Tempers flare at city council

Mayor accused of offering jobs to get support

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast has used clandestine meetings and promises of well-paid positions to rule over a divided council, according to three of Wellington's most experienced councillors.

Rob Goulden, Bryan Pepperell and Helene Ritchie say the mayor has sewn up support among councillors by promising positions worth up to $25,000 a year. The disillusioned trio are the lowest-paid councillors despite a total of more than 44 years of experience.

They have not been given any extra responsibilities and receive the minimum councillors' salary which increases on July 1 to $66,450.

The attack on Ms Prendergast's leadership was made during a fiery meeting on Wednesday as councillors voted to accept a small pay increase.

Mr Goulden attacked the mayor, saying there was "secret, filthy, dirty linen that needs to be aired" about "meetings and private discussions" over councillor appointments and salary packages.

"There has been no discussion on these appointments and remuneration at all [in council meetings]. I disagree with councillors who say this is an inclusive council when you preclude three of the most senior councillors of this council.

"How dare you. What a lack of integrity. What a lack of respect."

Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon defended Ms Prendergast, saying the comments were "totally distorted" and "out of order".

This riled Mr Goulden, who said Mr McKinnon had promised him the chairmanship of the audit and risk management subcommittee if he was "a good boy for six months".

"So don't you dare sit there, the two of you, and tell me there has been no dealing and horse trading on this council."

Ms Ritchie claimed the new pay scales meant nearly half the councillors would be paid about $100,000 more than the other half over three years. "This is a corrupt process . . . and it ensures divisiveness and a divided council."

Mr Pepperell called the remuneration package undemocratic and said he was "upset that salaries had been manipulated for political purposes".

"It is outrageous to support this from the public purse . . . and that horse trading like this can go on."

Earlier he had failed to get support for a pay scale that would have seen all councillors, except the mayor and her deputy, paid a flat annual rate of just over $76,000.

Ms Prendergast denied that she had done any double-dealings while negotiating with councillors over their prospective roles. "I absolutely refute any suggestion of manipulation.

"There are some councillors who do comparatively little compared to their colleagues . . . and I think those who do have extra responsibility should be remunerated for it."

The council has whittled down the number of its portfolios from seven to five, and established two new associate leader positions in the Urban Development and Transport and Social portfolios.

The Remuneration Authority authorised the council to spend $1.31 million a year on salaries for councillors – an increase of $11,304, or 0.87 per cent – on last year. The authority set the mayor's salary at $148,167.

COUNCIL SALARIES

* Kerry Prendergast $185,667: mayor – $148,167, Wellington airport director – $37,500, performance review committee chair.

* Ian McKinnon $114,150: deputy mayor – $114,150, governance portfolio leader, strategy and policy committee chair, audit and risk management subcommittee chair, annual plan hearings subcommittee chair.

* Ray Ahipene-Mercer $110,600: engagement, climate change and cultural wellbeing portfolio leader – $85,600, Positively Wellington Waterfront director – $25,000.

* John Morrison $100,600: economic development and recreation portfolio leader $85,600, Wellington Regional Stadium Trust (Westpac Stadium) director $15,000.

* Andy Foster $100,600: urban development and transport portfolio leader – $85,600, Capacity (Wellington water management) director – $15,000, development contributions subcommittee chair.

* Celia Wade-Brown $98,600: environment portfolio leader – $85,600, Wellington Zoo Trust director – $13,000.

* Ngaire Best $85,600: social portfolio leader –- $85,600.

* Stephanie Cook $85,500: grants subcommittee chair – $72,500, St James Theatre Trust director – $13,000.

* Hayley Wain $85,500: associate urban development and transport portfolio leader – $72,500, Wellington Museums Trust director $13,000.

* Leonie Gill $82,500: regulatory processes committee chair – $82,500.

* Iona Pannett $72,500: associate social portfolio leader – $72,500.

* Jo Coughlan $79,450: councillor – $66,450, Positively Wellington Tourism director – $13,000.

* Rob Goulden $66,450: councillor – $66,450.

* Bryan Pepperell $66,450: councillor – $66,450.

* Helene Ritchie $66,450: councillor – $66,450.

- © Fairfax NZ News