Councillor Brooke Patterson and CEO Tim Baker clash after council leak investigation
An inquiry into an alleged leak of information at City Hall has caused a tense stand-off between two key figures.
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An inquiry into an alleged City Hall information leak is sparking tensions between Governance chair Brooke Patterson and CEO Tim Baker.
The complaints have been referred to council watchdog, the Office of the Independent Assessor. No findings were made against Ms Patterson and she denies any wrongdoing.
At full council on Tuesday, a report on “outcome of independent investigation” was deemed confidential and only to be debated in a closed session due to legal advice.
“The purpose of this report is to present for Council’s noting, the outcome of the independent investigator report requested by Councillor Brooke Patterson into an alleged leak of information by the City Administration,” an overview said.
No further details were provided. No councillors spoke to it, and Mayor Tom Tate declined to comment after.
Ms Patterson asked questions of Mr Baker and told the meeting the Bulletin, the previous day, indicated at no stage did she “directly or indirectly” provide information on these matters.
Ms Patterson asked Mr Baker if he was concerned after “spending an alarming amount of ratepayer funds” on the investigation the report failed to clarify this situation.
“I’m in a difficult situation because I cannot comment (as it was on grey papers) except to say an independent report was done at arm’s length from the City administration. The results are there,” Mr Baker said.
Ms Paterson said her name was mentioned “137 times” but she was the only person in the report not contacted by the investigator.
Mr Baker again said he was “happy to have a conversation” in closed but could not publicly comment.
Ms Patterson argued the “failed legal report” suggested wider concerns about legal advice to the City, and asked if the future appointment of a legal panel would prevent such outcomes.
“Okay, firstly since we’ve gone there, the councillor was provided with a report prior to it coming to council,” Mr Baker said
“The councillor was provided with an opportunity to provide feedback. And to the best of my understanding no feedback was provided prior, as were other individuals who were named in the report.
“That’s the standard process. The scope of the report - again there are difficulties for me to comment on given it’s a report in closed - was based actually on a request that came from the councillor.
“This was a pretty straightforward piece of work. It was an investigation into a matter relating as the councillor has now given that it’s in the public domain. I note it wasn’t in the public domain until the councillor stood up.
“But it is in relation to an investigation, in relation to a leaked report - the costs of the report is what it costs to undertake an independent assessment.”
Mr Baker said he had absolute faith in internal and external legal advice.
An assessment will be made on whether a redacted report would be released, and councillors backed a move by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates to have the name of the law firm removed from it.
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Originally published as Councillor Brooke Patterson and CEO Tim Baker clash after council leak investigation
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