Dumped council chairman vows judicial review will follow decision

Published date12 May 2022
The extraordinary meeting of council was called after a requisition signed by eight councillors was delivered on April 17 to deal with matters associated with the role of chair

The main order of business was a resolution Rimmington, who was sat in the chair, bring the meeting to order and invite chief executive Chris McLay to address the room.

McLay said given the seriousness of the decision council had to make, staff would outline the procedures.

Management had also taken legal advice, which had been distributed to all councillors, and it was also his recommendation the meeting go into a public excluded session so their legal consultant could advise councillors in person and answer any questions.

Accordingly the room was cleared and the livestream was discontinued. The session ran for 25 minutes.

At the resumption of the extraordinary meeting deputy chairwoman Kataraina Hodge had taken the chair and Rimmington was seated at the table.

First order of business was to allow presentations from Hamilton City deputy mayor Geoff Taylor and councillor Mark Bunting.

The pair explained they had sought leave to address the meeting as private citizens, and were not representing Hamilton City Council.

Speaking first, Bunting said he believed the regional councillors could make a grave mistake if they went through with the requisition to remove the chair.

He said with local body elections just five months away it would look like a political move which would have a huge cost.

Bunting added media would love the story, but that would detract from the good work council had undertaken and this is what this council would be remembered for.

He said Rimmington could be confronting, but he encouraged conversations and discussions, which was needed to get through the challenges of governance.

Taylor made the point that Rimmington did not compromise, but this was backed by a depth of intelligence and experience that was valuable to Hamilton and Waikato.

He said a coup was a bad look for the council and it would deepen resentments and foster division and believed there was a way through using Code of Conduct processes.

Their presentation was followed by the putting of the requisition, which was moved by Waipa-King Country councillor Stu Kneebone and seconded by Thames-Coromandel councillor Denis Tegg.

Councillors were then given five minutes each to express their views on the requisition.

Those opposing the requisition generally believed Rimmington had given exceptional service...

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