Decision on Marryatt's fate looms

Tony Marryatt. Photo / Geoff Sloan

A private Christchurch City Council meeting into the future of embattled chief executive Tony Marryatt has wrapped up this morning, but it could be days before what was discussed is known.

A council spokeswoman said the meeting had come to an end, but Mayor Bob Parker would not be making any comment about it today.

The council's chief executive committee had prepared a report on Mr Marryatt's future which was discussed behind closed doors.

Mr Marryatt's contract expires in December next year.

If city councillors decide he will not return to his desk from his special leave he is likely be paid out for the rest of his contract. He receives $538,529 a year.

Mr Marryatt was stood down on indefinite paid leave after International Accreditation New Zealand stripped the council of its accreditation in July for failing to meet requirements of the building code.

Former Local Government New Zealand head Peter Winder was appointed to conduct an independent investigation into the council's building consents crisis and see how much chief executive Tony Marryatt knew about its struggles.

Controversy has dogged Mr Marryatt during the past couple of years.

Last November he announced that stressed council staff could have a day off each month until November in recognition of the pressure they had been under because of the earthquakes.

But the offer didn't extend to City Care staff who had been on the frontline over roads and other infrastructure, sparking the ire of the Amalgamated Workers Union.

Last April Mr Marryatt took ratepayer-funded legal action against city councillors, just months after thousands of Christchurch residents protested against his $68,000 pay rise and called for his resignation.

While he was copping that criticism from many Cantabrians, city councillors also voiced opposition to his pay rise at a time when the earthquake-devastated city was nearing crisis point.

He launched a legal battle against the city councillors over his pay rise controversy at the Employment Court, but the case was settled before it made it to court.

Mr Marryatt did not end up taking the pay rise, but he reserved the right to take it back at any time.

- additional reporting Christchurch Star