Civic crisis deepens in Christchurch

Christchurch City Councillor Tim Carter, son of NBR Rich Lister Philip Carter, wants the government to appoint a commissioner.

Another group of dissatisfied citizens is calling for new mid-term elections, and a protest is being organised to be held outside the civic building in Hereford Street on February 1.

Local newspapers have been overwhelmed in recent weeks by outrage from ratepayers over chief executive, Tony Marryatt’s $70,000 pay rise, taking his remuneration to around $550,000.

The pay rise was just one of a series of unpopular actions by council staff, many of them ratified by the councillor group that consistently supports Mayor Bob Parker, generally delivering him a one-person majority around the council table.

The catalyst for Cr Carter’s call for the government to appoint a commissioner came after Messrs Parker and Marryatt announced they would appoint public relations practitioner, Felicity Price, to conduct a communications review (the Public Relations Institute last year hailed Mr Parker as Communicator of the Year).

Reaction in letters and internet blogs suggests that the move may have been another blunder that has angered citizens more.

The review was not advertised by tender. Cr Carter said Ms Price was well known to Messrs Marryatt and Parker and was “gifted” the work. Nor was the council’s own communications councillor committee told of the review until the last minute.

Cr Carter issued an open letter yesterday describing chief executive Mr Marryatt as the 14th councillor, keeping dissident councillors in the dark, and making decisions behind closed doors.

Cr Carter cited a list of “manipulated” decisions including the latest 14% pay rise, the $18 million purchase Dave Henderson properties in 2008, the Ellerslie Flower Show and the stalled Turners & Growers proposals.

Other deeply unpopular moves recently by council managers include telling earthquake victims’ families they would have to pay for burial plots in a council memorial (subsequently overturned); court orders to force people out of their homes due to perceived rock fall danger; and the relocation of Orion electricity lines company (a council quango) call centre jobs to Palmerston North.

Ironically, Messrs Parker and Marryatt are widely perceived to have been behind the machinations that led to Environment Canterbury councillors being sacked and replaced by government commissioners two years ago. Critics had claimed the regional council was dysfunctional.