Auditor-General launches footpath contracts inquiry

Auckland City Council's management of its footpath contracts is to be the subject of an inquiry by the Auditor-General.

It follows a request from the council to Auditor-General Kevin Brady to investigate how the council entered into and managed some of its footpath contracts.

He has also been asked to investigate claims made by council staff and by contractors in relation to those contracts.

Mr Brady said today that he had decided to carry out an inquiry.

He said concerns have been raised publicly about the integrity of the council's processes for tendering footpath contracts.

The adequacy of the council's investigation of those matters had also been in the spotlight.

In January 2007, the council concluded that there had been no overpayment in respect of footpath renewal work down by John Fillmore Contractors.

However, there was talk of a cover-up and council chief executive David Rankin last month asked the Auditor-General to conduct an independent review for the sake of public confidence.

The request came after an ultimatum from Mayor John Banks to Mr Rankin to get to the bottom of new revelations about the contracts.

- NZPA