Animal Control Complaints and More

Sent: Friday, August 16, 2024 11:17 AM
Subject: LGOIMA request - animal control complaints / Springfield golf course lease / Ombudsman report

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 19 July 2024 covering the above topics.

• How many complaints has council received for dog control (the dog control division) this year?
  From 30 June 2023 through to 17 June 2024, a total of 25 complaints relating to the Animal Control Team have been received. For context, this ranges from complaints about officers, general dissatisfaction about subjects such as roaming dogs, individual opinions on team performance relating to barking dogs etc.
• How many dog control / animal control fines have been contested (since the new computer system)?
  A total of 133 disputes have been received from 3 June 2023 to 15 August 2024. These represent disputes lodged for a wide range of reasons including dogs passing away, dogs being sold/given away, informing Council that the information held is not current/up to date, difficulty with timeframes to achieve compliance etc.
  It is prudent to note that data anomalies are not always system related and can also be caused via human error. During the implementation of a new database, the likelihood of data errors may increase as staff are being trained and become more familiar with the new way of working.
• How many dog control / animal control fines have been taken to court by the council the current triennium?2021/22 – 817 infringements issued - 553 sent to Court
  2022/23 – 606 infringements issued - 295 sent to Court
  2023/24 – 2041 infringements issued - 1019 sent to Court
• How many people have not paid dog registrations this triennium?
  2021/22 – 274 infringements issued for non-registration. Note: This is not necessarily all of the unpaid registrations - data is limited as this is contained in a previous database
  2022/23 – 181 infringements issued for non-registration. Note: This is not necessarily all of the unpaid registrations - data is limited as this is contained in a previous database
  2023/24 – 1767 dogs unregistered
• At who’s instruction did the alternatives use clause to be inserted into the Springfield golf course lease?
  The inclusion of the alternatives use clause was a management decision so that future Council’s were not locked into a lease over a significant area of strategic land. This clause also brings the lease into line with other recent new golf course leases in the Bay of Plenty region.
• Provide all internal communication related to the instructions given to the lawyers on the Springfield golf course lease.
  Attached is internal communication related to the instructions given to the lawyers on the Springfield golf course lease - (PDF, 8MB). Redactions have been made where indicated under the following clauses of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, or if the information is out of scope of the request:
  -7(2)(a) ‘protect the privacy of natural persons’
  -7(2)(b)(ii) ‘protect information where the making available of the information … would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information
  -7(2)(g) ‘maintain legal professional privilege’
• As we are over 18 months after the ombudsman report on council meeting transparency, what actions have been completed by council? Also if the recommendations have not been completed, what is the estimated date that they will be completed?
  Refer to a previous LGOIMA response on Council’s website regarding the Ombudsman’s Report into Workshops.
• Do you intend to contact the ombudsman to get him to confirm that the Rotorua lakes council has completed and/or conducted the recommendations?
  The Ombudsman has in the past contacted Council for updates on action points from the recommendations.
• Does the council have any requirement whatsoever to hold any public weighting when making decisions for public consultation?
  There a number of pieces of Council business that require consultation to be undertaken using the Special Consultative Procedures i.e. the Long-term Plan.
  In terms of other times when Council may decide to consult, Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy is used to determine the level of engagement. The Significance and Engagement Policy is attached - (PDF, 1MB)