If you believed the headline in Saturday’s Hawkes Bay Today, you would think that Napier City Councillors had been wrong in voting for a partial closure of Emerson Street to vehicles and that they had been overruled by their Boss, Barbara Arnott.
That is a long way from the truth.
Let me acquaint you with the facts.
On the 12th November the Environmental Management Committee resolved to recommend to council that Emerson Street be closed to vehicles on the weekends for a trial period. That committee also resolved to consult with Emerson Street businesses and Napier Inner City Marketing before today’s full council meeting.
I was one who supported that resolution.
Consultation took place on the 1st December (not to mention the deluge of calls councillors received) and the retailers made a very good case for leaving the road open. Graham Bell in particular made a well researched, well thought out, sensible contribution and by the end of the meeting I – and I believe the other councillors who attended that meeting – was convinced that the road should stay open.
I am sure that will be the view taken by council this afternoon.
Napier City council operates under an excellent system called the double debating system. The strength of the system has been demonstrated by the outcome in the Emerson Street closure matter.
Following pressure from some ratepayers the council, at the committee stage, made a recommendation to the full council and that recommendation gave the opportunity for consultation.
That consultation has taken place and the full council will vote today with the knowledge gained during the consultation process. That is simply the system working as it should.
As this is my last radio piece for the year, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Enjoy your families and don’t destroy too many brain cells over the festive season. Keep safe and remember that just as daylight follows the darkness of night, good times will follow the stressful times we are currently experiencing.
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