Christchurch councillor David East calls for independent inquiry after tampering allegations

A serving Christchurch City Councillor is calling for an independent inquiry after allegations of tampering with the rebuilding city's district plan.

Councillor David East called a press conference in the city this afternoon to shed light on the alleged tampering, which he claims has affected property owners across the post-quake coastal suburbs of South New Brighton, Southshore and Redcliffs.

"After seeking advice and considering my legal obligations as an elected member of the council, I am now in a position to announce, what I consider is the most appropriate course of action for having this matter independently investigated," said the coastal ward councillor.

The concerns relate to an alleged omission of a policy in the Christchurch City Council district plan that enabled people to build, renovate or extend their homes.

After receiving correspondence late last month from Sir John Hansen, the former chair of the independent hearing panel who determined the plan, East now fears it was "deliberately" left out of the plan.

Sir John stated in a letter, East claimed, that the panel wanted the provision included, but at some stage, it was omitted.

The move, East claimed, could cost homeowners millions and result in increased socio and psychological issues for communities still recovering from the devastating 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence.

Community group Christchurch Coastal Residents' United (CCRU) backed calls for an independent inquiry, as did Darrell Latham, Linwood-Central-Heathcote community board member, who called the omission "red-zoning by stealth".

"Ultimately we are here today to right a serious wrong and to seek justice and accountability," East said.

Today, East has emailed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta with his concerns.

However, he has not yet raised anything with the city council and Mayor Lianne Dalziel – a move East admitted was "unfortunate and regrettable".

Tim Sintes, deputy chair of the Coastal-Burwood community board, said the "unjust action" in leaving out the clause from district plan is "heartbreaking" for some residents.

Some people have already moved out because they were told they couldn't extend their homes or build again, Sintes said.

"It actually destroys an area, some of these rules," he said, while adding that it results in added mental stress for already vulnerable communities.

This afternoon, Christchurch City Council's acting chief executive Brendan Anstiss responded to say it was "hugely disappointing" that East and other elected members "have made these serious allegations without basis" and not raised the concerns formally with council.

Anstiss said it was "inappropriate" for an elected member to make accusations about alleged staff misconduct in a public session "without providing any supporting evidence".

"I have full confidence that staff have acted professionally in their role in giving effect to the Independent Hearings Panel decisions," he said.

Council staff provided evidence to the Independent Hearings Panel, which made the final planning provisions, Anstiss said.

"It was not their role to question the intention of the panel in their decision making," he said.

"Unfortunately Councillor East appears not to understand the decision-making process of the Independent Hearings Panel.

"It is now the council's role to give effect to the Independent Hearing Panel's decisions. I am confident we are applying these decisions correctly.

"If Councillor East wants to raise this issue formally with the Council, he knows the process to do this."