Advisory Board Chairman Quits

“The resignation of Feroz Ali from the Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel confirms that these boards are a total waste of money,” says Stephen Berry. The Affordable Auckland leader says the constant barrage of scandals and disasters coming from Auckland Council every few days confirms “stupid is the new normal at the Town Hall.”

Feroz Ali says he has resigned from the advisory panel because he feels guilty about being paid $500 every time he attends a meeting. He feels the boards are only for “token consultation and are a waste of money.”

Berry says, “I’m party glad to hear the boards are not really being taken notice of because it is a perversion of democracy for some favoured interests to have greater access to the ears of Councillors than any other individual ratepayers. It is, however, greatly concerning to see ratepayer money wasted in this manner.

Even more worrying, Mayor Len Brown has said he will have a meeting with the chairs of all eleven panels next week. “So that’s another $5500 wasted,” retorts Berry.

“I commend Mr. Ali for having the integrity to recognise these panels are a waste of money and tender his resignation. Now it’s time for Auckland’s Councillors to open their eyes and shut all the advisory panels down.”

Ends

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