14 June 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: RLC organisational realignment
Enquiry
I have some comments regarding the organisational realignment / deputy chief execs query for the council's right of reply - see below.
And off Grahame's comments: besides from the pay rise for the one staff member, how much has the organisational realignment cost the council to date and how much more is it expected to cost?
If you could separate the two that would be very helpful, thank you.
I am after this by midday today please.
Thanks very much,
COMMENTS:
Grahame Hall, former Rotorua mayor:
He said the seven new deputy chief executive titles were "unbelievable".
"It’s often said what’s in a name but when it comes to salary reviews, there is a lot attached to a name and at the same time, the costs associated with designated name changes is not insignificant.
"The primary role of staff is ultimately to serve the ratepayers and it is hard to imagine that a name change will improve their output and it will create unwanted independent silos within the organisation.
"It’s not the name that counts, it’s the competency of the individual that really counts.
"It has been said more and more in our community, there has never been such a disconnect between a council here and its community. I am sure the latest move will add to the lack of faith and trust many have in our local council.
"I believe the Council would have been far better to follow Wellington City Council’s example where they openly sought an independent review of their operation before they made changes, because of the lack of support they had generally from their community.
"The latest move is commonly called “corporate creep” and it is laughable in a comparatively small organisation like our Council and will end up being costly and very confusing to the ratepayers.
Subsequent from reporter
Just received some further comments from another person. These invite right of reply from the council and the mayor.
COMMENTS:
Massey University local government expert Andy Asquith said the move looked “questionable” and sent “a very negative message to the community”.
“How do you justify that kind of pay rise in the current climate?”
He believed the change would not have happened “without getting the mayor’s say so” which he believed was unusual given Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick was a former Labour MP.
“The mayor’s going to carry the flak for this. Where is she in all of this and what was she thinking?
“Why are all the deck chairs being moved just for that one person?”
“People have got grand job title and one person has a grand job title and a grand pay rise as well.”
“There seems to be a detachment from reality somewhere here.”
Asquith said he was not necessarily against well-paying jobs in the public sector, but salary increases of that size needed to be questioned while the community was struggling due to social and economic deprivation exacerbated by Covid-19.
“It’s politically unwise and you could argue it’s morally unwise as well. Now is just not the right time.”
Response
The reporter was provided with the release HERE as Council comment and was informed the questions would be treated as a LGOIMA request.
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
If you look at Rotorua today, we’re facing some of the biggest challenges ever – including housing, safety, employment, climate resilience. The council has heard from the community that there is an urgent need to address those issues.
We employ and expect the CE to carry out the expectations in the Long-Term Plan, and to do so within the funding envelope.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Emergency accommodation
Enquiry
I'm seeking a comment from Steve for a story I'm doing on how much money is being spent on Emergency housing and how long people are actually staying in there.
Money spent and numbers increasing
- Figures from MSD show the amount of money spent on emergency housing grants in the Bay of Plenty has increased by over 2000 per cent since 2017.
- $37,657,245 was spent on emergency housing grants between April 2020 and March 2021 compared to $1,740,900 in the same period three years ago.
- In Rotorua, there were 2049 clients between April last year and March which totalled $21,075,039 in emergency housing grants.
- This increased from 363 in April 2017-March 2018, and $895,599 in grants.
- In Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, there were 1281 clients between April last year and March this year which totalled $11,317,570 in emergency housing grants.
- This increased from 351 in April 2017-March 2018 and $692,008 spent on grants.
Average length
- Across the Bay of Plenty, an average of 13 consecutive weeks are being spent in emergency housing.
- In Tauranga, an average of 11 consecutive weeks were spent in emergency housing between April last year and March.
- In the Western Bay of Plenty, the stays averaged nine consecutive weeks.
- In Rotorua, an average of three consecutive months were spent in emergency housing between April last year and March.
Money and increase
- When can these people expect any sort of relief in terms of more permanent accommodation given all the money and work the council is said to be doing alongside the Government?
- What is your initial response to these figures and what do they tell you?
- What are your concerns about these figures and what it means for the city as a whole and the people who are suffering?
- Is this kind of money justified? Why/why not?
Length
- Is this fair?
- When can these people expect any sort of relief in terms of more permanent accommodation given all the money and work the council is said to be doing alongside the Government?
- What is your initial response to these figures and what do they tell you about the state of our city?
- What are your concerns about these figures?
- What needs to happen and when?
Any other comments are welcome!
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Housing remains a key priority for this Council and there is a lot of work underway. Actions to give effect to the district housing strategy are an important part of the work Council proposes to do across the next 10 years, as part of the 2021-31 Long-term Plan, to enable the development of more housing.
In the meantime, we are continuing to work with Central Government and iwi to address emergency housing. The taskforce working on this is progressing with the actions that have been outlined to the public with Council’s role to ensure efficiency and timeliness around any consenting processes that are required.
Everyone agrees the current situation we have with emergency housing is not sustainable and all agencies are working hard to improve how this is managed while work to get more housing underway for our district continues. The figures [you have received] underline the urgent need for housing that exists and the need for the work that is underway.
Information/updates on housing mahi:
See HERE (and as reported in the RDP) re changes to emergency housing which the Taskforce is now progressing and which the mayor has referenced above.
See pages 6-9 of the draft 2021-31 Long-term Plan (LTP) consultation document, which you’ll find HERE(External link), re proposed LTP actions actions relating to housing and note also p5 of the consultation document re work on proposed inner city incentives policy which will, in part, aim to encourage accommodation and residential development in the CBD
Council work that relates to housing and is underway:
Housing Strategy (developed in partnership with Te Arawa and Central Government agencies):Actions in the strategy are underway in collaboration with the relevant parties/agencies; the plan aims to deliver short, medium and long-term housing solutions and RLC is currently working closely with Central Government agencies, iwi and others to address emergency housing in Rotorua.
Investment in infrastructure upgrades including wastewater, roading and stormwater is underway throughout the city: This is ongoing and the draft 30-year infrastructure plan that will be adopted alongside the 2021-31 Long-term Plan outlines plans to invest $424m into core infrastructure (roading, stormwater, sewerage and water supplies) across the next 10 years to ensure safe, reliable infrastructure that is able to meet current demand and support future demand and housing development.
Council is progressing a District Plan Change to facilitate housing at Pukehangi: Fast-track Plan Change was approved by Government in March this year (see HERE on RLC website and reported by RDP HERE). RLC continues to work with the developers to support the progression of their housing development plans at Pukehangi.
Council and NZTA received Government funding for roading and stormwater upgrades to support proposed housing at Wharenui: Planning for this is underway/progressing - see bottom of p64/top of p65 of the last Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda HERE re update on CIP funding provided for infrastructure to enable housing at Wharenui
Council is collaborating with Tatau Pounamu Collective on an eastside locality plan that will address the future needs, aspirations and resilience of communities there: Following approval of a draft plan developed by RLC and TPC, we have been working with the community and a finalised plan will be presented to elected members for their approval soon. See HERE for further information about this kaupapa.
Long-term infrastructure planning is underway: See above re 30-year infrastructure plan and LTP
Other mahi also underway in relation to housing:See pages 45 and 46 of the last Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda HERE re updates on housing-related mahi the council is undertaking (this includes Taskforce mahi but you’ll also see reference to other work that’s underway and relates to housing)
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Media: Radio NZ
Topic: RLC organisational realignment
Enquiry
Request for an interview with the Chief Executive on Checkpoint programme.
Response
Geoff Williams was interviewed - you can listen to the interview at THIS LINK on RNZ’s website