Portfolio structure will work better: Calvert

Otago regional councillors before yesterday’s meeting (back, from left) Matt Hollyer, Andrew Noone, Neil Gillespie, Alan Somerville, Gary Kelliher, Kate Wilson, (front, from left) Gretchen Robertson, Kevin Malcolm, Hilary Calvert, Chanel Gardner and Robbie Byars. Michael Laws was absent. Photo: Peter McIntosh

A "cumbersome" relic of Otago Regional Council’s previous term has been replaced by a governance structure critics say lacks detail and leaves mana whenua out of the conversation.

After two hours of discussion and debate at yesterday’s meeting, councillors voted 9-2 to adopt a portfolio-based structure proposed by chairwoman Hilary Calvert, departing from the council’s previous use of committees.

Decision-making will sit solely with the council, complemented by the establishment of portfolio areas and appointment of councillors as portfolio leads, a report to the council said.

Cr Calvert said councillors were likely to have more in-depth understanding of their portfolio area.

"The portfolio model allows for concerns and observations and other things that the community wants to bring to us to be funnelled through the portfolio leads ... instead of a dozen of us all communicating with the staff," she said.

"Those councillors will be responsible for bringing things back to the council table.

"When push comes to shove, I believe that this model will work better."

It was important the council continued to identify opportunities for mana whenua to be heard, given two former committees included iwi representatives, Cr Calvert said.

"We need to find a way to help make sure, with our special relationship with mana whenua, that we allow them to have their voice and their views heard at our table."

However, she said she did not believe the council needed to engage with mana whenua before making a decision on its governance structure.

Cr Michael Laws said the previous council’s agenda and decision-making was staff-led — the portfolio system would put councillors in charge, in concert with staff.

"Manifestly, the last system was ... cumbersome and convoluted," he said.

"This, hopefully, will make a more efficient and effective way of making policy, of implementing it, of monitoring what council does and meeting the needs of our community."

He said mana whenua representation was without democratic mandate and he did not support its incorporation into portfolios.

Cr Gretchen Robertson said questions remained about the operation of a portfolio structure and it was risky to proceed without answers.

"Good governance is built on transparency, accountability, inclusion and clarity of roles," she said.

"Committees do provide for all of these — they meet in public, their decisions are reported and their work is visible ... everyone’s involved.

"I've heard nothing about an advantage today, to be honest."

She favoured face-to-face discussions with mana whenua, rather than relying on written communication, as suggested by Cr Calvert.

Cr Alan Somerville said councillors had not had time to realise the full implications of the portfolio structure and the decision should be delayed until mana whenua were engaged and more information available.

"Perhaps most importantly, we should not remove the long-standing method of mana whenua governance input that was achieved through the committee structure until we work with them to find something to take its place," he said.

"Advancing this proposal today would jeopardise our good relationship with mana whenua and we don’t need to."

Michael Laws. Photo: supplied

An amendment requested by Cr Kate Wilson for the council to consult with mana whenua on incorporating representation into the new structure was adopted 8-3.

The audit and risk community was retained, to be co-chaired by Andrew Douglas (independent) and Cr Kevin Malcolm.

Detailed expectations for portfolio leads will be included in a report to a meeting this month.

The vote

To adopt the proposed governance model of portfolio areas to complement council decision making.—

For (9): Crs Robbie Byars, Chanel Gardner, Matt Hollyer, Hilary Calvert, Gary Kelliher, Neil Gillespie, Michael Laws, Andrew Noone, Kate Wilson.

Against (2): Crs Gretchen Robertson, Alan Somerville.

Absent: Cr Kevin Malcolm.

To note the council will continue to consult with mana whenua on a mutually agreeable way to incorporate representation into the new portfolio structure.—

For (8): Crs Gardner, Hollyer, Calvert, Gillespie, Noone, Robertson, Somerville, Wilson.

Against (3): Crs Byars, Kelliher, Laws.

Absent: Cr Malcolm.