18 April 2023
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: 2023/24 Annual Plan proposals
Enquiry
I am looking at the options councillors considered in shaping the annual plan and wondered if someone could please help with a few questions.
- How many jobs under the proposals would be cut? How many redundancies does this result in? Total salary savings?
- How many positions proposed to be cut are currently unfilled, and for how long? Which are they?
- Are all of these job cuts laid out in the annual plan consultation document?
- Are there any proposed changes, such as cuts to education programmes, that do not list any job cuts but would result in them?
- What is the process when council-paid roles get cut? I.e. is there severance pay?
Follow-up commentary requested:
I just received the below from PSA and would like to provide it for an opportunity for response:
PSA is the union for council employees and organiser Kirstin Miller said any restructuring created uncertainty for all employees.
“Many of the impacted staff have worked at the council for some years so the prospect of losing your job is creating real stress, particularly at a time of high living costs.”
"There’s also no guarantee that those whose jobs may be disestablished will be given any priority consideration for the new positions which is a concern given the experience the impacted staff have with the councils."
"We are concerned that Rotorua Lakes is launching a cost cutting exercise which will cost jobs and impact the quality of services the community enjoys."
"It’s especially disappointing the council seems to be rushing into this process and to date has failed to provide members with good information about how it impacts them and the council’s services despite repeated requests."
Further commentary requested
Can I please have some guidance if the below is accurate?
The eleven roles proposed to be relinquished or disestablished included the chief executive officer’s deputy chief executive, which had been held by Craig Tiriana, and would result in $200,000 in salary costs being saved. Tiriana resigned at the end of last year.
Councillors voted to disestablish the roles of event attraction manager, financial services manager, volunteer and creative communities research analyst, and to relinquish five information solutions roles.
These were customer solutions manager, information data officer, service desk lead, senior test lead and senior business analyst.
The eleven roles totalled $1.03m.
These potential job losses were not listed in the consultation document.
It was not clear from the document if other proposals, such as the potential axing of the museum education programme, would result in job losses.
Response
From RLC Chief Executive Geoff Williams:
The document you’re referring to highlights the 45 proposals for Council services that went to Councillors to consider including in the draft 2023/24 Annual Plan. Not all of the 45 proposals were supported by elected members. The ones that were supported, are outlined in the consultation document.
Councillors did not vote on specific roles, but on proposals regarding level of service.
As I said yesterday, the Draft Annual Plan is currently out for consultation and it would be inappropriate to comment further on any potential impact on employment at this point-in-time.
Staff have been informed that there may be potential impacts on roles within the organisation as a result of what is being proposed.
The finalised annual plan will be adopted at the end of June which is when we will have confirmation about how changes may affect staff.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: 2023/24 Annual Plan submissions
Enquiry
I am keen to write something up about the number of submissions already received. Am I able to get some comment on how this compares to previous years and why that might be?
Response
From RLC District Leadership and Democracy DCE Oonagh Hopkins:
The initial response from the public so far has been fantastic compared with previous years.
We still encourage those who have yet to have their say, do so via our website or attend one of our consultation events.
The Draft Annual Plan reflects the new Council’s key priorities; housing, infrastructure, economy and community. The draft plan aims to balance what the community needs most with the need for prudent management in the face of these significant financial challenges.
Please find below the number of submissions received in prior years along with a small blurb detailing what may have contributed to the number of submissions for each plan:
2019/20 = 27 Submissions This was year 2 of the 2018-28 LTP and was not a significant deviation from what was proposed in the LTP.
2020/21 = 200 (approximate) This included the Waste Water Contract consultation and was year 3 of the LTP and had a few changes
2021/22 (LTP) = 780 (approximately) The LTP had a number of topics that affected different parts of the community.
2022/23 = 10 submissions. This was year 2 of the LTP and no significant deviation from the LTP.