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The Otago Regional Council again teetered at the edge of disorder as staff and councillors bickered yesterday amid moves to drop planned rates rises in light of the climbing cost of living.
Councillors did not approve the staff’s annual plan 2022-23 consultation programme, due to begin next week.
Instead, they opted for a special meeting — to be held within the week — in order to reconsider a planned 18% increase in general rates.
It became clear during yesterday’s council meeting that "email traffic" ahead of the meeting included a vision of a rates rise much lower than had been previously approved by councillors.
Cr Kevin Malcolm said with the escalating cost of living, the rates rise was no longer palatable, achievable, or affordable for people in Otago
"The world has changed," Cr Malcolm said.
However, council chairman Andrew Noone said he wanted to approve the consultation the staff had been working towards to ensure the council met its statutory timeframes.
He also wanted to send a signal that further discussion about the proposed rates rise was under way.
Mr Noone argued for "parallel processes" where on the one hand the council began consulting the community and on the other hand continued to discuss the rates demand.
He was challenged on the credibility and the legality of such a move by deputy chairman Michael Laws.
Cr Laws said it was not credible to consult on a plan that required an 18% increase in general rates while also indicating the rates rise would be much less.
"It makes the whole consultation process a sham," he said.
ORC chief executive Sarah Gardner, who attended by videoconference, was asked whether the consultation could go ahead in a standard fashion.
But soon after, during audible cross-talk from the council chamber, she stopped speaking to admonish those councillors who were in conversation.
"Excuse me, I can hear you," Mrs Gardner said.
When she was interrupted for a second time moments later, she exhaled audibly, slumped in her chair, and swatted at her screen.
After a 15-minute adjournment for staff to consider the advice it gave to councillors, Mrs Gardner sided with Cr Laws’ view.
"If it’s anything other than small tweaks, you probably need to be sorting a position next week and holding off on consultation," she said.
Tension that has marked many recent council meetings cropped up elsewhere during yesterday’s debate as well.
Cr Bryan Scott became exasperated when other councillors asked whether he was debating the issue or asking a question.
He said he had been made to listen "over the past quarter of an hour [to] points of order — out of nothing".
"Yes, there’s things going on in the world, Ukraine, Covid, and so forth, but that’s not a reason for us to generate the smoke and the anxiety that seems to be going on in this meeting," Cr Scott said.
In a further exchange between a councillor and a senior manager, Cr Kate Wilson said she was disappointed with a "politicised response" when she asked which
ratepayers faced the biggest rates rise, and whether staff had considered including
them in their targeted consultation.
Corporate services general manager Nick Donnelly called it an "interesting concept" which the council had never pursued before.
"Because then you’re saying whoever pays the most rates gets to make all the decisions.
"I don’t think that’s the premise of consultation and setting rates we were aiming for," Mr Donnelly said.
Councillors will discuss next year’s rates rise at a special council meeting to be held on or before March 30.
Cr Alexa Forbes voted against the change of plans.
Cr Gretchen Robertson sent an apology.