Under fire councillor defends actions over bar application

Ewan Wilson. Photo /Supplied

A Hamilton city councillor facing the sack after allegedly communicating with a bar owner over an extended liquor licence application is defending his actions - but fears that he won't have enough support to remain on the council committee that made the decision.

Councillor Ewan Wilson recently angered many members of the statutory management committee after sending an email to bar owner Laurie Weake saying he disagreed with his colleagues who made a "faith-driven" decision in regards to the application.

Mr Wilson also said he hoped new councillors would be elected in the next term.

Mr Wilson's email prompted members of the committee to meet last week to discuss Mr Wilson's actions and many are now pushing to review the committee structure so they can remove him for good.

The issue arose after a liquor licensing hearing heard by the committee where Mr Weake applied to extend his liquor licence during the Thursday night/Friday morning of Easter because kiwi rock band Shihad was playing at his bar.

The committee decided to allow him a special licence for only half an hour more, despite police previously approving a licence until 2am with some conditions.

At last week's committee meeting councillors John Gower, Margaret Forsyth, Pippa Mahood, Maria Westphal, Roger Hennebry and Daphne Bell all signed the notice of motion and agreed not to comment until the matter was discussed at the full council meeting on May 24.

The Herald understands the statutory management committee's move was based on the fact they felt the liquor licensing applicant still could have appealed against the decision and it was inappropriate for him to comment on their decision because the committee's protocol required members to remain independent.

But Mr Wilson has defended his actions saying he did nothing wrong because the liquor licensing application had already been withdrawn.

Mr Weake, who owns Altitude, later decided to appeal against the committee's decision to the Liquor Licensing Authority in Wellington.

Mr Wilson said the attempt now to try to remove him from the committee was "politically motivated" to silence him because he had publicly criticised his colleagues' decisions in the past.

"I would be very surprised if I had the numbers [majority vote to stay on the committee] and that simply reflects that I took steps to ask for more transparency in terms of commercial assets of councillors - they didn't like that, and terrible decisions of V8s and they didn't like that."

So far Mr Wilson has gained support from councillors Angela O'Leary and Dave Macpherson but, if all elected members attend the meeting, he will need the support of six of his colleagues.

Of the other councillors not on the committee deputy mayor Gordon Chesterman said he was waiting until he had heard both sides of the story.

Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker and councillors Peter Bos and Martin Gallagher could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Acting Hamilton mayor Gordon Chesterman confirmed the notice of motion had been lodged and said it was a matter relating to allegations that he had breached the committee's protocols.

"If this motion is successful," Mr Chesterman said, "it would see the removal of Councillor Wilson from the committee."