Watch on Shadbolt

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 17

Watch on Shadbolt

<■' PA Auckland The six independent members of Waitemata City Council yesterday accused “Tim’s Team” members of " j already flouting the new policies put in ir place to prevent the sort of abuses “ > uncovered in the Audit Office investigation of the council. Because of this, the six announced they would formally monitor council action on the abuses and report to the public on “either progress or backsliding.” The group’s spokeswoman, Mrs Dorothy Wilson, said if the monitoring showed the situation was sufficiently serious, they would have to consider asking the Government to appoint a commissioner to take over council affairs. Mrs Wilson said she was not surprised the final report from the Audit Office showed almost no changes from the original draft.

"It was also predictable that the Mayor (Mr Tim Shadbolt) would try to brazen his way out of the criticisms. “His followers have already tried to whitewash the report,” she said. The Waitemata City Council, however, said a number of changes had already been made to plug management gaps highlighted by the Audit Office investigation. A supporter of Mr Shadbolt, Cr Jim Heyder, said new policies on the use of council credit cards, vehicles, entertainment fund and overseas travel had already been implemented. “We’ve already done a lot of the things the Audit Office is suggesting.” Another supporter, Cr Warwick Pudney, said the new regulations covering overseas travel were welcomed by Mr Shadbolt. Although more bureaucratic, they cleared up an area of council business which was previously undefined.