Full-time regional executive wanted

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 9

Full-time regional executive wanted

An independent chief executive officer should be appointed, the Canterbury United Council said yester-

day. Precise terms of the appointment will be studied by a special sub-committee. At present, under United Council legislation, the regional body’s part-time principal officer is the general manager and Town Clerk of the Christchurch City Council, Mr J. H. Gray. The City Council is the regional body’s administering authority. Councillors will look closely at the cost of employing an officer who could devote more time to administrative leadership of the United Council.

Depending on the terms of appointment recommended, the cost of such an officer and supporting services, such as secretarial help, could still be a debating point. The appointment proposal was supported by a 14-10 vote, but some councillors were still wavering on the possible cost and other issues.

In a report to the policy and resources committee, Mr Gray had suggested that

a chief executive officer BJsition could cost the nited Council about $60,000 a year. At present, City Council services are provided for about $5OOO, Mr Gray’s position being unpaid. Sir Hamish Hay (Christchurch City) said he would be concerned if the United Council looked for more functions just to justify having a full-time administrative leader. “If we are going to have a regional body at all, it would be better to have a separately elected regional council,” he said. “Some of us would agree on the grounds that no further spending was needed,” said Cr T. H. Tyson (Eyre County) of the executive officer proposal. Cr D. B. Rich (Waimairi District) said he was certain there were other ways of achieving leadership goals without a $60,000 price tag on them.

Cr R. H. Sloss (Cheviot County) said the United Council would have fewer staff today if it had started from scratch instead of taking on the former Regional Planning Authority’s structure, and the United Council would be better received.

“I find an additional $60,000 rather unacceptable,” said Cr Dorothy Harris (Rangiora Borough). She asked whether the planning director or secretary could be the principal officer at a little extra cost. “The recommendation does keep open every option,” said Cr Rich. Cr Rex Lester (Christchurch City) said that problems faced by the United Council would not be solved in any way by the appointment of a full-time executive officer. He was totally opposed to higher administrative costs until the problems of accountability, accessibility, and functions biased towards planning were tackled.

“Unless we are prepared to pay for the reight person, we won’t get the right one,” said Cr Geoff Stone (Christchurch City). Cr T. M. Inch (Rangiora District) said the cost of doing nothing was very real. United councillors themselves had been the most critical of the regional body’s lack of performance. “This is an opportunity to do something about the inertia that has been typical of the United Council,” Cr Inch said.