A Code of Conduct complaint against former Whau Local Board chair, and current board member, Catherine Farmer has been resolved – with training and advice provided to her around managing aspects of council’s conflicts of interest policy.
The complaint by a member of the public was made in May 2017 claiming a conflict of interest by Ms Farmer in approving a community leasing agreement at Rosebank Road with the Pacific Events and Entertainment Trust and funding for the organisation.
After a mediation process failed to find a resolution, the matter was referred to an independent review panel.
The panel, led by Sir Ian Barker, found that although there could have been a perception Ms Farmer was “too close” to the decisions, she “acted in good faith and accept that, to her, there was no conflict of interest with regards to the decision that she made”.
However, it was recommended that Ms Farmer receive counselling and workshop training under the elected member learning and development programme to help reinforce the requirements of Section 7 of council’s Code of Conduct relating to conflicts of interest.
That training has already taken place.
Whau Local Board received a report and the independent panel’s findings at its business meeting on Wednesday evening and voted to make both public.
“It was important that this report was made available to members of the public and I have taken the opportunity to remind all board members of their obligations to the wider community to carry out their duties in an open and transparent manner,” says current Whau Local Board chair Tracy Mulholland.
“This issue arose in the previous term, but I am confident that members will ensure there is no cause to question our decision-making now or in the future.”
Auckland Council’s Governance Director, Phil Wilson, says: “Following a complaint from a member of the public, and in line with our elected member code of conduct, a full and thorough investigation process was undertaken and completed.
“While this is a disappointing situation, it’s important to keep it in context. Auckland has 170 elected members who make a huge number of decisions annually, so this is a rare event.
“It reflects that our checks and balances work well and there is a high standard of care in terms of managing conflicts of interest.
“Nevertheless, it’s also a reminder to everyone in a decision-making role – and particularly those with multiple roles and relationships in the community – to pause, reflect and recognise conflicts of interest.”
Catherine Farmer says: “I accept the findings of the panel and that it was satisfied, as far as I was concerned, I had acted in good faith.
“At the same time, I acknowledge that there have been good learnings from this process.”
The complaint related to decisions made in September 2015 and May 2016 while Ms Farmer was chair of the Whau Local Board. She was succeeded as chair by Tracy Mulholland in October 2016 following the local government elections.
The report will be available on the Auckland Council website under the Whau Local Board meeting of 27 June 2018.
