26 Oct 2016

New Marlborough mayor calls for 'trust, honesty and integrity'

6:53 pm on 26 October 2016

The new mayor of Marlborough District has made a plea for the new council to respect the decision-making process they have been elected to do.

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett Photo: Supplied

John Leggett - the district's first new mayor in 12 years, after Alistair Sowman stepped down at the election - told councillors at today's swearing-in ceremony that he wanted an environment of respect and trust.

Mr Leggett was at the centre of confidential material leaked to an online website before the election, aimed at embarrassing him.

Comments he made at a closed-door council meeting about finances surrounding the ASB theatre in Blenheim were covertly recorded and leaked to the public.

Mr Leggett said he expected councillors to operate under the guidelines outlined in the code of conduct, and that the public expected councillors to stick to the principles of collective decision-making.

"It should be something we adhere to all times. It's a question of bringing together all those elements of trust, honesty and integrity and that's the degree to which I expect everyone to operate under," Mr Leggett said.

Councillor Terry Sloan has been re-appointed as the district's deputy mayor.

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