No-vote motion not supported

Concerns have been raised about the non-elected member voting on New Plymouth District Council’s new committee.

However, this practice is not uncommon.

The council’s committee restructure was approved last week at the first council meeting of the new term, and sees the Strategy and Operations Committee give voting rights to the non-elected member who is also chair of Te Huinga Taumatua Committee.

Other councils also have nonelected members on committees – Taranaki Regional Council has several with external appointments.

At Wednesday’s meeting, councillor Murray Chong moved that the voting rights of the nonelected member of Strategy and Operations – who has not been confirmed – be removed, but no one would second the motion.

‘‘I was very surprised and disappointed that I didn’t even get a seconder to open up the debate so we could discuss this,’’ Chong said on Thursday. ‘‘They didn’t support true democracy as it stands at the moment.

‘‘A lot of people think it’s just not right.’’

Chong said he had no problem with the person being a member of the committee, once council knows who they are, to give input, but voting rights should not be required as all councillors are also members of the committee, which is 15 votes.

Councillor Gordon Brown said it was nothing new to have nonmembers voting on committees.

‘‘The reality is this is becoming common practice amongst many councils across New Zealand these days.’’

One person voting in a group of 16 to bring a Ma¯ ori perspective to what the committee was doing was very healthy, he added.

Te Huinga has five nominated iwi representatives with voting rights, as it had last term, and Finance, Audit and Risk also has an independent member with a financial background, which is best practice, although councillor Richard Handley, a chartered accountant, could fill financial role, Brown said.

Councillor Anneka Carlson said it was something that had to be considered for each specific situation. ‘‘I personally think it’s beneficial to have an iwi representative on that committee who has voting rights.’’

Fellow first-time councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes said it was important for the council to have a Ma¯ ori voice and it would be one vote among 16 members.

‘‘I think it’s something that we do have to carefully think about on a case-by-case basis.’’ the