Horeke temporary pound - contract, and timing of construction

Leo Exel made this Official Information request to Far North District Council

The request was successful.

From: Leo Exel

Dear Far North District Council,

We have been advised, without evidence, that the construction of facilities for the Horeke Temporary Pound commenced prior to the signing of the contract for that pound. This could well be unfounded (and unfair) rumour and as such we want to find out the facts.

Would you please provide a copy of the signed contract between the property owners/trust and FNDC, showing in particular the date of signing.

Would you please also provide the earliest dated internal email or report which mentions when building/construction began at the site.

Please provide any emails relating to the construction of the concrete slab.

Yours faithfully,

Leonie Exel

Link to this

From: Ask Us Team
Far North District Council

Thank you for contacting the Far North District Council.

 

********************************
This is an automated reply.

show quoted sections

Link to this

Leo Exel left an annotation ()

This was a very delayed response and they sent it to me directly, not via this website.

In summary - the contract for the lease on the land where Council has put a temporary pound was signed eight months AFTER the council had begun building on that land! It expired on 31.5.18 so we do not know if there is a contract, currently, or one that was signed late again. We continue to chase this as part of our work at the BOI Watchdogs to try to encourage transparency at the Far North District Council, in relation to dogs.

I sent this original LGOIMA on 10 October. The Far North District Council replied on 8 November, omitting to provide (i) the date on the contract, and (ii) a copy of the actual contract, as requested. I asked again that day. When they didn't reply, I asked again the next day, stating I was doing so under LGOIMA. They replied saying they would get the contract to me as soon as reasonably practical, aiming for some time the following week. I finally received the contract on 23.11.18. The date on the top of it was obscured and so they described it. I am now asking for a photo of it, and for any current contract.

Copy of emails below fyi.

From: Leonie Exel
Sent: Saturday, 8 December 2018 3:50 PM
To: Carla Ditchfield-Hunia
Subject: Re: Official information request: 3916337

Dear Ms Ditchfield-Hunia,

Thanks for this contract. Under LGOIMA again, can I please have a copy of the current contract between FNDC and the Horeke Pound owners, as this one expired on 31.5.18.

Also could you please attach a photograph of the contract, so that I can see the actual date on it? Or a scan which shows the date?

Thanks

Leonie
From: Carla Ditchfield-Hunia <Carla.Ditchfield-Hunia@fndc.govt.nz>
Sent: Friday, 23 November 2018 9:54 AM
To: 'Leonie Exel'
Subject: Official information request: 3916337

Dear Ms Exel

Official information request: 3916337

I refer to your information request received 9 November 2018 which has been referred to Legal Services for consideration in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (“the LGOIMA”).

Information request

Horeke Pound: “I request a copy of the lease agreement.”

Council response

Please find attached a copy of the lease agreement. Pursuant to s 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA any reference to personal information has been withheld in order to protect the privacy of persons. You will note that the date at the top of the agreement is difficult to make out in copy form, it states 12th day of March.

Thank you for your enquiry.

FNDC-swishYours faithfully

FNDC logo

Carla Ditchfield-Hunia

Legal Services Officer

Corporate Services, Far North District Council | 24-hour Contact Centre 0800 920 029

Carla.Ditchfield-Hunia@fndc.govt.nz

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Careers

From: Carla Ditchfield-Hunia <Carla.Ditchfield-Hunia@fndc.govt.nz>
Sent: Thursday, 8 November 2018 1:49 PM
To: 'leoexel@hotmail.com'
Subject: Official information request: 3916337

Leonie Exel

By email only to: leoexel@hotmail.com

Dear Ms Exel

Official information request: 3916337

I refer to your information request received 10 October 2018 which has been referred to Legal Services for consideration in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (“the LGOIMA”).

Information request

“We have been advised, without evidence that the construction of facilities for the Horeke Temporary Pound commenced prior to the signing of the contract for that pound. This could well be unfounded (and unfair) rumour and as such we want to find out the facts.

Would you please provide a copy of the signed contract between the property owners/trust and FNDC, showing in particular the date of signing.

Would you please also provide the earliest dated internal email or report which mentions when building/construction began at the site.

Please provide any emails relating to the construction of the concrete slab.”

Council response

Council had a verbal contract regarding works on the land with the land owner before later entering into a lease agreement.

Building construction began with the dismantling of kennels and carport relocation. Refer to an email attached dated 28 March 2017.

Please refer to the attached for a copy of an email referencing the concrete slab dated 23 May 2017.

In accordance with section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA any reference to personal information (outside of Council officers) has been redacted in order to protect the privacy of natural persons.

Thank you for your enquiry.

FNDC-swishYours faithfully

FNDC logo

Carla Ditchfield-Hunia

Legal Services Officer

Corporate Services, Far North District Council | 24-hour Contact Centre 0800 920 029

Carla.Ditchfield-Hunia@fndc.govt.nz

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Far North District Council only: