Marlborough Council needs a new CEO

Radio NZ reports:

The Chief Ombudsman has reprimanded Marlborough District Council’s use of public-excluded briefings and workshops, saying they should be “open by default”. …

Council chief executive John Boswell said the council’s use of public-excluded was well within scope under LGOIMA.

“We are continuing to operate in accordance with the law,” Boswell said. “That is [the Ombudsman’s] own individual opinion and interpretation of how he thinks things should be ultimately conducted.”

This is a level of arrogance that makes the CEO unfit to hold his office. he dismisses the Chief Ombudsman’s advice as merely an “individual opinion”.

He is the effing Chief Ombudsman. His views are not some personal random reflection. His job is to review decisions made by local authorities under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

The CEO dismissing his views as an “individual opinion” is akin to a government department CEO dismissing the views of the High Court as “an individual opinion”.

The decisions by the Chief Ombudsman are actually binding on councils unless the Council explicitly votes not to accept it within 21 days.

The CEO’s attitude is so terrible, I think the Mayor needs to take action.