Council challenged on Monte Cecilia School “facts”

A list of “facts” about Monte Cecilia School, which was tacked on to a council resolution at the last heated meeting of Auckland City Council, is now being challenged by one third of the Council.

In an unusual move, seven councillors (the one third required by Standing Orders) are asking the council to amend a resolution passed at the Council’s February meeting which had17 bullet points of explanation appended. The signing councillors are Cr Leila Boyle, Cr Cathy Casey, Cr Mark Donnelly, Cr Graeme Easte, Cr Glenda Fryer, Cr Richard Northey and Cr Denise Roche.

Councillor Cathy Casey says she is angry that Mayor John Banks would not allow any discussion on the disputed bullet points and decided to collect the signatures of one third of the Council to ensure that the facts about Monte Cecilia School on public record could be corrected.

“In particular the revisionist history forgot to mention that on 14 June 2001, Auckland City Council passed a resolution requiring the designation over the Monte Cecilia School land to be uplifted. I need to know why a resolution of the full Council to uplift the School’s designation was never actioned by staff. If it had been, Monte Cecilia School would not have been evicted.

“There is also a series of statements inferring that the Catholic Diocese is a willing seller and has been wanting to sell the school for the last 40 years to allow them to follow a Diocesan policy of siting their schools next to their Parish Church. None of these statements is true.”

Cr Glenda Fryer is accusing Deputy Mayor David Hay and his Citizens & Ratepayer team of trying to change history.

“Local Monte Cecilia parents and teachers tell me that their history is not Councillor Hay’s to change by decree. He is indulging in fact-changing power play when he should instead be using his last few months in office to leave a real legacy to the people of Mt Roskill - he should be removing the land designation from both Monte Cecilia School and the Marcellin College playing fields.”

ENDS

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