Report takes aim at Shadbolt
INVERCARGILL
A MAJOR intervention is set to shore up Invercargill City Council’s faltering leadership, as Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt struggles to keep up with the demands of his job.
Two external observers will be brought in — at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars — after an independent evaluator identified a leadership void and strained relationships.
Sir Tim (73) is the focus of much of the concern, particularly related to his ability to fulfil significant aspects of his role.
He has said he will not resign, however.
An independent review, released yesterday, was carried out by Richard Thomson, a clinical psychologist and former twoterm Dunedin city councillor.
He highlighted a series of problems — including the mayor’s difficulties becoming increasingly apparent, the lack of a working relationship between the mayor and chief executive Clare Hadley, and the input of new deputy mayor Nobby Clark, who is sometimes viewed as rude and aggressive.
Mr Thomson also noted some issues appeared to be constantly relitigated and some councillors described the atmosphere as toxic. He said a leadership void among elected members was by far the strongest theme that emerged in his interviews.
‘‘Many interviewees reported a range of obvious concerns, including shortterm memory deficits, confusion, and the need to be closely managed by both council staff and senior councillors in order to chair a council meeting.
‘‘They report increasing incidents of embarrassment during meetings which a, generally, compassionate council has done its best to hide from the general public.’’
Mr Thomson noted that after Toni Biddle’s resignation as deputy mayor this year, she had commented the role was stressful due to being required to ‘‘do the mayor’s work for him’’.
Mr Thomson said he received a letter signed by three southern mayors, as well as a phone call, expressing concern.
The mayors had observed a decline in Sir Tim for years, but this had increased in recent times.
Sir Tim dismissed this as a vendetta.
Mr Thomson said some councillors were concerned Ms Hadley had become too heavily involved in governance.
Sir Tim also startled his colleagues when he delivered a rambling speech yesterday, including a withering review of the conduct of some councillors.
He supported bringing in the two observers, believing they could serve as a check on councillors and staff.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan confirmed he was one of the signatories to the letter.
He said he firmly believed concerns needed to be raised and he was pleased a process was now in place to manage the situation.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, also the provincial sector chairman, said it was a difficult situation.
He suggested Sir Tim was struggling to do the job as well as he had in the past.
‘‘We want Sir Tim to be remembered well.’’
Mr Kircher also expected the outside observers would get a solid grasp of the overall picture.
The third signatory, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan, said he raised issues to the team leading the inquiry to assist colleagues in challenging times.
FACED with an independent report that said he was struggling to do significant aspects of his job, Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt tried to deflect the unflattering attention.
He pointed the finger at Invercargill councillors, said he was not given enough administrative support and described himself as the victim of a vendetta.
‘‘The actual content of the report, I am not willing to wear,’’ he said.
‘‘I refuse to take the mantle of convenient scapegoat.’’
Sir Tim (73) said the report, prepared by independent evaluator Richard Thomson, was flawed and he suggested too much of it was aimed at his shortcomings and those of deputy mayor Nobby Clark.
‘‘Anyone who has faith in this report, with its glowing praises and singularly directed criticisms, is also likely to believe that we shall soon see Auckland Island pigs flying over Queens Park.’’
Mr Thomson’s report, released yesterday, said there was a clear consensus the mayor was struggling to fulfil significant aspects of his role. The result of this was a leadership void.
There was also no working relationship between the mayor and chief executive Clare Hadley.
The dysfunctional dynamics extended to new deputy mayor Cr Clark, who many interviewees said was aggressive and rude.
Cr Clark said the report was challenging, but he was willing to take its findings on the chin.
Sir Tim had previously accepted the findings of the report, but was not so accepting yesterday.
He did, however, believe the planned intervention of two external observers could be positive.
Concerns were raised before last year’s election about Sir Tim’s ability to follow what was happening at meetings, but he was still reelected.
Yesterday, he said there was a culture of oneupmanship among councillors and he delivered a withering review of their conduct.
Several councillors were startled by the mayor’s comments.
Cr Darren Ludlow said the council unanimously received the report and accepted its findings.
Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey said the chamber supported the report’s findings.
‘‘I’m just really confused about Sir Tim’s reaction to it.
‘‘If you have an independent review coming out saying he is the major problem, then he needs to take responsibility and not continue to blame other people.’’