Bill Dalton

In any job you have to take the bad with the good and I suppose being a City Councillor is no different.

So far, I have really enjoyed taking up issues that individual ratepayers have raised with me, with the relevant council officers. I have enjoyed being involved in the decision making process at the seminar stage as well as at committee and council meetings.

The Napier City Council operates under a very interesting decision making process. Most matters are discussed at a seminar where councillors and council officers alike, can discuss issues freely without the formality of standing orders. Those same issues then become items on the agenda of the relevant council committee meeting where councillors can again debate the matter – this time in a formal environment. Finally the issue comes before a full council meeting where, if necessary, it can be debated again.

So the decision making process is robust, democratic and as a councillor satisfying.

What I don’t find satisfying, in fact what I find absolutely disgraceful, is the appalling correspondence I receive by email from two embittered failed council candidates. Despite the fact that both these fellows are imports from Britain their writings suggest that English is their second language. Much of what they write is unintelligible – but those parts that are able to be understood are full of libellous threats, abusive language, filthy language – language which even I could not use on radio – and downright lies.

The worst part of it is that one of them, whom I have never met, and his cohort send this sinister stuff to my home where it is received by my wife. She certainly feels intimidated and violated by the actions of these two wretched and disturbed individuals.

So that is the biggest downside of my role as a councillor – the fact that I have to put up with nutters.

On a more positive note – it is good to be part of a council where there is no infighting. Sure – there are differences of opinions – there is healthy debate – there is good natured points scoring but there is none of the playground stupidity that characterised some previous councils.

Frankly we haven’t got time for that rubbish.