Commissioner’s role debated

Press, 7 September 1984, Page 5

Commissioner’s role debated

Waimairi District councillors debated heatedly for an hour yesterday on whether a commissioner of a town planning hearing was required to present his findings in person, after the question was sparked by statements reported in “The Press” on July 19. “The Press” reported a discussion in which the District Chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, said that there was no council requirement for a commissioner to attend town planning committee meetings to present his findings personally. She said yesterday that that view was correct, although she had qualified it during the discussion by adding that it was desirable for commissioners to present their findings. Allowances had to be made when commissioners were taken ill, she said.

The committee chairman, Cr B. R. Shackel, said that there was no written policy requiring a commissioner to present his findings personally.

Councillors then debated whether a policy should be formed on the matter. A recommendation made by Cr H. M. Tait, that “a commissioner be required to be in attendance to present his or her findings,” was lost on the casting vote of the chairman’

Cr P. M. Carter then recommended that “it is desirable that the commissioner attend the town planning meeting to present his findings.” Cr Murray said that if the motion was passed she believed that commissioners would act responsibly as they already endeavoured to do. The motion was carried.