Councillor dispels claims of absence

Talk of early departure wrong, says TwiggRumours suggesting Hastings district councillor Margaret Twigg has left her post eight months ahead of the next local government election have been rejected.

Cr Twigg, who is now in her fourth term at the Hastings District Council, has made it clear she would not contest the next election in October, but would remain in office until the end of the term.

A letter to Hawke's Bay Today suggested she had moved to Wellington but Cr Twigg, who was with fellow Hastings councillors at Wednesday's Waitangi Day celebrations in Clive, said the rumours were not correct.

"I have most certainly not moved from Hastings and I take my role on council very seriously. I chair the works and services committee and with the upgrade of Nelson St about to commence, I have been involved in community consultation and with the disability group to make sure that residents' concerns have been heard.

"I chair the tangata whenua wastewater committee and this is a very important year as we are working on the content of the application for consent to the regional council, which, when granted, will determine the time frame and any changes that may need to be made to the council's waste water system at East Clive."

Others she chaired included the crematorium committee and road closure committee, while she was deputy of the tenders committee. All had major projects she would see through during her final term on council.

"The inference that I have moved is somewhat insulting as I probably have one of the best attendance records on council - and I am there at the beginning of meetings and stay until the end."

On top of the committee work, she would continue to support council's ownership of pensioner housing, support the Camberley Community Centre and encourage activities at Whenua Takoha Park.

"At the end of this year I will have completed four terms on council, and before that, three terms on the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust," Cr Twigg said. "I will still be available in my voluntary work as a JP."

Councillors have until mid-year to indicate whether they'd like to contest their seats for the 2013-2016 term.