July 24, 2016 2:00pm by David Farrar

Failed “coup” at WCC

Attempts to stage a leadership coup at Wellington City Council have been revealed in the wake of accusations of a “toxic culture” there.

Early last year, councillor Nicola Young said she went, with the backing of the majority of councillors, to mayor Celia Wade-Brown, urging her to use her casting vote to oust Andy Foster as chairman of the transport and urban development committee over the handling of the divisive Island Bay cycleway.

Both Foster and Young have confirmed the coup attempt, which seemingly stalled after Wade-Brown and some councillors backed down.

However, Young said: “Talk of a coup is pathetic. We had no confidence in Foster … Celia has failed miserably in dealing with Wellington’s transport problems.” …

However, Young said: “Talk of a coup is pathetic. We had no confidence in Foster … Celia has failed miserably in dealing with Wellington’s transport problems.”

It seems apparent that Wellington needs leadership that can unify the Council.