By Laura Mills
A bigger venue may be needed for the special meeting called to roll the West Coast Regional Council chair, according to the man himself.
Councillor Allan Birchfield says the council should be prepared for a sizeable crowd at the extraordinary meeting. Photo: LDR / Lois Williams
Councillor Allan Birchfield told the Greymouth Star today the council was looking at hiring the 600-seat Regent Theatre in Greymouth for the meeting, which would be open to the public.
A majority of four councillors, led by deputy chair Stuart Challenger, have called the extraordinary meeting for the express purpose of removing Birchfield as chair.
Acting chief executive Heather Mabin confirmed there was a high level of public interest in the meeting and the council might need to consider moving it.
But the venue had been advertised as the regional council chambers and at this point that was still the plan, Mabin said.
Birchfield said the council should be prepared for a sizeable crowd.
The Greymouth gold miner was the highest polling candidate in the 2019 council elections, with more than 3000 votes.
But Challenger, who is expecting to take over as chair, said he was opposed to moving the venue.
"The meeting should be in the council chambers - the public don't have speaking rights and it would be easier to control any disorderly behaviour."
Councillors would be allowing themselves to be "victimised" by throwing the doors open to a large crowd, Challenger said.
"The council chair is not the same as a mayor, who is directly elected. The regional council chairperson is elected by councillors and has to have their confidence to stay in the role."
He said Birchfield had lost the confidence of the four councillors by acting "unilaterally and undemocratically".
The showdown meeting looks set to be a short one.
"We will have a vote of no confidence in the chair, then vote on his replacement," Challenger said.
The public was welcome to attend but would have no say in proceedings.
"This decision is for councillors to make - the public will have their say at the next local government elections in October 2022," Challenger said.
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