Spending on Simplifying Local Government Reform

Response

Sent: Tuesday, 22 September 2026 1:20pm

Subject: Official Information Request - Spending on Simplifying Local Government Reform

I refer to your Official Information request of 10 September 2026, for information regarding spending on Simplifying Local Government Reform.

Questions:

• The total amount the council has spent on external consultants, contractors, lawyers, communications advisers, economists, financial advisers, governance advisers, project managers, or other professional service providers engaged to assist with Simplifying Local Government reform.
• A breakdown of this expenditure by supplier, including:
  • Supplier name;
  • Description of services provided;
  • Amount paid or committed; and
  • Whether the engagement is complete or ongoing.
• The value and scope of any contracts entered into for reform-related work that have not yet resulted in payments.
• Any budgets, cost estimates, or funding allocations approved for work relating to Simplifying Local Government reform.
• Any reports, advice, presentations, business cases, options analyses, cost-benefit analyses, modelling, communications plans, or consultation material produced by external consultants or contractors relating to the reform process.
• Any invoices, statements of work, purchase orders, contracts, or procurement documents relating to the engagements identified above.
• If costs have been shared with, or incurred on behalf of, other councils, please identify:
  • Which council's were involved;
  • The total cost of the work;
  • Each council's financial contribution; and
  • Any cost-sharing agreements.

Additional questions:

• Has council staff time been tracked against the reform project? If so, please provide any estimates of internal staffing costs associated with the work.

Answer:

Please find a previous LGOIMA request response available on Councils website here Cost Incurred to Heart Start Initiative that provides responses for the above requests.

Question not covered by the above response:

What is the council's expected total expenditure on Simplifying Local Government reform through to the completion of the Head Start process?

Answer:

There are no expected external expenditure costs for external consultants, contractors, lawyers, communications advisers, economists, financial advisers, governance advisers, project managers, or other professional service providers at this point of the process.