The Waipawa couple at the centre of a dispute between the CHB District Council building department and former councillor Andy Watts say they are hopeful that the new council, and actions taken as a result of a review of the department, will lead to better outcomes for people seeking building resource consents in the district.
In September this year, the council was forced to issue an apology to Mr Watts after falsely claiming he had supplied non-compliant wood to Artmosphere Gallery owners Helmut Hirler and Sally Maguire who were building a lean-to shed on their property.
At the time, Mr Hirler and Ms Maguire denied that this had happened and said it had taken almost a year to get the shed signed off, but this week they were just waiting on the final letter.
Mr Hirler said they received a letter of apology from the council this week over the matter, and that he was optimistic about any future dealings with the department.
"It's better now already - we have been dealing with an inspector who is filling in for another job we want done, and so far they are very good."
The Central Hawke's Bay District Council is advertising three positions in its building department, but they are replacements for staff, rather than additional recruitments, said chief executive John Freeman.