14 August 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Cost of Code of Conduct investigation re complaint against councillor
Enquiry
Can you please advise me the total cost to the council for the code of conduct investigation into Reynold Macpherson (the one independently investigated by Lachlan Muldowney)?
Can you please itemise these costs (e.g. legal, advisory, staff time)?
Response
The following information was provided:
As requested, total cost to Council for code of conduct investigation re Councillor MacPherson (investigated by Lachlan Muldowney)
Total: $59,573
This is made up of:
Legal fees - $41,341
Audit and Risk Committee meeting fees - $9000
Staff time - approximately $9650 (approx. 87.5hrs)
Please note: Staff time is assessed at $76 per hour which is the rate Rotorua Lakes Council uses under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Prostitution bylaw review
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about the Prostitution Bylaw Review 2020 and have the below statements I would like to put to the council for right of reply.
Dame Catherine Healy
New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective national coordinator Dame Catherine Healy said the existence of any bylaw on a specific occupation was problematic.
However, discrimination based on occupation was not covered by the Human Rights Act, she said.
You can discriminate on the basis of occupation. That's the problem.
[Sex workers] cop enough discrimination as it is. That can feed into dehumanising behaviour and that translates into violence.
It doesn't help when cities develop hostile environments.
She said other cities had liberalised sex work bylaws, but it would be good to get rid of any sex work bylaw, but that might make councillors nervous.
It's always a balancing act.
Justin Adams
Local accommodation business consultant Justin Adams said he was surprised the bylaw didn't breach human rights.
It's highly restrictive on what [sex workers] can and can't do, which seems really odd for something that's been [decriminalised] for 17 years.
In his opinion it was discriminatory, giving the example of a restriction on neon signs.
Just drive down Fenton St.
However, he did agree with some provisions, such as the distances from sensitive sites.
I understand protecting people but it's [decriminalised] and has been for a long time now.
He had made a submission on the council's proposal in favour of Option C, which would see adopting the new bylaw with changes.
Response
The reporter was provided with the following information:
The council organisation doesn't comment on people's views during consultation and/or ahead of any decision elected members may make re bylaws. It's not appropriate to do that.
The formal process re consulting on bylaws is:
- consultation is approved by elected members
- consultation period - people are invited to make submissions
- hearings - submitters have opportunity to be heard by elected members re their submission
- officers then collate and present a summary of the feedback and submissions and make recommendations
- elected members deliberate (SP&F Committee) and make recommendation to Full Council
- decision by Full Council
