Council jittery over economic study | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Napier City Council is asking for a tender process to find a suitable candidate to lead a study on improving the social and economic performance of Hawke's Bay, rather than follow a suggestion to appoint Dame Margaret Bazley.

The council met yesterday to agree to the terms of reference of the study but added in a line to ask the other councils involved if they could advertise for a person to lead the study.

Napier's deputy mayor Kathie Furlong said the council could not justify contributing to a $200,000 study without first making sure they had the right person heading the project.

"There was a bit of a concern from the council about the possible appointment of Dame Margaret Bazley that it was a fait accompli," Cr Furlong said.

"Councillors felt there may have been an element of predetermination out there and wanted to tender to make sure the most suitable person had been selected for the job."

Cr Furlong said councillors were apprehensive about being part of the study as many felt it could be a step towards local government amalgamation.

"I think our council feels there has been a plethora of studies done, the most recent ratified in 2011 which was an economic study for the region," she said.

"To spend more money on another study is hardly a wise use of ratepayer money however we don't want to be seen as parochial and having our head in the sand.

"We do want the best for Hawke's Bay and if this study is going to do this we need to be part of it not outside wondering what everyone else is doing."

Napier mayor Barbara Arnott said she had been assured by the other mayors, chairmen and chief executives of councils that the study was not about amalgamation.

"If anyone wants to bring that to the table, it will be discussed through a different process," Mrs Arnott said.

The study was earmarked to be completed by the end of the year but Mrs Arnott said it didn't matter when it was completed as long as it was "finished well".

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said he was surprised to hear Napier wanted to go out to tender to find a study leader.

"I was asked by all of the mayors and CEOs to approach Dame Margaret before Christmas and so that's what I did and she indicated her interest in the study," he said.

"If the [Napier] council wishes to change that, that's good but it is something that we will have to work through now."

Mr Yule disagreed the study was a precursor to amalgamation.

"This study is about our future, what we need to do to compete, to provide good quality jobs and a good quality life for the region," he said.

Mr Yule said the study would also aim to find ways to keep "our young people from leaving".