Wellington City Council's town hall restoration project has seen costs blow out from $42 million to up to $329 million. At a time when pipes are leaking, roads are crumbling and costs of living are spiralling out of control, clearly the council should be focussing on getting core services right, but thanks to the interference of council officials that won't be happening.

Despite knowing for months that the project had flown over budget by yet another $147 million, Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow chose to deliberately withhold this information from elected representatives. Councillors were instead given only a matter of days to scrutinise officials' plans before being railroaded into supporting their pet project.

Barbara McKerrow fails to understand that her role is to serve elected representatives, and not the other way around. As she has proven herself unfit for the office she holds, if she lacks the good grace to resign then we call on Wellington City Councillors to fire her and find a replacement who understands the importance of democracy.