‘Twisted logic’ behind pay rise

pigs gorge deeply. Pity the ratepayer who buys the slops.

Exactly how ‘‘robust’’ was the examination of Mr Briggs’ performance?

The debacle over the state of Hamilton’s finances that played out after the 2016 election did not reflect well on the chief executive.

Just months after assuring the public that the city was in rude fiscal health, alarms bells were sounded.

We were suddenly told that a rates hike of up to 19 per cent was required. When challenged, Briggs talked about hunches and ‘‘gut feelings’’, of a vague idea that all was not well. Hardly the type of language to instill confidence.

Nor did the eventual rate rise of 9.3 per cent over three years suggest we should be paying the man at the top the better part of half a million dollars.

In 2018 Briggs was embroiled in two separate controversies involving development in the CBD.

Sensitive to claims that he had advantaged a pair of businessmen with information about the Victoria on the River plans, before such plans were made public, the chief executive sought exoneration from Audit New Zealand.

The vindication he received from said report made for interesting reading when one of the businessmen involved was subsequently amongst the beneficiaries in a property sale in which the Hamilton City Council paid 56 percent more than the government valuation suggested the buildings were worth.

Briggs’ handling of the 2019 local body