Buck and Manji given key positions
After storming back into local government with more votes than any other Christchurch City councillor Vicki Buck is now the city’s new deputy-mayor-in-waiting.
It completes an amazing comeback for Buck, who has been in self-imposed exile from politics since she quit as mayor in 1998 after three terms in office.
Announcing her plan to appoint Buck as deputy mayor – a role that commands an annual salary of $102,190 – mayor-elect Lianne Dalziel said Buck would bring huge experience to the role.
‘‘Her focus on encouraging a culture of innovation and ideas, essentially fostering the new culture of making things happen, is a perfect fit with the way this new council wants to work,’’ she said.
Buck, who was first elected to the council in 1974 when she was aged only 19, said the job of deputy mayor had been re-framed by the new council and would allow her to have input over a number of areas.
‘‘The role is not ceremonial; if it was I wouldn’t have contemplated it because that’s not what I came here to do,’’ Buck said.
Inquiries by The Press revealed a formal job description had yet to be written but Buck said as deputy mayor she would work across a number of areas and focus on making sure the council was actively engaged with, and responsive to, the community.
Buck’s appointment as deputy mayor still needs to be confirmed by the council at tomorrow’s inaugural meeting but it is expected to be unanimously endorsed, as is the appointment of first-time councillor Raf Manji as chairman of the council’s finance committee.
Dalziel said in picking Manji to chair the finance committee she was playing to the strengths of those on the council, putting them in roles that suited their skills and experience.
Manji, who had a career in the finance industry, including 11 years as an investment banker in London, said yesterday that he was looking forward to making a contribution in an area he knew well.
‘‘One thing I would like to see is transparency in how we present the [financial] information so ordinary ratepayers can understand it,’’ said Manji, who admitted there was some information in the council’s budget document, the Annual Plan, that even he struggled to understand.
He said while overall the council’s finances appeared in ‘‘reasonable shape’’, the high debt levels warranted further investigation.
‘‘We have to look at debt in the context of long-term investments. If we are investing in the right projects and they have the right payoffs it is not necessarily a problem, but the debt levels are very high and that’s something I want to have a look at,’’ Manji said.
‘‘My priority will be to get the council finances on to a stable footing, understanding the financial commitments and responsibilities of the Long Term Plan as well as working on risk management strategies to ensure that there is confidence about the council’s long-term finances.’’
The swearing in of the new council will take place at 5.30pm tomorrow in the Christchurch City Council debating chamber.