Missing something

Have I missed some alteration to the law that means it is no longer necessary to come to a complete halt at a compulsory stop sign, whether or not there is approaching traffic? I’ve been tooted from behind a couple of times when complying in Kaitaia, and recently one afternoon spotted two northbound school buses blithely sail past the stop sign at Grigg’s Corner. BRIAN FARRANT

Ahipara Seconded: Cr John Vujcich, That the council undertake a rating review in time for the annual plan 2019/20. For the avoidance of doubt the annual plan 2019/20 preparation and deliberations should include a review of all aspects of rating.

In Favour: Crs Felicity Foy, Dave Hookway, Mate Radich, John Vujcich and Kelly Stratford. Against: HWTM John Carter, Tania McInnes, Ann Court, Colin (Toss) Kitchen and Sally Macauley. The Mayor used his casting vote and the motion was LOST.’

‘Promised broken’ published — Northland Age, November 25), Mayor Carter responded, “No one voted against a rate review. We all support a review being done. I did not use my casting vote because I did not need to.”

To my later letter published in the Age (‘Amnesia’) Mayor Carter responded: ‘According to Standing Orders, where a vote is 50/50 the status quo remains.’ Carter could have voted for a rate review, a promise made during his election campaign for the mayoralty five years ago.

Deputy Mayor Tania McInnes contacted me by email; “A rates and revenue review was bought before council on May 11, 2017. Three councillors voted against, the motion was left on the table”.

Eighteen months later Cr Foy took the matter in hand with her October 25 motion to implement this agreed policy in time for the 2019/20 annual plan process. The outcome of that vote could most accurately be expressed as ‘the Mayor and four councillors voted against a rate review for now.’-