Gore mayor, councillors apologise to CEO
“The council wishes to acknowledge that errors have been made during this discourse, which has had a detrimental impact on Mr Parry’s reputation and wellbeing."
Gore’s elected members have apologised to its CEO Stephen Parry for the recent “detrimental impact on Parry’s reputation and wellbeing”.
Mayor Ben Bell and Parry have been engaged in a public spat this year where their working relationship had broken down with Parry at one point describing it as irreparable.
Bell, councillors, and Parry issued a joint statement on Wednesday where they wrote that the high level of media attention had caused significant disruption, distress and hurt to Parry, staff, and councillors.
The statement says it has undermined various relationships and the community's confidence in the Gore council and has detracted from the important business the council is required to undertake.
“The council wishes to acknowledge that errors have been made during this discourse, which has had a detrimental impact on Mr Parry’s reputation and wellbeing.
“The elected members wish to acknowledge and apologise for the hurt caused to the Chief Executive.”
They went on to say they sincerely regret a breach of Parry’s privacy earlier this year, which triggered public and significant media attention.
Parry has accepted this apology.
Bell and councillors wrote that “they wish to voice their unreserved confidence in Mr Parry and his capability, as well as that of his team.
“The Council also affirms that Mr Parry is a skilled and experienced local government chief executive and has created a strong management team around him who are all supportive of him as their leader.”
Elected members and Parry have agreed to put any differences behind them, work collaboratively together, and make every effort to rebuild trust and confidence that has been severely damaged over the past few months.
They stated they will not be making any further comment about working relationships within the council.
Three words.
Silence is complicity.
SHAME ON YOU GDCouncillors. Shame on you.