Consultant has sign-off

Horowhenua District Council

An unelected consultant from Tauranga will be responsible for signing off Horowhenua District Council's controversial email interception audit report.

Chartered accountant Philip Jones was last week named by HDC chief executive David Clapperton and was selected by Mayor Michael Feyen earlier this year to chair HDC's finance, audit and risk committee. He has one vote.

The peer-reviewed audit report is expected to be tabled at the committee meeting next Wednesday. Mr Jones said he didn't see any reason why the report wouldn't be made public.

"There are challenges here but I don't see them as fatal flaws.

If I felt uncomfortable I wouldn't continue in the role," he said.

Mr Jones said it was not uncommon for unelected people to sit on and lead local government audit and risk committees, and the Office of the Auditor General recommended it.

"The role of the independent is to provide independent advice and leadership to the committee, independent of management and the elected members," he said.

He had similar roles at six other councils. He worked a day and half per month at most for HDC.

Mr Jones has previously been an auditor and was chief financial officer at Western Bay of Plenty District Council for 14 years.

Deputy Mayor Wayne Bishop said most councillors knew Mr Jones though Local Government NZ workshops and were more than comfortable having him as committee chair.