Mixed reaction to new meetings
A committee that confines workrelated communication between Horowhenua District Council’s chief executive and its mayor to a group setting has provided a much-needed change, councillors say.
The chief executive relationship committee was formed in a public-excluded meeting in Levin in April to improve reporting lines between chief executive David Clapperton and the council.
Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen and Clapperton previously met on a one-on-one basis, but relations disintegrated to such an extent that discussion on work matters was restricted to meetings in which deputy mayor Wayne Bishop and Cr Victoria Kayesimmons were present.
Bishop said most councillors agreed that since he and Kayesimmons were included in the meetings, the council was better able to carry out its work. ‘‘We have many large projects under way, and it is important that we remain focused on how we can accommodate growth and complete projects to improve the lives of residents of our communities.’’
Feyen remained integral to the process despite reports to the contrary, Bishop said. He said the committee had also improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the council. However, Feyen said he believed the committee had made no difference as his one-on-one meetings with Clapperton had also worked well. ‘‘[But] anything that keeps positive things going is fine with me.’’
Following the public-excluded decision to form the committee, the Standard made a Local Government Official Information Act request for the meeting’s minutes, which was denied by the council on privacy grounds. The council finally released the minutes this month after a ruling by the Ombudsman’s office, but with large sections redacted due to privacy concerns.
The minutes confirm that Feyen and Campbell left the meeting before it ended, despite being encouraged to stay. Bishop then assumed the chairman role and a unanimous decision was made to form the committee.
Feyen told the Standard he left the meeting early as he felt the decision to form the committee had been predetermined by councillors.
Clapperton said on Friday he agreed that the reporting line change was beneficial.