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Nick Smith - Source: ONE News -
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A local government watch-dog says the appointment of a government official to advise Christchurch City councillors raises serious constitutional issues.
Local government minister Nick Smith announced yesterday that Kerry Marshall will be a Crown Observer in order to help the council address governance issues and work to rebuild public confidence in the council.
Marshall is due to start the job on Monday.
Prime Minister John Key has labelled Christchurch City Council
as "dysfunctional", and the move to appoint an observer comes after
months of disconcent over Mayor Bob Parker and his team.
However, Council Watch believes the appointment may not be legal
because there's no legislation allowing it to happen.
"The Minister has the power to do one of four things if he feels the council are not performing: appoint a review authority, replace the Council with a Commissioner, appoint a person to undertake a review or some other specific function of the Council, or call a new election," Council Watch spokesperson Jim Candiliotis said.
Candiliotis adds that this is outlined in the Local Government Act (LGA).
"I believe the appointment of this so-called 'Crown Observer' is not derived from the LGA and therefore questions should be asked as to the legality and transparency of such an action," he said.
Mayor Parker and Government ministers held a closed door council meeting yesterday following months of infighting and outrage over Chief Executive Tony Marryatt's $68,000 pay rise.
Marryatt has since said he has declined his controversial pay rise.
Parker has expressed support for the move, saying councillors have lost trust and need external help.
It is the first time the Government has acted in such a way, and Smith admits Christchurch will be a bit of a guinea pig for the policy.
The Minister said he would like to see legislative change that would provide "lower order interventions rather than the nuclear approach of sacking a council and putting commissioners in".
The observer will have no real decision making powers in council but can run and facilitate meetings.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentdmaclure said on 2012-01-31 @ 15:55 NZDT: Report abusive post
Council Watch got it wrong as government can choose to legislate or not known as Ministerial Directive as it rare here but not often.
panopticon said on 2012-01-28 @ 21:54 NZDT: Report abusive post
No Pay Rise For Tony Marryatt Notice to all concerned supporters who no doubt have read todays Press and their damning reports: The Protest Proceeds. Dr. Nick Smith has Slapped the good people of Christchurch in the face. The focus of the protest is: 1) Call for fresh mid term democratic local body elections and install a new clean council. 2) Replace the autocratic C.E.O. 3) Replace the bloated central beauracracy with a one city many communities model.
Wolfman said on 2012-01-28 @ 13:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
Too little too late for this Showpony Bob and his lap Dog Marryatt. Time to call fresh elections and let the people have their say. Time for the Showpony and his Lap Dog to fall on their swords. Being the Mayor does not give you the right to decide things with your lap dog without the elected councillors knowing anything about it. But I guess you are in Key's inner circle and that's why they didn't have the balls to sack the showpony.