Water meters pledge stoush

A request asking Hamilton City Council candidates to sign a no water meters pledge has sparked allegations of bullying.

Lobby group No Water Meters in Hamilton contacted council hopefuls this month, inviting them to adopt a pledge opposing residential water meters. Candidates have until September 2 to respond to the request if they want to be endorsed by the group.

But Hamilton deputy mayor Gordon Chesterman said the lobby group’s pledge is a clumsy attempt to pigeonhole candidates and contradicts the Local Government Act.

Chesterman has been contacted by candidates concerned by the group’s approach.

‘‘Under the Local Government Act you can not, as a councillor, go into a meeting with a preconceived view, especially when public submissions are held,’’ he said.

‘‘Water meters are not even on the table and I see this pledge as an attempt to bully candidates who might not realise that, under the Local Government Act, they always have to keep an open mind on issues.’’

Hamilton City Council, together with Waikato and Waipa district councils, has agreed, in principle, to support the formation of ratepayer-owned water company subject to the outcome of public consultation.

Opponents of a water councilcontrolled organisation (CCO) say its formation will be the first step toward the introduction of residential water-metering in Hamilton.

The council has said there are no plans in the foreseeable future to install residential water meters.

Installing residential meters would cost between $20 million and $25 million.

No Water Meters lobby group member Neil Tolan said the response has been positive. He said there is no pressure on candidates and rejects suggestions the pledge could compromise would-be councillors’ independence.

‘‘Everyone that goes into council has already made up their mind in a way,’’ Tolan said.

West Ward candidate Chris Jordan said his no water meters stance is part of his platform but he hasn’t signed the pledge.

He called Chesterman’s comments ‘‘strong-arm tactics’’ to silence the water meters debate.

‘‘This is a democracy and it’s up to the voters to decide whether they want to back a candidate or not,’’ Jordan said.

West Ward candidate Robert Curtis said if would-be councillors sign the pledge, they would lose their independence. Elected members who took a firm no water meters stance could be accused of having a predetermined view and may put themselves at risk of being excluded from future council decision-making, he said.

Councillor Philip Yeung opposes residential water meters but likes the idea of a ratepayer-owned water company. He did not sign the pledge, saying a water company could be formed without residential water meters in the city.