All eyes were on the Gore District Council this afternoon, including national media waiting for more drama to unfold at the monthly meeting.
But councillors and the Mayor Ben Bell were all onboard with the recommendations for an independent review as a result of the breakdown between his Worship and chief executive Steve Parry.
The Deputy Mayor put a notice of motion, endorsed by eight councillors, to the chief executive earlier this month, after the release of confidential details leaked in a committee meeting.
Keith Hovell told the meeting, that prior to the March 28 meeting that the Mayor walked out of, councillors were not even aware of the breakdown in relationship between Bell and the CEO.
As a first time councillor, Cr Hovell said he came into the GDC with lots of energy and enthusiasm, “but hanging over me is a cloud of sadness and frustration and an empty chair over there where Bret Highsted used to sit.”
Hovell said he was frustrated because of the unwelcome desire by the press and others to seek out a story, and now his day was filled with distraction and stress.
An intermediary person to act between the Mayor and CEO was just a short term measure until the review can be completed, which he expected would only take a few months.
“Collectively councillors have determined that there is more to be done, but we don’t have the necessary skills to do it.”
So a trained expert would help the council to work out what they needed to do, to restore trust in the community.
The review would be broken down into three parts: 1. employing an independent reviewer. 2. Determining a terms of reference. 3. A commitment to the public that the review won’t just end up on a shelf somewhere.
Mayor Bell said he was never given the opportunity to sign the notice of motion, but felt it was important “that we do fall back on the reasons we were elected.”
The independent reviewer will be advising on the practical measures that can be undertaken to restore confidence in the GDC.