New faces on ICC may benefit SDE
The three new faces on the Invercargill City Council may be good news for Southland Disability Enterprises [SDE] as the region’s recycling contract remains unresolved.
SDE, which employs people with disabilities, is in a battle with Smart Environmental as it seeks to retain the region-wide recycling contract.
The three councils in Southland must reach agreement before a decision can be locked down, but the city council is holding up the process.
In June the Southland and Gore district councils voted for WasteNet’s recommended provider, Smart Environmental, but the city council, in a split vote, rejected the recommendation and effectively sided with SDE.
Of the three city councillors no longer around the table since Saturday’s election, Lloyd Esler and Lindsay Thomas previously sided with Smart Environmental and Karen Arnold did not vote. In contrast, their replacements following the election, Nobby Clark, Nigel Skelt and Peter Kett, have all indicated support for SDE.
Barring changes of mind from other councillors, this should ensure most city councillors support SDE when future decisions are made.
Clark, after being elected as the highest polling councillor, said one of his top priorities was to get the contract sorted and reaffirmed his position as a supporter of SDE. Kett said a priority for him was ensuring SDE was looked after through the contract. Skelt said he had read the base information on the subject and had seen nothing that convinced him the recycling contract, currently held by SDE, should be given elsewhere. The Smart Environmental tender price is cheaper than SDEs, but Skelt said decisions should not be made on just financials, just as they should not be made on emotion only.
‘‘You have to have the best balance . . . they [SDE workers] are currently employed and they feel valued, which is outstanding.’’
Last month, city council chief executive Clare Hadley said the three councils must all agree on the recycling contract decision.
Hadley said there were two options – either award the contract to Smart Environmental or end the process.