2021 power bid bad for community - Sheriff

ABBY GILLIES | 31st March 2010

Long-serving city councillor Gail Sheriff says left-leaning political group 2021's bid for power at the local body elections, will be bad for the community.

Labour Progressive-aligned 2021 is making another strong attempt to fill the city council after it failed poorly in 2007.

But Cr Sheriff says a 2021 dominated council - like it was from 1995-1997 - would be akin to a dictatorship.

"They were just bullies. If we didn't toe the line we were ostracised and we didn't get any committees,'' she said.

"They (residents) need to be very very concerned if Labour controlled the council again.''

At the time, council decisions were pre-planned behind closed doors before each meeting and 2021 members were told how to vote, said Cr Sheriff.

The council then was made up of 24 councillors. With an 18-6 majority, 2021 dominated the table and "95% of the time it happened the way they planned", said Cr Sheriff.

Deputy chairman of 2021 Darel Hall said it was standard practice for a political group to confer before meetings.

"The council will have caucused - I think all political groups do that," he said.

The current smaller council of 13 councillors and the mayor is made up eight independents, two 2021 and four Citizens and Ratepayers.

She believed it was more democratic and transparent than ever before.

Mr Hall "absolutely" disagreed, citing a lack of financial information and the number of publicly excluded meetings.

"That doesn't hold. The city council is using commercial sensitivity now more than ever."

He listed the secrecy surrounding the social housing 24% rent rise, cost of the Ellerslie International Flower Show and the sale of the Edgeware Pool site last week as examples.

"On what planet was there a need for that (Edgeware) for that to be publicly excluded?"

He and Cr Sheriff did agree on one point however, that voting by the current city council was based on the issues rather than any alliances.

Mr Hall said 2021 would be revealing its candidates to contest October's local body elections in May.

However, The Star understands 2021 plans to target specific current councillors it believes it can unseat.

Crs Gail Sheriff, Barry Corbett and David Cox are believed to be the councillors whom 2021 has in its sights.

"I suspect that Gail is vulnerable. She's been there a long time and the electors may feel it's time for someone new," said Mr Hall.