Talks

Looked at his contract

Mr Dickson replied: “Remembrance Drive, as briefly stated, has not changed. There is nothing to further to add at this time”.

Ms Kelly wrote back again saying “your response did not answer the question at all”.

Councillors had voted in June 2016 that the land was surplus to the city’s needs and that the CEO be “delegated the power to determine any tender” after being advised by council’s lawyer, the property services officer and an independent probity officer. A councillor let slip that the land was worth $5 million.

“The carriage of this matter was effectively delegated to you through that resolution … (it) is not satisfactory to simply say there is nothing more to report,” Ms Kelly wrote.

“It seems extraordinary in the current commercial climate with so much activity in the real estate market that the sale has not been completed.”

Given the sale involved pecuniary interests of the Mayor and his business associates, Ms Kelly reminded the CEO that the matter should be handled with the “highest levels of integrity and transparency”.

“Any lack of candour in such a delicate matter would naturally raise suspicion and concern,” she added.

Mr Dickson responded that the sale resolution was made in June 2016 along with the appointment of a probity auditor and was followed by marketing through to October that year.

“A tender was received. In the absence of a contract, as per my earlier advice, there is nothing to advice council nor is there a final probity report required as yet,” he said.

Talks on the CEO’s contract renewal began in June 2017, behind closed doors.

In September, councillors voted unanimously to give Mr Dickson a new three-year deal – with the option of a fourth – if he could successfully outline a council reform “road map”.