Councillor Gough’s Commitment to openness and transparency

In the Press recently Cr Gough is reported as saying at the CCC meeting:

Gough then led a bid at Wednesday’s meeting to have the cycleway ripped up before existing consultation on the cycleway had finished.

Gough said he liked to encourage cycling in a safe environment, and he admitted dedicated cycleways achieved that, but he said he also liked democracy and having a conversation with the public before spending money.

It was interesting to note his commitment to democracy and “having a conversation with the public”. I recall an email he wrote on behalf of himself, Sam Macdonald, and Phil Mauger to the CE Dawn Baxendale during the last election campaign. The email is below.

You will note it was from his private email address to the private addresses of the others. Was this avoiding public scrutiny? Was this about promoting democratic principles?

Here’s the email:

From: James Gough <james@gough.net.nz>
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 11:11 PM
To: dawn.baxendale@ccc.govt.nz <dawn.baxendale@ccc.govt.nz>
Cc: Sam MacDonald <sam@sammacdonald.co.nz>; phil.mauger@outlook.co.nz <phil.mauger@outlook.co.nz>
Subject: Dinner & Mutual Expectations

Hi Dawn,

Phil, Sam, and I have discussed and agreed a number of priorities which we would like to work with you to achieve next term should Phil be elected as Mayor, with a workable majority.

We are confident of as much; we believe unity on key foundation principals for next term – at best and even at an average case – will be entirely achievable. At a worst case, you can disregard it! Garry of course would have all the answers then anyway…

The three of us would like to get together with you sooner rather than later, at close of nominations, to discuss this further over dinner one evening. If this would be suitable, would either the evening of Sunday 14 August, or Monday 25 August work for you?

Alternatively we could do the following weekend?

Some sportsmen bets or light wages on various council seat predictions could be in order, for entertainment’s sake, however we primarily wish to discuss how you and the organisation can best be prepared to enable the direction we want to set to achieve our objectives to genuinely enable you in your role, and ultimately lift the performance, public trust, and reputation of council.

Let us know how you’re placed and speak soon.

Thanks,

James, Sam & Phil

A later email invited Dawn to bring her husband if she wanted.
Where was the commitment to public consultation he has recently been reported as having in the above Press article in this letter?