Broughton to remain on as chairperson
A Christchurch community board meeting descended into chaos as members discussed the resignation of its chairperson.
Long-time board member and former city councillor Helen Broughton resigned as chairperson of the Waipuna Halswell Hornby Riccarton Community Board earlier this month, but on the condition that she remained the board’s spokesperson on planning issues.
Many board members, including city councillors Andrei Moore and Tyla Harrison-Hunt, believed the spokesperson role should remain with the chairperson and the board decided at its meeting yesterday not to accept her resignation.
They spent more than one and a half hours on the topic, and Broughton appeared to be out of her depth a number of times during the meeting.
Council staff had to repeatedly remind her of procedural rules and ended up adjourning the meeting at least three times so Broughton could take a break.
Board member Debbie Mora wanted the board to let the issue lie on the table.
She believed some members had been discussing the chairperson role informally, but she wanted to be involved in those conversations with more time given for all members to speak away from the official meeting.
However, Moore said it was literally against the law to have a closed-door meeting about the issue, following an instruction from the Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier.
Boshier said in October it was unacceptable for councils to make informal meetings closed in order to “provide elected members a ‘safe space’ to ask ‘silly questions’ out of the public eye”.
Mora said she did not think that came into force until April 1. Staff told her that was not the case and the council had already enacted it.
Broughton, who said she felt like she was being pushed out, strongly refuted any suggestion her meetings were chaotic. But Moore and Cr Mark Peters both pointed out how the meeting quickly descended into chaos on Thursday.
“Chaos is what we are in the middle of right now. We need to move on with good clear decisive decision making,” Peters said.
Moore said the board was not functioning and was constantly going around in circles on a number of issues, while struggling to make a decision.
“I do think this is chaos, I’m sorry if others see it otherwise.”
Broughton did have support from people who had worked with her over the years.
David Lynch, a Christchurch public relations figure, said at the beginning of the meeting there was no legal justification for her resignation.
“In the midst of challenges, Helen Broughton’s unwavering commitment to her community serves as a beacon of inspiration for other to follow.”
He urged Broughton to reconsider stepping down.
Dr Lynette Hardie Wills, of the Ilam and Upper Riccarton Residents’ Association, also came to Broughton’s defence.
Hardie Wills urged the board to keep her as chair so it could retain her institutional knowledge.
Broughton was first elected to the community board in 1995 and served as a city councillor between 2001 and 2013, before returning to the community board where she has been a member, deputy chair or chairperson.