There’s an elephant in the room in the Invercargill City Council chambers, and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
An empty seat where councillor Nigel Skelt should be was the obvious sign at today’s Infrastructure Committee meeting.
Chair Ian Pottinger read out Skelt’s apology for not attending, but no discussion was had. Cr Peter Kett also wasn’t at the meeting and Stuff reported today that he has called for him to resign over Skelt’s inappropriate conduct settlement from ILT Stadium Southland.
Skelt’s profile has been promptly taken down from the Stadium Southland website and Ryan Sycamore has been put in as acting General Manager.
Daughter Jordan confirmed today that Nigel was not well and on doctor’s orders – so was not in a position to comment at this stage on what was happening with his council role.
Mayor Nobby Clark said this morning he also couldn’t comment and the council has confirmed no actions have been taken, or decisions made about Skelt.
The ICC has no powers to force his resignation unless he has a legal conviction carrying a two-year jail sentence.
Skelt was elected onto council the same time as Clark back in 2019, and at last year’s election was the highest polling candidate. Under the new council he’s become Project Lead for Project 1225.
But sexual allegation claims at his former workplace of 20+ years has now become National news and this will have affected every organisation that is associated with him.
In 2018 he received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Badminton, was once a national player himself, and is vice-president of both Badminton NZ and Oceania.
A former Head Prefect at Southland Boys’ High School, only recently he was honoured for his role as General Manager at the stadium, winning the Paul Stuart Memorial award at the 2021 Recreation Aotearoa Recreation Awards.
An external independent review of how the matter was handled by the stadium board is now taking place.