Statutory administration a ‘silly’ suggestion - council

Recent criticism of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) - specifically the suggestion that it should be put under statutory administration - is “hilarious”, according to mayor Glyn Lewers, and “silly” according to councillor Lyal Cocks.

Recent opinion pieces posted on social media by Wānaka resident Grant Bisset, former QLDC councillor Neville Harris, and former mayor Warren Cooper have criticised the council for issues such as multiple failed council projects and the accusation that senior staff have too much control.

The Wānaka App asked the mayor for his response to the criticism at a Wānaka Business Chamber event last week.

“Well, I find that hilarious,” Glyn said. “... they’re saying staff have too much control. You do realise the commissioner gives the staff a hell of a lot more control? All it does is sort out the politicians.”

Tauranga City Council councillors were sacked in December 2020 following council infighting and commissioners were appointed. The city faced substantial structural challenges and complex work programmes.

“The reason why the Tauranga council imploded is because… they were under pressure from high growth,” Glyn said, adding the Tauranga council was planning a new civic centre and new roads - “all the things we are planning here”.

The only thing that changed after commissioners took over from councillors, he said, was that “they put their pedal on the growth”.

Grant Bisset has said QLDC staff and elected representatives lack the “qualifications, skills or experience” to do complex tasks; and some elected representatives and staff have “strong social or ideological agendas but lack the understanding to deliver on them”.

This has led to escalating debt, he said. Grant also cited projects such as Project Manawa (QLDC’s ambitious $50M plans for new offices and a civic centre in Queenstown, which is under review) and the council’s proposal for inclusionary zoning, which was recently declined by a hearing panel.

“The ratepayers of the Upper Clutha need to support the call for statutory administration of the QLDC to steady the ship and get us on course for a future that isn’t out of control debt and failing projects,” Grant said.

Glyn said “the only reason a commissioner comes in is if council is not meeting its statutory requirements”; it has “nothing to do with” a lack of confidence from ratepayers.

Wānaka based councillor (and former deputy mayor) Lyal Cocks told the Wānaka App he believes much of the current criticism is about speculation rather than specifics.

He acknowledged that QLDC can do better in some areas and that previous decisions can be difficult to defend at times.

“We have also inherited some challenges which have put pressure on our funding,” Lyal said.

“Debt is not out of control because we have to comply with government and the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) borrowing and debt limits. Those limits restrict any 'out of control' behaviour.”

When things go wrong for the council, fixes are often quick, Lyal said. He cited the cryptosporidium breakout in Queenstown late last year as an example (Following the outbreak QLDC installed protozoa barriers into water supplies around the district to satisfy the government's new requirements.)

Lyal said QLDC is not a council where governance has broken down, and said “there’s no way the government would even look at statutory management”. The suggestion was “silly”, he added.

“We’re not doing too bad considering the continual growth pressure on our district,” he said, adding that it’s often “the smaller things and questionable spending that really annoy people”.

He said there is often a “minority” of people slamming the council on social media; he and other councillors do receive some messages from disgruntled ratepayers; but he expected real concerns will be raised in submissions to the Long Term Plan (LTP) and during the LTP hearings.

Submissions on the LTP are due to be released later this week.