Mayor’s proxy role questioned [ODT, 12/12/19]

The Queenstown Lakes District Council will be asked to rescind one of its first decisions of the new term, relating to mayor Jim Boult being appointed the proxy for Queenstown Airport — at Mr Boult’s request.

The council appointed Mr Boult on October 24 — it was a late addition to the agenda because the airport was having its meeting the following day, and the council needed to attend for a quorum of a majority of the shareholders to be reached.

The initial report, prepared by general counsel Alice Balme, said for ‘‘reasons of practicality and efficiency’’ the council appointed a proxy to attend meetings and exercise its voting rights in accordance with the airport’s constitution.

However, that decision was criticised by members of lobby group We Love Wakatipu — Cath Gilmour told councillors at the November meeting they should revoke the ‘‘unfettered three-year proxy’’, while Sally Stockdale said it was ‘‘curious’’ Mr Boult had been appointed for the entire council term.

Read this in full here.

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