The Whakatāne District Council has approved a proposal put forward by Mayor Tony Bonne to appoint an independent chairperson and reduce the number of elected members on its Audit and Risk Committee.

The Committee has been chaired by the Mayor and since the start of the current Council triennium has been a standing committee of Council, with all elected members represented. In his report to last week’s Council meeting, Mayor Bonne highlighted a recommendation in last year’s Local Government NZ excellence programme assessment, which suggested that an independent chair could potentially provide more objective oversight.

“Last year, I attended an Institute of Directors course, which also highlighted the view that to achieve prudent governance of all council matters, audit committees should not be chaired by the mayor,” he said. “I am therefore recommending that the Committee be made up of three elected members and two independent appointees.”

The committee will comprise John Anderson (independent, Chair), Colin Leonard (independent), Councillor Julie Jukes (Deputy Chair), Councillor Russell Orr and Mayor Tony Bonne.