After much soul-searching Southgate council has decided not to write off court awarded costs of $41,000 against a citizens group known as SPIRG.
Two members of council, Mayor Anna-Marie Fosbrooke and Councilor Christine Gordon, declared a conflict of interest on the discussions because of past involvement with the citizens group.
SPIRG, or the Southgate Public Interest Research Group, has indicated it does not have the means to pay the money awarded after losing three court challenges against a building permit issued for a recycling plant in the Dundalk ECO Industrial Park.
Southgate will continue to pursue all available means to collect the money plus interest.