Councillor recuses himself
JON HOUZET
A CONTROVERSIAL application to turn a home in Grand Street into student accommodation for Stenden was approved by council's executive committee on Tuesday.
Ward 10 councillor Ross Purdon recused himself when the item came up for discussion, following criticism that he had failed to do so when his ward committee made a decision on the matter last month.
Purdon has a three-year contract with Stenden to provide student accommodation.
The application for rezoning and departure by another contracted accommodation provider, Mike Millard, received a number of written objections from neighbours in Grand Street, which were not discussed in the Ward 10 meeting or at exco this week.
At his ward meeting Purdon said Stenden "will always get my support". In a letter to the Ward 10 committee last year, objector Erika Freeme said she was concerned Purdon would not be objective.
When the members of exco were asked to disclose interests at the beginning of their meeting this week, Purdon referred them to the item he called "controversial".
"I've been given many different opinions, including legal opinions," he said. "But the onus is on me, so I'll be recusing myself for (the item)."
When it did come up later in the meeting, Purdon duly recused himself. 
Mayor Sipho Tandani asked the deputy of infrastructural development, Noluthando Vithi, to comment. Vithi said the applicant had satisfied the requirements of her directorate, which recommended the application be approved.
The remaining members of exco, Tandani, Siphiwo Funde and Monica Mateti, agreed.