Media Release - Cr. Glenn Livingstone

Re-claim the democratic mandate

Christchurch City Councillor Glenn Livingstone is calling on his colleagues to re-claim the democratic mandate, first bestowed on them by their communities, at today's meeting (September 19) .

"Each of us has been elected by our communities to represent them. I call upon my colleagues to exercise the mandate given them to stand up and be counted for the people of Christchurch", Livingstone says.

The Burwood-Pegasus Councillor says that, "While we all have to knuckle down and work together, we can only do this if there is a willingness to share power and information. The recent observation that there is an 'A' and a 'B' team at Council is correct: if you go with the flow, do not question reports and tick the boxes of bureaucracy, you're in the A team; if you refuse to, you're excluded. There is also the politics of yes-manship and anyone sitting-in on the meetings is able to see the division."

Livingstone wants the recent contract breaches and insurance questions cleared up, so to restore confidence in the Council. "A breach of delegations by staff would result in dismissal in the private sector", says Livingstone, "but the staff has, so far, been let-off the hook because of the political environment at the Council. However, that money belongs to the people of Christchurch, and we owe it to them to make sure that money is used appropriately."

"You've then got to ask, what sort of politics do we want and what sort of politicians do we want: Do we want the status quo, or do we want our leaders to lead - to ask questions, delve deeper and speak up - to do what they are elected to do?" asks Cr. Livingstone.

ENDS

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