Doors shut as troubled council mulls report

COUNCILLORS refused to discuss the outcome of a crucial meeting about dysfunction at Invercargill City Council.

At the closed door meeting, which started at 6pm and lasted at least three hours, councillors debated an independent report on governance at the council.

They refused to share the contents of the report, by independent evaluator Richard Thomson, ahead of the meeting.

Before the session went into the public excluded section, councillors approved major late items, which included a report about the next steps council would need to take.

The report was triggered after the Department of Internal Affairs launched an investigation in August in response to concerns raised about the performance of elected representatives.

It comes amid questions about Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt’s performance, including by some on the council, and after deputy mayor Toni Biddle’s resignation.

A council spokeswoman yesterday said the council would share decisions made during the meeting through a statement today.

No decision had been made by yesterday afternoon about whether the full report, or just parts of it, would be released to the public.

The final report, which would include decisions about the way forward for the council, would be shared with the Department of Internal Affairs.

PHOTO: LUISA GIRAO Navigating issues . . . Invercargill deputy mayor Nobby Clark (left), Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt and Invercargill City Council chief executive Clare Hadley listen intently during a council meeting in Invercargill last night.