Mayor Tim Shadbolt has come under fire again, with his ability to properly govern as mayor of Invercargill this time slammed by the New Zealand Taxpayers Union.

Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke said the "complete dysfunction" at Invercargill City Council, most recently highlighted by the sudden resignation of deputy mayor Toni Biddle on Friday (October 9), shows the need to have recall elections in Invercargill’s local government.

Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt has not yet replied to the Southland App's invitation to respond to Mr Houlbrooke's comments.

Advertisement

 Advertise on the Southland App

Mr Houlbrooke said ratepayers “should not have to wait until the next election to get rid of mayors or councillors who are clearly not up to the job”. 

"[Cr Biddle] cited the 'toxic and unhealthy' environment at the council, and the strain of doing the mayor's job for him which put her in hospital for panic attacks.”

 "Sir Tim Shadbolt has had a very long and lucrative career in local government... and now he needs to go,” he said.

Two other city councillors have also voiced their concerns about Sir Tim's ability to perform his role as mayor.

Cr Rebecca Amundsen told the Southland App she stood by the comments she made last year about it likely being time for the mayor to retire. 

She said he often loses his train of thought in meetings, goes off on tangents and has trouble concentrating.

"My view hasn't changed," she said.

Cr Alex Crackett also publicly spoke out in the media last week saying that Sir Tim was not able to do his role properly. 

Councillors Ian Pottinger, Lindsay Abbot, Nobby Clark, Allan Arnold, Peter Kett, Graham Lewis and Darren Ludlow declined to comment on the matter, saying that it was not their places to question an elected member’s position. 

However, Cr Ludlow added that from time to time, councillors could find things “frustrating” with the mayor, but this was no different to a normal working relationship. 

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

Councillors Lesley Soper and Nigel Skelt could not be reached. 

The NZ Taxpayers’ Union is now calling for local government to have the ability to hold 'recall elections', which would give voters the chance to oust an elected official from office before their term has ended through a direct vote.

The union launched the joint campaign and proposal paper in August this year alongside the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, and the Northern Action Group.

Mr Houlbrooke said a recall election would be able to be triggered if 10% of the ratepayers who voted in the last election voted for it.

Then a local government bi-election would commence, giving the power back to the public on who they want to elect.

Sir Tim has chosen Cr Nobby Clark to replace Cr Biddle as deputy mayor from October 20.