Did they recognise Jan Riddell's obvious value to the Council by backing her 'plan B' bid for Deputy Chair? Not likely. They reinstated Nicol Horrell to that position without blinking. Did they reward Jan for her widely admired abilities and knowledge of environmental matters (she's a hydrologist by training), by backing her for the position of Chairman of the Environmental Management Committee? Not they. Nicol Horrell, qualifications unstated, took that prize thanks to the same block vote that put Ali Timms back in the seat of power with Horrell as her right-hand man.
It was quite a show, a re-play from 3 years ago when the same people voted the same way.
I suppose it was too much to expect the Council to do as Jan described in her pre-vote presentation; look to the strengths of each councillor and assign positions of responsibility accordingly. The old tried and true 'block the other team' methods prevailed today and the Council is weaker for that.
Still, our peckers are up because of it, rather than down, and there will be plenty of opportunities from this point on to test the integrity and resolve of those who have been allotted plum roles. For myself, I wished for nothing more than I got - a chance to meet regularly with Venture Southland, and the on-going opportunity to be at every Council meeting, Environmental Management meeting and Council workshop. That's where the rubber hits the road and I like the smell of burning Supercats!
Lastly, I'm going to be blogging about the Council and our 'adventures' in a way that I didn't do over the past 3 years - boldly and unashamedly, so if you are a follower of Local Government and all it's labyrithian twists and turns, stay tuned. Chances are I'll bore you to distraction.
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| Speak your mind? Not if I can help it! |
4 comments:
" That's where the rubber hits the road and I like the smell of burning Supercats!"
So does Gareth Morgan!
You are beginning to sound like a school teacher Robert, "Do as I say not as you wish"
Why is it the Greens dislike democracy?
Because they "know best" even if they don't manage to get any more than 15% of the vote
Answers in electronic form please
Ben? Is that you?
Democracy, Ray?
What does that mean to you - majority rules? As simple as that? My version is more nuanced and less 'them-and-us'.
Of course, it is possible for a minority group to 'know best' about some things. Such a group might be regarded as 'specialists' and be called upon to make decisions about specific things that the wider population haven't studied deeply.
In any case, Ray, I'm elected to a governing body and it would be derelict of such a body to say, 'Meh! Do as you wish', just as it would if a teacher said that to his class. As for the Greens 'not managing to get any more than 15% of the vote' - makes ACT, The Maori Party and United Future and the influence they've had on the country over the past few years look a little sick, doesn't it. You could argue that ACT has a special point of view that means it can advise the Government responsibly on issues it is expert in, but then again, you couldn't now say that, given what you said in your post, could you?
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