Work still needed on ICC leadership issues: report

WHILE there has been noticeable progress, work is still required to improve leadership issues and the reputation of the Invercargill City Council, a report has said.

Elected members yesterday officially received the governance review legacy report, a document which tracks the council’s progress in responding to governance matters raised by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in 2020 and recommended next steps.

It included a ‘‘wrap’’ review from February from independent adviser and risk and assurance committee chairman Bruce Robertson, who interviewed all elected members.

Mr Robertson said the majority of respondents felt there was a clear sense of gains made in the past 18 months, but that momentum was slowing.

Mr Robertson highlighted that most of the issues raised by the DIA had largely been met, with some exceptions.

‘‘The obvious omission is a fully integrated leadership but, in the circumstances, a reasonable workaround has still enabled improved governance,’’ he wrote.

The ‘‘near unanimous and often first comment of interviewees’’ was the continuing mayoral ‘‘leadership void’’.

‘‘It was still felt and said as a political reality both within the chamber and general council business.’’

The mayor, however, continued to reject that he was the reason for this void.

Mr Robertson said there would be political differences and issues, but the council had the tools and skills to navigate them if it chose to.

In a statement, external appointee Jeff Grant agreed and said the report showed progress had been made. But there was still room for improvement.

‘‘The report also acknowledges there is more work to be done in certain areas, in particular with regard to leadership within the council and developing a reputation as a highperforming council.’’

Council chief executive Clare Hadley was pleased with the progress but said the council would focus on ‘‘keeping the efforts of the past 18 months’’ alive.

Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt said the new report was another ‘‘celebrity roast of the mayor’’ and he believed the document was not fair.

It was proposed yesterday the two external appointees, Lindsay McKenzie and Mr Grant, cease their work on May 31.

The full council will consider the report and recommendations for next steps at its next meeting on Tuesday.