Dear Wellington Regional Council,

The Dominion Post recently published a story titled "Fran Wilde rolled as Wellington's regional council deals with supercity fallout" (URL: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/new...). In this story it was reported that:

"The coup was sparked by a new regional reorganisation plan drafted without regional councillors' knowledge, and revealed by Wilde to a select few last week, Lamason said. Wilde was a major supporter of a region-wide amalgamation proposal scrapped by the Local Government Commission on Tuesday.

In "Plan B" Wilde recommended the transfer of major functions from local councils to the regional body, including roading, water, and economic development."

It was reported that the "Plan B" referred to in the article was also circulated to local council CEOs and/or mayors for comment.

Can I please have a copy of the "Plan B" document that was circulated to local council CEOs and/or mayors ?

Can I please have a copy of any correspondence from the regional council associated with the "Plan B" document being circulated to local council CEOs and/or mayors ?

Can I please have a copy of any correspondence received by the regional council from local council CEOs and/or mayors associated with the "Plan B" document being circulated to them ?

If this information is held in electronic form, I would prefer it was provided to me in its complete and original electronic format.

Finally, can the GWRC please acknowledge its receipt of this information request.

Yours faithfully,

Tony Randle

Dear Democratic Services,

Thank you for your response to my 18 June request asking for a copy of Plan B as circulated to local council CEOs and/or mayors as well as any related correspondence. My request was in response to a DomPost article titled "Fran Wilde rolled as Wellington's regional council deals with supercity fallout" (URL: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/new...)

The GWRC response stated that no "Plan B" document was circulated to local council CEOs and/or mayors and also there was no related correspondence. The information was refused under Section 17(b) of LGOIMA on the basis that the information was not held by the GWRC.

I am confused by this response it appears to be in contradiction to a claim in the DomPost article within the follow section:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wilde said her opponents were staging a purely political leadership challenge, and correct process was followed in drafting Plan B. She denied any accusations of bullying.

"I'm the fall guy, but I don't mind. Part of being a leader is taking the rap," she said.

"I find it rather insulting that people say I'm clinging onto this job."

Plan B had been written by a council officer, viewed by council chief executives, and was due to be discussed by councillors at a workshop on Tuesday, Wilde said.

"This is perfectly legitimate. There's nothing secret about it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I specifically note the claim in the sentence that "Plan B had been ... viewed by council chief executives, ... Wilde said."

For the sake of clarity, can the GWRC confirm if the DomPost article's claim, attributed to Fran Wilde, that "Plan B had been ... viewed by council chief executives" correct ?

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle