After a five-hour meeting today Auckland councillors have agreed to censure Mayor Len Brown for his behaviour and the resulting embarrassment stemming from his extra-martial affair with Bevan Chuang.
Councillor Cameron Brewer says the council’s resolutions don’t go far enough. The saga will continue to tarnish the city’s reputation as long as Mr Brown remains mayor, he says in a statement.
“If he’s not going to step down, one suggestion I made was that he be asked to give up the all-powerful chairmanship of the budget committee as well as reimburse all of the identified costs in the EY review,” Mr Brewer says.
He also called for Mr Brown to pay back the legal costs incurred while he was reviewing a draft of the EY report.
Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse told the Herald a censure motion against the mayor would go to a public meeting of the governing body on Thursday.
Councillor Mike Lee says it’s not in Auckland's best interest for the mayor to resign.
Mr Brewer says it was clear from today’s meeting most of councillors believe the best thing for Auckland is for Mr Brown to remain as mayor.
“Along with a few others, I also argued for councillors to instruct the mayor to fully and finally disclose anything else of a related nature that may bring the council into further disrepute down the track. However this request was not agreed,” Mr Brewer says.
Mr Brown attended the first part of today's meeting where he offered an apology to councillors.
EARLIER: Brown won't resign
NBR Staff
Mon, 16 Dec 2013
Mon, 16 Dec 2013
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Len Brown censured; Brewer wants to take things further
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