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John Banks and C&R show no evidence of transmogrification
The first full Council meeting with Mayor John Banks, Deputy Mayor David Hay and a Citizens and Ratepayers majority held tonight showed no evidence of transmogrification in their attitudes towards women and experienced councillors. City Vision-Labour leader Councillor Richard Northey says "I am extremely disappointed in the (National Party front) C&R councillors. They refused to give chair positions to their own experienced women councillors nor to Labour Councillor Leila Boyle who has ably led the Zoo Board over the last three years. "They also refused to make use of the knowledge and insights of those who had chaired committees in the last council by defeating amendments which would have ensured those councillors at least remained on the committees they had previously chaired. "Only vocal supporters of the "Super City" were allowed on the committee who will make submissions to the Royal Commission on Auckland's Regional Governance. "The democratic accountability and local knowledge of elected representatives will now also be totally absent for detailed planning decisions, resource consents and bylaw dispensation hearings. "John Banks and the new C&R council were given the opportunity to make full and best use of the talents of all councillors including their own women and councillors from the minority grouping and they have blown it." Contact: Councillor Richard Northey - 634 1494 or 027 247 9662 Posted Thu 01 Nov 2007 |
