C&R co leader breaks ranks on board jobs

Christine Fletcher. Photo / Dean Purcell

Citizens & Ratepayers co-leader Christine Fletcher says the centre-right group does not support an attempt by co-leader Jami-Lee Ross to have board appointments of council-controlled organisations discussed in public.

But Mrs Fletcher has refused to say whether she thinks Mr Ross is playing politics on the issue after he issued a press release which criticised appointments based on "long-standing friendships and political campaign connections".

The issue has widened following online reports that two people with close links to Mayor Len Brown - former Manukau City Council chief executive Leigh Auton and former Manukau deputy mayor Gary Troup - would be appointed to CCO boards tomorrow.

Mr Brown said he had "lost faith" in a councillor on the committee making the appointments and ordered an investigation into suspected leaking of the names.

Mr Ross has denied leaking information, saying he had been clear that he could not comment on who was being proposed for the CCO appointments but felt the item should not be conducted behind closed doors.

Mrs Fletcher said she had raised the matter of the leaks with Mr Ross on Sunday and accepted his word that he did not leak the information.

"I do not support councillors indulging in the process of leaking information," she said.

"It makes it extremely difficult for staff and good process on the council."

Mrs Fletcher said the five Citizens & Ratepayers councillors had discussed the issue of CCO appointments and agreed to stick with the usual practice of conducting the process behind closed doors where there could be free and frank discussions.

It also made it easier to attract good candidates for the CCO boards, she said.

"We accept that Jami-Lee has a different view and that it is naturally his right to express it."

Asked if she thought Mr Ross was playing politics, Mr Fletcher said she would not comment because it related to matters on the confidential agenda at tomorrow's meeting of the CCO strategy and appointments subcommittee.

The row is escalating after online reports at the weekend that Mr Auton and Mr Troup would be appointed to CCO boards.

Mr Brown has refused to comment on the names of up to 15 new directors.

In the past councils have discussed CCO appointments behind closed doors, but Mr Ross says now is the time to open these talks to the public.

He wants to adopt the practice of public companies where directors are voted on at annual meetings of shareholders.

Mr Auton told the Herald he had applied for several positions on the six CCOs and Mr Troup said he had applied for two positions.

It is believed Mr Auton and Mr Troup have been recommended for appointments to the boards of the property and regional facilities CCOs respectively.

All those who applied for the jobs were shortlisted by a recruitment specialist. Mr Brown and council chief executive Doug McKay then headed a second shortlist process.

Mr Ross and Mr Brown have a chequered history.

The former Manukau City councillor led an attack on Mr Brown's credit card expenditure when he was Mayor of Manukau this year.

Mr Ross, who has been given a minor role heading the tenders and procurement panel in this council, is being tipped as a possible National Party candidate in Botany if Pansy Wong quits Parliament after following her perks scandal, which would force a byelection.