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Bob Parker (L) and Mike Coleman - Source: ONE News -
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A huge pay increase for the chief executive of Christchurch City Council is continuing to cast a shadow over the rebuild of the quake-ravaged city.
In a live interview on TV ONE's Close Up tonight Mayor Bob Parker and Reverend Mike Coleman from the Wider Earthquake Communities Action Network exchanged strong words over the controversy.
Parker said the row is destructive and the outcome is in the hands of Tony Marryatt because the council voted for his $68,000 pay increase at a market rate.
But Reverend Mike Coleman from the Wider Earthquake Communities Action Network said the decision has sparked outrage across the city.
Parker said the public furore has "seriously damaged" trust among the councillors and he backed up comments by Prime Minister John Key that the council has become dysfunctional.
Marryatt said in a statement today that he " still could change his mind on whether or not he'll accept the increase".
'No understanding' claim
However Coleman says Marryatt is intent on fighting for, and justifying, his pay rise while people are out of their homes and still paying rates towards that pay rise.
"He seems to have no understanding of what is going on across the city," said Coleman.
People were especially upset when Marryatt chose to stay in the Gold Coast while the city was battling with significant earthquakes, Coleman said.
"Marryatt didn't have to return home to no power, sewerage or water for months on end...he was able to go home to Hamilton and play golf.
Appeal for trust
Parker believes Marryatt is willing to compromise over the issue of his salary but needs to see the council is prepared to do its job, "play by the rules, treat each other fairly and get on with the very important work".
"We need a working environment where councillors can trust each other and where the staff and chief executive aren't publicly criticised by the very people who employ them," Parker said.
Parker said it is important to retain the chief executive and executive structure which has built up a lot of loyalty and "you could rip the heart out of this organisation in the middle of a rebuild by removing a figure like that".
Coleman wants to see commissioners appointed to run the city but Parker said that "would be the end of democracy in Christchurch City".
"I want my council to stop breaking the trust that is essential for us to work effectively and well.
"Council is sitting on the brink of a cliff. If we can't work together cohesively and co-operatively and with ethics I don't think we deserve to have the jobs."
But Coleman says the dysfunction in the council needs to be addressed. "Bob Parker and Tony Marryatt run the show and tell the elected councillors what's going to happen."
Coleman said Tony Marryatt came to Christchurch with a reputation for creating an environment of fear and bullying and "that's exactly what's happening in our council now".
Local fury
Some say Marryatt is doing a very good job in what has become an incredibly tough role but others say he's overpaid, out of sight and out of touch.
Councillor Aaron Keown said Marryatt got one of the highest scores of any local government chief executive in New Zealand for a performance review and "you can't argue with that" but councillor Glenn Livingstone said he wasn't happy that the payrise was treated in isolation from the rest of the community.
Others question Marryatt's credibility. Councillor Tim Carter's family has extensive business interests in the city and he has taken his concerns about conflicts of interest all the way to the auditor general.
"Particularly with regard to contracts being issued to favoured consultants of high value with no tendering, the splitting of contracts so they're under Tony's delegated authority," said Carter.
Keown says Marryatt won't bend the rules and that makes for an even playing field. But Carter says the business community are also ratepayers and it's about representing the whole community.
Several ratepayers told Close Up they had never heard of Marryatt until he was given the huge pay rise. They said everyone in the region is in the same boat and they are working harder than ever before. And they pointed out that a lot of people are doing voluntary work.
The issue has dominated local headlines with accusations that a small group of councillors and powerful business people want the "play by the book" chief executive gone.
Talkback lines are burning over the issue. Newstalk ZB talkback host Mike Yardley says there is an incredible sense of disgust, dismay and disbelief among people who "generally couldn't give a stuff about the city council".
"It has really set fire to public anger," Yardley said.
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