Gore council ditches $130k review, assures DIA all is good
“The council has deliberately adopted a low public profile in recent months in a conscious effort to reduce the invasive attention of the media and enable us to focus on moving forward."
The Gore District Council has ditched an independent governance review and has assured the Department of Internal Affairs that all is well at the previously under-fire council.
The council had previously floated an estimated $130,000 review to “restore confidence in the Gore District Council”.
It followed a well-documented relationship breakdown between Mayor Ben Bell and CEO Steve Parry. As well as a request from some councillors for Bell to resign after they stated they had lost trust in him.
The Department of Internal Affairs wrote to the council in July requesting an update progress update from the council and its elected members regarding governance and performance issues.
In a letter in reply to the DIA - signed by Bell, Parry, and Keith Hovell, on behalf of the councillors - assured: “these matters are explicitly to the forefront of the Council staff, the mayor, and Councillors”.
“The Council has deliberately adopted a low public profile in recent months in a conscious effort to reduce the invasive attention of the media and enable us to focus on moving forward, particularly in relation to business-as-usual activities.”
It has been decided not to proceed with the estimated $130k review that former journalist and Wellington law firm partner Linda Clark had been earmarked to undertake.
In Tuesday’s Gore council meeting agenda, it says the council did not formally ratify the terms of reference of the review.
“This was due to the decision taken at the 30 May Council meeting to let the revised Terms of Reference lie on the table pending further review by a Kings Counsel.”
In the letter to the DIA, the council points out that a councillor - Richard McPhail - has been assisting Bell and Parry in an intermediary role.
“This is proving highly effective in ensuring communication is kept open and a confidential report is provided to Councillors on a two-monthly basis to keep them up to date with progress,” the letter says.
“It is important to note that while the intermediary role will continue until such time that the Mayor and Chief Executive both agree it is no longer required, there is minimal need for the role on a day-to-day basis.”
Since that letter was sent to the DIA Parry has resigned as the Gore council’s CEO and will finish next month.
The letter also points out that Bell and the councillors have participated in five training workshops over the past three months, utilising external experts to upskill and educate elected members.
“A range of critical topics were covered including the governance role of Councillors, communication training, privacy issues, stress management and health/safety issues.”
“The staff, Mayor and Councillors are united in their desire to move forward together, and we believe collectively all of the actions identified above provide a sound basis for unity.”