Mayoral upset shown in letter

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester drafted a stinging letter accepting the resignation of an outspoken councillor as his patience wore thin.

A draft letter released yesterday by the mayor’s office shows that Lester was ready to accept the resignation of Wellington City councillor Simon Woolf’s portfolios.

But then, for reasons unclear, the resignation was withdrawn.

Lester met with Woolf the day after he spoke to Stuff about the impact of weekend parking on businesses – a decision he voted against.

In the letter drafted 10 days later – which was never given to Woolf – Lester accepted Woolf’s resignation of portfolios: ‘‘I have diminished confidence in your ability to carry out your portfolio responsibilities in a professional way.’’

He cited concerns about Woolf’s ongoing and ‘‘unacceptable’’ conduct with staff and fellow councillors – issues that had been raised by council boss Kevin Lavery in June. ‘‘The issues related to causing staff unnecessary stress and anxiety by publicly criticising them and using emotive and inflammatory language.’’

He specifically highlighted an email criticising a council staffer and the cycling team in 2016, negative comments about staff’s handling of the Island Bay Cycleway and Shelly Bay development, and his involvement in individual employment matters.

There was also the way he ‘‘recklessly’’ involved himself in Shelly Bay court proceedings, as well as publishing and sponsoring ‘‘inflammatory’’ comments about the council’s involvement with Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Yesterday, Lester said councillors had agreed to respect each others’ portfolios, and to not relitigate issues already settled at the council table.

He emphasised the primary concern was a ‘‘pattern of behaviour’’ in Woolf’s interactions with council staff. ‘‘One of my jobs is to maintain standards of behaviour for councillors ... from time to time, they need reminding. I want to see some improvements in his behaviour.’’

Lester said it was for Woolf to explain why the resignation no longer stood, and he was now confident Woolf could carry on in his roles.

Woolf – who has now seen the letter – declined to comment.

Massey University senior lecturer Andy Asquith, a local government expert, said individual councillors were elected to be the ‘‘voice and choice’’ of residents.

‘‘To stifle that, that raises questions.’’

Mayors often adopted a ‘‘presidential style’’, despite requiring a coalition to get things done.

‘‘On the one hand this is politics, but ... there are also loose canons out there.

‘‘It’s about knowing the time and place to speak out, it’s about getting that timing right.’’

Woolf is chair of the councilcontrolled organisations subcommittee, holds the city ambassador, small business (joint), and sport roles, and earns $95,747 a year.

‘‘I have diminished confidence in your ability to carry out your portfolio responsibilities.’’ Mayor Justin Lester, in a draft letter to councillor Simon Woolf