In the wake of the allegations of a mismanaged conflict of interest by Cr Gary Kelliher, others at the council table said they raised concerns about the issue last year.
Council chairman Andrew Noone — who has rejected the allegations against Cr Kelliher — yesterday said a "refresher" for councillors around conflict of interest rules was forthcoming.
Cr Kelliher, who represents the Dunstan constituency, has declared an interest and has neither voted nor spoken at the council table on the issue of the Manuherikia River.
Nevertheless, an Otago Fish & Game official information request uncovered emails which the lobby group said showed Cr Kelliher had participated behind the scenes in discussions on the matter.
Otago Fish & Game chief executive Ian Hadland wrote to the Office of the Auditor-general as well as Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Environment Minister David Parker asking them to look into it.
A spokesman for the Office of the Auditor-general confirmed this week a complaint had been received.
The request to investigate was being considered, he said.
After the complaint surfaced last week, Cr Kelliher called the allegations against him a "beat up".
He said they were a politically motivated, personal attack.
Cr Laws went further and said the allegations showed a misunderstanding of the role of an elected member.
Cr Laws said he had personally asked for Cr Kelliher’s input on "numerous occasions" because he could provide an understanding of how ORC policies might have an effect on the ground.
Cr Gretchen Robertson said as a result of their own official information request into councillor emails she and Crs Bryan Scott and Alexa Forbes raised concerns with Mr Noone last year.
He had indicated he believed input, including legal advice, on appropriately handling conflicts would be useful, Cr Robertson said.
"Ministers of the environment and local government have powers they can invoke to assist councils to effectively undertake their roles and duties.
"They don’t need to disband local democracy and decision-making."
Cr Scott said he had raised concerns around conflicts of interest, predetermination and not prioritising the health of the waterway when the Manuherikia was up for debate last year.
"What I will say is that high standards of public sector governance and accountability are essential to healthy democracies and what is outlined [in the allegations against Cr Kelliher] does not fit within that description," Cr Scott said.
Mr Noone confirmed the issue concerning conflicts of interest was raised late last year.
He said he had conversations with several councillors about a refresher.
He then spoke to ORC governance, culture and customer general manager Amanda Vercoe who agreed a session would be timely.
It had been arranged for the first quarter of this year, Mr Noone said.
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Comments
Pathetic excuses!!
It is remarkable that ORC councillors nearing the end of a council term need a refresher course on managing conflicts of interest. This is the very basic of local government management. It looks more like a smoke screen to divert public attention at the expense of ratepayers. They are always dreaming up ways of spending the 72% rates rise!