Council appoints reviewer following Heart of the City disputes
No major new decisions await Auckland's central city business group until a new executive committee is in place.
Auckland Council has appointed an independent reviewer for Heart of the City after an employment dispute with chief executive Viv Beck and a planned coup by some central Auckland businesses.
The council's chief executive Phil Wilson has put Cassandra Crowley in charge of supporting Heart of the City through the restoring the functioning of its executive committee.
He said Crowley's appointment ensured important services in the city centre continue.
Her role will be to verify the business association's membership register and support the steps needed for a meeting to elect a new executive committee.
"Aucklanders deserve a vibrant, safe and prosperous city centre and Heart of the City's members deserve a high-functioning business association," Wilson said.
"The council has a significant interest in the success of the city centre and acknowledges Heart of the City and its role working for the economic benefit of the city centre."
Crowley would provide independent oversight and assurance over the membership verification process, communicating with members and BID affiliates, as well as the steps required for a Special General Meeting to elect a new executive committee, Wilson said.
He said Heart of the City would continue its day-to-day operations, but no major new decisions would made until a new executive committee was in place.
"While we can't yet say how long Ms Crowley will need to be in this role, the priority here is ensuring that all the necessary steps to having a new Executive Committee in place are carried out as quickly as possible," Wilson said.
Crowley has worked as a chartered accountant, barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, and was also a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.
She has been the deputy chair of the NZTA board, as well an an independent member of the council's audit and risk committee.