Mt Hot Pools – Does the Consent process work?
At another secret meeting last week at TCC the consent decision on the Mount Hot Pools massage rooms is being appealed, this project has little to do with ‘pools'.
Among the 20 objectors were: two council staff (city planners) and Cr Catherine Stewart that spoke at the RMA hearing. Only two people supported this project neither showed up.
As Catherine objected to this project Mayor Crosby asked her to leave the secret meeting because she had a ‘conflict of interest'? Deputy Mayor David Stewart was not asked to leave the meeting even though he is a director of TCAL (applying for consent).
Commissioners - The public should know that TCC: Own 100% of TCAL; Pays millions to run the pools annually; Appoint all nine commissioners and pay them; David Stewart is a Commissioner;
Staff pick who is the commissioner; A Council planner (staff) must approve and sign the 'the independent commissioners” findings before printing.
As Catherine Stewart was asked to leave the meeting then so should all of the Councilors, staff etc, the Council ineffectively: Judge, jury, executioner, employer, borrower and everything else here. Where really is the ‘Conflict of interest?'
When in council I tried very hard to change this council practice but was blocked by a number of councillors that where employed as commissioners one of those Deputy Major David Stewart.
Hayden Evans, Welcome Bay.