3 Feb 2015

Auck councillors want oversight of agencies

3:50 pm on 3 February 2015

Auckland councillors have decided to hold onto their role of choosing directors for council agencies, against the advice of their managers.

Auckland Council's transport agency, Auckland Transport

Auckland Council's transport agency, Auckland Transport Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall

Mayor Len Brown said best practice in the business world was not the same as best practice in politics.

"I think that there is a difference to the extent that our CCOs are publicly accountable through us.

"The community will want to know that we hold them accountable and directly accountable through us. The community will want to know that we hold them accountable and directly accountable through that process of decision making and appointment of the directors."

Councillors will decide next month whether councillors should continue as directors of Auckland Transport.

Two councillors have been directors of Auckland Transport since the billion dollar agency was created four years ago.

The council committee, which monitors its agencies, today considered ending the practice of having politicians on Auckland Transport's board.

One of the existing councillor-directors, Mike Lee, said he had no idea of the move and no-one had talked to him about it.

He said it was important to have democratic oversight on the agency board, which manages the city's public transport and roads.

Follow Todd Niall on Twitter @toddniall

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