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Robyn Edie
17062020. Robyn Edie. News. Southland Times / Stuff. Invercargill City Council Presentation Hearing Meeting on the City Block CBD Remodel, held at the Civic Theater Victoria Rooms, on Wednesday. In the photo, the sender Neil McAra on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, addressing the Council.
The Southland Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern about the leadership of the Invercargill City Council.
House Speaker Neil McAra confirmed that a letter was sent to Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt and councilors on Sept. 3 raising various concerns.
Refused to provide Stuff with a copy of the letter. However, CEO Sheree Carey later confirmed that the business community was concerned about “ongoing and very public conflicts.”
The House letter followed a letter to advice from the Department of Home Affairs. [DIA] the 18 of August.
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Southland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheree Carey.
The DIA raised concerns about the conflict in the council and requested that it conduct an independent assessment of the standard of governance and provide a plan on how the council will restore trust.
That process is underway.
Carey said the House shares the DIA’s view that several high-profile capital projects appear to be testing the Council’s ability to provide strong and united governance and leadership.
“The ongoing and highly public conflicts, noted in the DIA letter, are a source of concern for the business community,” Carey said.
Kavinda Herath / Things
Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt at a council meeting.
Carey felt the council lacked leadership.
“As a city, we want the national media to see us with strong professional leadership, and when the national media presents us as a joke and our city leaders act as they do, it is a shame and a reflection of all. Our city.
“There is a level of professionalism that we expect from our elected officials to act in a certain way and if not, it will be a concern, not only for the business community, but it should be a concern for all.
In the House’s Sept. 3 letter, signed by McAra, he asked Shadbolt and councilors to consider further investigation and consultation with the business and the wider community as part of their assessment review for the DIA.
However, the Chamber stated that this has not happened.
The Chamber sent a second letter on September 16 expressing disappointment that the evaluation plan does not include outside comments.
“The Chamber is committed to continuing to work with the Council in a constructive manner to ensure better results for the city. We have previously expressed the opinions of our 450 companies and we believe it is important that the evaluator hears those opinions. ”
Shadbolt responded Wednesday stating that the council anticipates that the DIA will recommend a series of actions after the assessment is conducted and that outside participation could be part of those actions.
However, Carey felt that there was no reason the council could not address the issue now and begin gathering outside feedback.
All correspondence from the Chamber has been sent to the Department of Internal Affairs and to Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Local Government.
Shadbolt has not returned Stuff’s calls regarding the House’s comments.
The Southland Chamber of Commerce was established in 1863 and is a member-based non-profit organization.
It currently has 450 business members and is led by a board of 14 directors, which currently includes the likes of SBS Bank CEO Shaun Drylie, South Port NZ CEO Nigel Gear, and Stewart Hamilton, CEO of Tiwai Point aluminum casting. .
