TCDC accepts OAG findings on Moewai Road lease

.Auditor General says Council did not manage lease arrangements well.

Thames-Coromandel District Council needs to prioritise completion of its property strategy to avoid future problems such as occurred with the leasing of the Sherriff Block at Whitianga, according to the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG).

The OAG also recommended TCDC improve its record keeping and monitoring of land lease arrangements to prevent further issues.

The OAG was asked to investigate the handling of a lease arrangement for the Moewai Road land to Dirk Sieling who later was elected as a Thames-Coromandel District Councillor and allegations that Cr Sieling had been given information he should not have received, given that he had a pecuniary interest in the matter.

TCDC Chief Executive Steve Ruru says he accepts the OAG findings and that steps were in train to implement the OAG recommendations. A paper on a proposed property strategy was going to Council for consideration in December and internal procedures had been tightened to ensure that no information is sent to councillors where there is a perceived conflict of interest.

Mr Ruru said better record keeping and monitoring arrangements had been put in place.