Councillors back governance report

An independent review highlighting poor governance, allegations of bullying, political ‘‘pointmaking’’, and a lack of leadership at the Wellington City Council has been welcomed by councillors.

The draft report, obtained exclusively by Stuff on Wednesday, was called for by mayor Andy Foster in February following a sustained period of tension and disagreements among councillors and council staff.

It found numerous problems including an unfit governance structure, a lack of direction and oversight, and some council staff feeling unsafe in giving free and frank advice.

The report, which was expected to cost ratepayers $75,000, made 12 recommendations, including scrapping councillor portfolios and resetting the council’s committee structure to encourage ‘‘collaboration, not division’’.

Report author Peter Winder said resolving the troublesome internal politics was ultimately the responsibility of councillors, with the ‘‘noise, atmospherics and tenor’’ of some of their debates undermining public trust.

The report highlighted ‘‘concerning’’ suggestions that council officers felt unsafe when giving frank advice to councillors.

There had also been instances of staff and councillors being publicly criticised, the report said.

However, several councillors spoken to by Stuff yesterday said the report’s findings were positive and offered a way forward.

Councillor Simon Woolf said he had never agreed with the portfolio system introduced by former mayor Celia Wade-Brown in 2013, which had often narrowed councillors’ focus. ‘‘I thought that the report was very considered . . . It’s quite obvious that there are [problem] behaviours,’’ he said.

Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons said she fully supported the report.

‘‘It provides the opportunity to focus the organisation on delivery of major projects.’’

She said the changes would give Foster an opportunity to be a ‘‘champion’’ for Wellington and not get ‘‘lost in the detail’’.

The report found Foster had failed to act as champion and chief advocate for the city, partly because of the weight of day-to-day administrative tasks.

Councillor Jill Day said the council needed a ‘‘step change’’ in the way it worked, and the report was a positive step for the city.

Councillors Sean Rush, Jenny Condie and Teri O’Neill also found the report positive.

Rush said many of the recommendations were positive and constructive, while Condie described the report as excellent.

O’Neill said the report was wellreceived and the council’s governance needed a ‘‘large overhaul’’.

Winder interviewed more than 50 people for the review, including councillors, council staff, regional mayors, and mana whenua representatives. The report will be made public on Monday.

Foster was not available comment.

‘‘It provides the opportunity to focus the organisation on delivery of major projects.’’

Fleur Fitzsimons

Wellington City councillor

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