An independent reviewer says Invercargill residents should feel confident that their local council can do its job after a tumultuous 12 months that included potential government intervention.
Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Late last year, Richard Thomson wrote a report that found major issues stemming from a leadership void with mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt struggling to do his job.
Invercargill City councillors received a six month progress report for the first time publicly during an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Overall, the council's report card painted a much more positive picture than last year - better staff and councillor morale, positive progress on key issues and councillors working better together.
But the report didn't shy away from continued concerns about mayor Sir Tim who was viewed as not just unable to fully do his job, but actively continuing to stoke discontent.
Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey was pleased to see some positive progress.
"It's a huge relief to see this amount of progress being made ... in that short space of time. Richard's report does also mention that there's a wee way to go.
"Obviously there's still the leadership void with Sir Tim Shadbolt, but they seem to be dealing with that in their own way and put processes in place to work around the issues that there are having in that space, but still being able to get on with their job."
She called the ongoing leadership issues a distraction.
"Because we work closely with the council, we're aware of all the good things that are being done there so it is frustrating to pick up the paper or read online every day that it's just this petty crap that's, you know, being tossed about around personal issues with regards to the mayor and his deputy or bullying or whatever the allegations of the day are.
"But we're resigned to the fact now that we have to work around that. It's going to come down to an election next year."
Thomson said it was a different council than the one he first reviewed.
"The council's a work in progress, but I would sincerely wish that the people of Invercargill recognise the very real progress made and my view that the whole of council - as it's currently operating - is meeting the fundamental requirements that its ratepayers should expect of it."
Invercargill was about far more than just the mayor, he said.
"At the end of the day, the mayor's just one part of a council team. Important - yes, but one vote amongst 13, and if the focus were to remain on him at the expense of the very real improvement then it will ignore, I think, what this council has shown it can achieve."
Sir Tim said he believed the report contained allegations that were presented as fact.
"The report makes no mention of my lack of support or anything the council has specifically done to address this issue. The report touches lightly on the serious allegations of bullying and downplays the serious issue of email interception."
Councillor Lesley Soper said the council had made huge strides forward.
"It has given us the basis to say that we have reached a point where we can honestly say to our community: 'This council has got to the point where you can have full confidence that we will go on to be a good council'."
Councillor Rebecca Amundsen said councillors and staff had put in the mahi to make changes.
"We're now in a position where we are confident that holding each other to account for our bad behaviour or comments is something that we are willing to do and I'm really glad to see that that's happening."
Councillor Lindsay Abbott wanted issues to stop being played out in the media.
"These actions, I said, they said, claims and counter claims negate the positive achievements - I believe - and the works that council have done and it just becomes a feeding frenzy for some of the public.
"The majority of the public just want us to see a progressive, working together, united council along with healthy debate, working in the interests of the electorate.
Abbott wanted the council to stay the course and make more progress.
"Let's continue on. Let's be a formative council. Let's work for the electorate and let the people decide the mandate 13 months from now."
All councillors - apart from Sir Tim - voted to support the staff recommendations, including signing off for the Project Governance Group to continue, and looking to phase out external appointees.