Councillor resigns in ‘frustration'

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 6

Councillor resigns in ‘frustration'

A Hornby District Community councillor has resigned because he claims his attempts to get things done have been constantly frustrated. Mr A.S. Malcolm, who has been a member of the council for the last four years, said: “There has been an orchestrated campaign against me in everything I have suggested.” He was “utterly disgusted” at the way council meetings were conducted and had been “completely frustrated” in his endeavours to get things done for his electors. The Hornby council is one of four community councils which has representatives on the Paparua County Council. Mr Malcolm is not one of the representatives. Mr Malcolm said the issue of public toilets in Homby had been the last straw. He had campaigned for the erection of public toilets but had received no support When a petition signed by Hornby residents supporting the need for toilets was presented at a recent County Council meeting the residents had not been given a fair hearing, he said. It appeared that the County Council was just putting a front on something that had been prearranged, Mr Malcolm alleged. His attempts to get estimated costs and information about public toilets, underground wiring, and kerb channelling in the Homby district in time for the council’s estimates meeting had been frustrated. In spite of asking Paparua County Council staff for information on the.items six months before the May meeting, it was not available in time, he said. That had meant that the items could not be properly considered for another year,

he said. “The council staff stall and manipulate councillors 1 on matters which you bring up,” he said. V ’ The “stalling" had been * ’ done in a very nice way but J ’ it had been quite apparent that the staff had no inten- 5 1 tion of having the requested ■ilinformation ready, Mr Mai- 1 J colm said. ■ * Mr Malcolm said he had lf> been outspoken on a number '" of contentious issues and c had kept the Community ! : Council on its toes. “I think they are a better council for it, he said. 1:i A main concern had been -■ to ensure that the Commun- ■ yi ity Council spent its money ’ wisely. - “I have had a sufficient amount of successes but the atmosphere (of the council) is not very good.” Mr Mai- 1 colm said he had felt in- ’ creasingly ineffectual on it v “I am sad in a way to be '• bowing out.” ' Mr Malcolm said he was '!• appreciative of the support local people had given him 1 and that there were some good people on the Com- - munity Council. * He will retain his seat on ! the Homby Trust Board. •' The seven-member =; Homby Community Council is responsible for recommending much of the day- <■ to-day running of the - 5i Hornby district. The County “ Council takes responsibility for administrative matters such as rating, and considers recommendations from the Community Council. The Paparua County Clerk, Mr B. L. Mooar, said Cr Malcolm’s resignation had been received yesterday morning. Staff would not comment on it, he said. i The County Chairman, Mr b J. Y. Pethig, said he would not comment until he had J discussed the matter with i the chairman of the Homby council, Cr M. I. Corbett, a