least Lester Levy, AT Board Chairman, has called for an internal audit and he took the trouble to contact me on a Sunday night.
I urge this Board to insist on formal written corrections to inaccurate formal reports in future.

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