ECan's besieged Burke says he won't go willingly

Environment Canterbury's head man Sir Kerry Burke says he will not voluntarily step down as chairman, in spite of losing the confidence of the majority of his councillors.

In a tense and sometimes ill-tempered council meeting at Timaru this week, Sir Kerry and his supporters lost a fight to get the motion of no confidence off the agenda by six votes to eight.

The result means Sir Kerry could face a vote at the September 26 council meeting determining whether he should be replaced.

However, he told the Herald he has no intention of stepping down.

"(Former British Prime Minister) Harold Macmillan once said a week is a long time in politics. We're having the next council meeting in a month, which in political terms is an eternity," Sir Kerry said.

"There are a number of issues between now and then which we will have to workshop as a council."

The embattled ECan chairman said he was "disappointed, but not surprised" by the result of the motion.

"I feel that a number of criticisms directed at me personally particularly in regards to the processing of consents are matters to do with the organisation and the role of staff. No chairman is superman."

ECan deputy chair Jo Kane said it was a matter for Sir Kerry to decide whether he wanted to continue. "However, if I had been put in the same position, I would have voluntarily offered my resignation as chairman."

Ms Kane said the motion of no-confidence in Sir Kerry reflected badly on her as deputy chair.

"There are some compelling issues to work through about leadership and the direction of ECan," she said.

ECan South Canterbury councillor Mark Oldfield was responsible for putting forward the motion of no confidence in Sir Kerry.

Councillor Alec Neill, who narrowly lost the chairmanship race to Sir Kerry in October 2007, voted in favour of the motion.

Mr Neill said it was "inappropriate" for him to comment on whether he would stand for chairman.

- © Fairfax NZ News