Pre-publicity annoys board chairman

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 373, 12 February 1991, Page 7

Pre-publicity annoys board chairman

Reading about a community board agenda report in the media before the meeting it referred to has upset the community board chairman, Mr Colin Webb. Mr Webb said at last week's board meeting he was not happy to read about the report before it had been discussed by the board. Mayor Workman said the council had considered an embargo on publishing details of meeting agendas prior to the meetings, but that the councillors had felt that the media should be free to use the material. He said while it was not his opinion, the majority of

councillors felt such publicity would encourage interest in council matters. The policy on council agendas also applied to community board agendas, he said. "This will contmue. It you are unhappy you should make recommendation to the council," said Mayor Workman. Mr Bruce Thompson said he favoured the prepublicity as it encouraged people to make their views known to board members prior to their meetings. "I think it's very healthy that they do (publish details of the agenda)," said Cr Bill Peach.

Cr Doug Bennett said he was in favour of the policy provided the media did not publish recommendations or give the impression that the decisions had already been made.