From time to time councillors are appointed as a commissioner to panels hearing changes to the District Plan (the planning and environment rules). 

The council says,

"The role of the elected member on the hearings panel is mainly to participate in the hearing and bring the community’s views to the deliberations. The elected member will also bring the hearing panel’s recommendations to the committee table and will normally put the motion of the agenda item. The elected member may lead the discussion and can vote on the recommendation as a member of the committee."

The current accredited elected members are Councillors Greg Innes, Shelley Deeming and Sue Glen. Councillor Anna Murphy registered her interest in becoming a hearings commissioner and is currently undertaking accreditation.

That critical issue is the council elected Commissioner must bring the community’s views to the deliberations.

Members of the public are right to question whether the council appointed commissioner will represent the community view, and how they establish what that view is.