Palmerston North City Council payment

 

PHOTO: MURRAY WILSON/STUFF The Ombudsman is investigating why the Palmerston North City Council is keeping reports that prompted it to make a grant to Toyota secret.

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked Palmerston North City Council chief executive Heather Shotter to explain why reports that could explain why councillors voted to make a $391,000 grant to Toyota New Zealand remain secret.

The council earlier released minutes of council meetings held behind closed doors in August and September 2017, which gave acting chief executive David Wright authority to negotiate the grant.

The minutes did not include the reports presented to the council meetings, or records of the debate, only the final resolutions.

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