As to where the next meeting will be held, it appears the Dunedin City Council chamber could be an option.
"Borrowing" the chamber was a suggestion of Cr Gerry Eckhoff.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead said there had been offers in the past from the city council and it was one option the council would look at.
The decision to move out of the council chamber, to allow staff space to work while the Stafford St building's reception was renovated for security reasons, came after regional council chief executive Graeme Martin urged the council to take "action" on its overcrowding problem.
"We do have an imbroglio and we've got to resolve it. This does not resolve it; this eases it. It does not replace the heavy decision-making needed. It is an easing, not a solution," he told councillors yesterday.
He suggested the chamber be used for staff, that Oakley Gray architects develop optimal staff occupancy for Stafford St, that the proposals in the long-term plan be extended to include purchasing or leasing alternative premises and that future council meetings be held in nearby rented space.
Cr Sam Neill was the only councillor to object to Mr Martin's proposals, as he believed it was "detrimental to the running of council".
"If we are off-site, we'll hardly see a soul. We'll become very detached."
He called for a division so his opposition to the proposals was recorded.
Cr Bryan Scott said it was entirely appropriate to vacate the chamber so staff could work appropriately and efficiently.
"It's time to go. It's a short-term step but I don't believe council has a future on this site."
Cr Trevor Kempton said he did not believe the Stafford St premises had a future and the council needed to focus quickly if the building proposals in the long-term plan were accepted.
"We need to put our backsides on the burner and decide its future to minimise the costs of the temporary arrangements we're having to make."
Cr Gretchen Robertson said Mr Martin's proposals would give the council flexibility in deciding how best to spend the $1 million put in the long term plan for a temporary building.
Cr Duncan Butcher, who was involved in the design and setting up of the chamber, said this was a "small step forward, not the big step I'd like to see".
"We need to get on and ... make up our minds."
Cr Woodhead said the council needed to move out of the chamber and "stay out" if it was to give a strong message to staff that it was serious about the overcrowding.
He agreed the long-term hearing panel needed to know the costings of the temporary measures when making a decision on the proposals relating to the building.
Dunedin City Council governance officer Sandy Graham said when contacted the council would be more than happy to look at any way it could help the regional council, provided its meetings could be worked around city council's.
"We'd be happy to look at that, if they make an approach."
