Resolution to stop City Heart

In July 2004 a small group of councillors put forward a resolution to stop the City Heart project. This was defeated by a majority of council. However, this is election time and misinformation is spreading around the city. I was asked to explain what happened and as the explanation may be of interest to more than just the person who asked me, I have decided to post it here.

Councillor Kelly had been complaining that debate on City Heart was being stifled. City Heart had been on the agenda of the July City Council meeting with the Chair of the City Heart Steering Group scheduled to give an oral report on progress. However, when the Chairperson, Marilyn Craig, did not attend the item was dropped. I was approached by Cr. Claridge and asked if I would support a resolution which would allow debate on the issue to take place. The resolution required the signatures of six councillors to enable an extraordinary meeting to take place. Cr Kelly had support from Cr’s Claridge, Tanguary, Findlay and Brown.

I am a firm believer in democracy and I also felt that there needed to be an opportunity for debate on the City Heart project, so I was happy to sign a resolution which would enable this debate to take place.

The Manawatu Standard reported on 20th July that, “Crs Peter Claridge, Heather Tanguay, Marilyn Brown, Lew Findlay, Lynne Pope and City Heart steering committee chairwoman Marilyn Craig have signed a document advising council chief executive Paul Wylie that they support Cr Kelly’s call for the meeting.”

The meeting on 29th July was highly charged. Although Cr Kelly agreed that he did not intend to stop City Heart, and only wanted The Square redevelopment put on hold, he did not amend the original motion to reflect this. Cr Claridge stated that the aim of the motion was not to stop City Heart, but merely to delay the letting of contracts on Stage 2 of The Square redevelopment.

The motion, however, stated: “That the Chief Executive does not let any contracts for Stage 2 of the City Heart Project until the new elected Council in 2004 has discussed the matter”.

City Heart is much more than just The Square. When asked if he wanted to defer the letting of Stage 2 roading contracts, Cr Kelly said no. When it was pointed out that the design work for Stage 2 of The Square redevelopment was not due to start until September and that the incoming council has the right to change the plans and even stop the work, the councillors who supported the motion still wanted everything deferred.

There were two issues there that particularly concerned me. Firstly, the Steering Group were already looking at ways to involve the wider public. Signs had been put up in The Square and discussions were already occuring over taking the plans for Stage 2 out to public consultation.

Secondly, Cr Kelly had said publicly, and was reported in the paper, that his move to stop City Heart was political. When I was approached to sign the notice to allow the meeting to go ahead, this was not mentioned. I wanted to ensure that all councillors had the opportunity to look at any options for deferring work and to give everyone a chance to debate the issue. I was under the impression that my signature was needed. Subsequent to this, Cr Craig also signed the document.

I could not support a motion which would have seen roadworks left unfinished and contractors left with incomplete works. Equally, I didn’t want to see The Square left as a demolition site. Stage 2 plans for The Square have not yet been prepared but Council has given an undertaking that they will be presented for public consultation in October. The incoming council will make the decision to continue, alter, or stop The Square redevelopment.

The Manawatu Standard reported on 30th July that: “Cr Pope said she signed up for the meeting in the interests of democracy. “I’m all in favour of the debate and the right to debate.” However, she voted against the motion saying she was a realist and the council had to get on with the job.”

I made submissions to both the last council and to this one to stop plans for redeveloping The Square. I support the roadworks which were incorporated under the banner of City Heart, but have never supported anything more than an improvement to the gardens and lighting in The Square. This is a matter of public record. However, the Information Centre has been built and The Square has been effectively destroyed. I cannot support leaving it as the eyesore it currently is. I supported the right for councillors to have the opportunity to debate the issues. I was neither party to, nor supportive of, the subsequent motion to stop City Heart.