An email sent to Councillors by the Mayor in a light-hearted attempt to encourage them to expand their horizons and gain some extra skills has been poo-poo'ed by some Councillors, however the underlying message is clear: pull your socks up and start acting like professionals.

In our experience Wellington City Council has one of the worst relationships with ratepayers and community groups out of all the local authorities in New Zealand.  Despite several organisations set up to assist the Council to engage with citizens (I'm the President of one of them: the Federation of Wellington Progressive and Residents Associations) there seems to be a pervading culture of "we know best".

No matter where that culture stems from, it is the responsibility of the Councillors as governors of the organisation to put it right.

There are several question marks hanging over the WCC's financial management, the behaviour of senior staff, use of Council resources, and treatment of public meetings and information.

Mayor Wade-Brown has taken in this instance a 'gentle' approach to improve the quality of her Councillors but the citizens of Wellington will be waiting with bated breath to see how long it will take before she starts pulling out all the stops.

Her future as the Mayor of Wellington depends upon it.