Prendergast wants back on council

Former Dunedin city councillor Maurice Prendergast experiences the view from the other end of the...
Former Dunedin city councillor Maurice Prendergast experiences the view from the other end of the table while making a submission to yesterday's Dunedin City Council annual plan hearing. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Former councillor Maurice Prendergast returned to the Dunedin City Council's table as a submitter yesterday, but come October he hopes to be back in a more familiar seat.

Mr Prendergast (69) yesterday confirmed to the Otago Daily Times he planned to stand for the council in the upcoming local body elections in October, barring any unforeseen eventualities in the meantime.

"I will stand, conditional on seeing no impediment arising that's not currently apparent," he said.

His bid would come three years after he failed to be re-elected in 2007, after serving 18 years as a Dunedin city councillor and following 10 years' service on the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board.

It would also come after Mr Prendergast stood unsuccessfully for a position on the board in a by-election last year.

Confirmation he planned to run again came after he spoke yesterday as a submitter at the second day of the council's annual plan hearings, arguing against proposed changes to the rating system for bed and breakfast establishments.

And it did not take long for some old instincts to emerge.

Mr Prendergast took his seat and immediately accused someone of launching a dirty tricks campaign - by lowering his seat.

He went on to warn councillors their planned changes to rates were "perverse", as without an accurate database some B&Bs would escape the extra charges.

"The proposal is therefore perverse and will expose council to indefensible litigation on the grounds that it discriminates by charging some operators but not others.

"It is a script that might fit an episode of Fawlty Towers, but would not be one that would survive a challenge under the Bill of Rights."

Speaking after his submission, Mr Prendergast told the ODT it was the first time he had made a submission after many years of listening to them, and it was a "relief" not to be "on the receiving end" of complaints.

He was "shattered" by the council's escalating debt levels and "on the face of it" sitting councillors appeared to be to blame.

However, that criticism could be unfair, he said.

"There could be influences I'm not aware of."

Mr Prendergast said he missed the "thrill of the chase" of local politics and, despite turning 70 later this month, believed he "absolutely" retained the energy to contribute.

"It's a state of mind. There's wisdom in grey hairs and I think the council could profit from that."

 

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