Sunday 17 June 2007

Attempt To Prevent Councillors Voting On Billboards Fails

Action Hobson councillors Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson have condemned the attempt by C&R Now councillor Doug Armstrong to prevent them from voting on the controversial billboards issue, saying it was undemocratic and a waste of ratepayers’ money and councillor officer time.

Cr Armstrong began the process of trying to ban Crs Caughey and Simpson, who represent the Auckland CBD, from voting at last week’s council meeting on the grounds that they sought a compromise on the divisive issue with the Outdoor Advertising Association of New Zealand (OAANZ) in February.

The matter ended up on the desk of the Auditor-General, who said there were no grounds to prevent Crs Caughey and Simpson from attending the meeting and voting.

“Cr Armstrong’s efforts were an attempt to thwart the democratic process by preventing the representatives of the CBD from being able to vote on an issue of crucial interest to our constituents – and it has wasted vast amounts of council money and time as well,” Cr Caughey said today.

“He has significantly added to the nearly 2,000 hours of council officer time and $100,000 in legal fees that have been spent on this issue. The irony is that had the rest of council accepted February’s compromise initiated by Action Hobson and OAANZ, even more of this money would have been saved.” The proposal ultimately supported by the council closely reflects Action Hobson’s February compromise proposal.

Cr Caughey said it was “disgraceful” that Cr Armstrong had tried to prevent fellow councillors from voting on an issue because they had previously expressed a view on it, especially one that affects their own council ward.

“Elected representatives are paid to express the views of their communities and seek sensible policy solutions,” Cr Caughey said. “For Cr Armstrong to have tried to use that as a reason to stop us from voting is undemocratic and brings disgrace on him and his C&R Now colleagues.”

ENDS

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