In a press release last week, Mr Campbell said Invercargill councillors agreed the ‘‘One Southland’’ model would provide the greatest opportunity to achieve economies of scale, improve efficiency and help keep downward pressure on rates for residents across the region.
Cr Pottinger, however, believed Mr Campbell did not have the official backing of the council to make that statement.
The One Southland model is at odds with Southland District Mayor Rob’s Scott vision to combine the region’s councils into two unitary authorities.
His call prompted a Local Government Commission investigation into a reorganisation of Southland’s four local government bodies.
In an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, a report written by council chief executive Michael Day, updating councillors on the local government re-organisation, was discussed.
In the report, Mr Day recommended councillors either agree or disagree that the council’s preferred starting position for a Head Start proposal was a structure based on the Southland regional boundary.
During the discussion Cr Pottinger said after 16 years in local government his understanding was decisions were never made in a council workshop.
However, after a workshop ‘‘the mayor made a statement to the media that council had made a decision that had preferred the one council idea’’.
Mr Campbell said he denied that had happened.
‘‘I chose my words extremely carefully to make it clear that council had discussed it and had given me the authority to move ahead on that.
‘‘I never, ever said council made a decision.’’
When Cr Pottinger asked if he could continue, the mayor replied, ‘‘No, not if you’re going to be misleading’’.
Mr Campbell said at the workshop councillors had given him the go-ahead to state at the next mayoral forum meeting the council supported the One Southland option.
‘‘It was made clear at that [workshop] meeting, that before any decision could be taken, it would have to come back to council, which is what we are doing today.’’
Cr Pottinger said he would leave the matter ‘‘for the ombudsman, regarding predetermination’’.
He went on to ask Mr Day if he thought councillors would be able to make a decision with an open mind.
Mr Day said he was not aware of anything that would have deemed to have caused a ‘‘predetermined outcome’’.
Councillors agreed their preferred starting position for a Head Start proposal was a structure based on the Southland regional boundary and to proceed with preparing the ground work for a Head Start proposal.
