Christchurch City Council's acting chief executive is "hugely disappointed" a councillor is accusing staff of tampering with an aspect of the district plan.
Councillor David East alleges staff purposely removed a clause that would have made it easier for residents to repair and rebuild earthquake damaged houses in the eastern side of the city.
The clause had already been signed off on and approved by an independent hearing panel set up by the Government to make decisions and recommendations on the district plan. He is calling for an independent inquiry into how this happened, and who authorised it.
Acting chief executive Brendan Anstiss says it is "hugely disappointing Councillor East and other elected members have made these serious allegations without basis" and without raising the issue formally with the council.
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"It is inappropriate for an elected member to make accusations about alleged staff misconduct in a public session without providing any supporting evidence," he said.
"The independent hearings panel's decisions on the Christchurch District Plan, including the final planning provisions, were produced by the Independent Hearings Panel secretariat, and are the decisions of the panel."
Mr Anstiss says Mr East appears not to understand the decision-making process of the panel, and it is not the council's role to question the intention of the panel's decisions.
He says he is confident these decisions are being applied correctly.
"I have full confidence that staff have acted professionally in their role in giving effect to the Independent Hearings Panel decisions," Mr Anstiss says
"It is inappropriate for an elected member to make accusations about alleged staff misconduct in a public session without providing any supporting evidence."
Newshub.
