It is unfortunate that my comments in relation to the Tender for the Tennis Courts were largely inaudible. (Tennis court stouch stalled at match point – City News, February 25)
I am certainly keen to have my reasons for leaving the Council Chamber heard and recorded.
A declaration of a conflict of interest led to my excusing myself from the Chamber. It related to my having received an email from one of the tenderers. This email arrived during my consideration of the confidential tender report prepared by Council staff.
Along with other data, the information I received identified a person with whom I’d had a number of discussions about a particular tennis program. Prior to receiving the email, I did not know that this person worked on this program with the tenderer. This particular program could be considered a key element of the tender.
The City’s Code of Conduct – Clause 7 states: “When considering whether or not you have a conflict of interest, it is always important to think about how others would view your situation.”
It is my opinion that others who know of the discussions that took place may believe that a decision, made by me in favour of this tenderer, could have been influenced by these discussions.
The decision to excuse myself from the Chamber was a matter of my exercising a responsible ethical approach to public assets and monies. The community expects this from their elected representatives.
I will also be excusing myself from further briefings and Council Meetings regarding this particular tender on the basis of a perceived conflict of interest.
Contrary to your report, there is not a “Hoff/Moore split”.
Councillor Marcelle Hoff
