No-show councillor claims 'witchhunt' in Waipa

By KEVIN TAYLOR and CATHY ARONSON

TE AWAMUTU - A Waipa district councillor claims to be a victim of a witchhunt after a council committee sought his resignation for non-attendance.

James Parlane is threatening the Waipa District Council with legal action over a policy committee recommendation that he be asked to resign.

The recommendation will be considered by the council on November 28.

Regulatory committee chairwoman Diane Sharpe said Mr Parlane had not attended 10 meetings in the past 12 months, including the last seven consecutive meetings.

Mr Parlane, a lawyer, said he would not resign and would seek a judicial review if the recommendation was not withdrawn.

He argued it was outside the committee's powers and he was not given a chance to put his side of the story. He disputed the attendance figures, saying he did not believe he had missed seven meetings in a row.

However, council-supplied figures show he had failed to attend the meetings and that of the two he did attend, he was late.

Mr Parlane said the council had refused to reschedule the meetings outside business hours when it was easier for him to attend.

"All the other members are retired or housewives, and professional meeting attendees," he said. "I can't give up court to get to regulatory committee meetings."

He said he had got offside with the council for opposing wasteful spending, like spending $14,000 on seven locks for the council office.

Mayor John Hewitt said the recommendation was no reflection on Mr Parlane's ability, and there was no witchhunt against him.

"I asked Jim to be a representative on the regulatory committee, but obviously with the practice that he has and the demands of the committee, he's just not able to attend those meetings."

Mrs Sharpe said she was concerned Mr Parlane's non-attendance would jeopardise a hearing for a Cambridge motorcycle track. Without his attendance, it could be hard to form a quorum.

She had nothing against his ability as a councillor.

"In fact, we considered him invaluable on the regulatory committee because of his background as a lawyer. It is purely a procedural matter."