Call for council management review draws terse response

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 589, 6 June 1995, Page 8

Call for council management review draws terse response

A call for "transparency" in the administration of the Ruapehu District Council by mayoral candidate Weston Kirton drew angry reaction from mayor Garrick W orkman and other councillors at the annual plan meeting last Wednesday. Mr Kirton presented a submission, as an individual, calling for "political involvement in the management structure other than recei ving the chief executi ve' s contract which has limitations in that unless there are serious anomalies the contract continues". He said there was "very little willingness in allowing the administration to be contestable or even compare the operational costs to other sectors including private enterprise." "It could well be that the present structure and amount spent on administration is realistic and cost-effectiVe. However it appears to me that very little has been done in this area compared to other functions of council, to farm out work or make this budget contestable," Mr Kirton stated in his submission. He suggested a review committee be set up including management and council representation to meet to review the management structure and staffing issue. "Let's prove that we are efficient. Let's prove we have the right structure."

Political Cr Eddie Turley started the counter-attack saying he was very disappointed that the annual plan process was being used for "political broadcast". "Why today. Why have you not been to see me. Why haven' t you been to see the CEO to discuss your concerns," mayor Garrick Workman replied tersely to Mr Kirton' s submission. Mr Kirton said it was not the first time he had raised the issue and that the annual plan hearing was an opportunity for any individual to express such views. "I am certainly unhappy that the annual planning process has been hijacked in this way — it's not on," said Mr Workman. Councillors voted to receive the submission, with no further action taken. CEO responsibilities In his commentary on the submission, deputy chief executive Chris Ryan said the Local Government Act 1 974 specifies the responsibilities of the chief executive in the employment of all other staff. "The legislative intent is clearly to allow the chief executive to manage, while the council determines the range and quantity of public goods and services to be delivered," he stated in his report. "All authority on matters of management oversight and decision taking on staffing issues resides with the chief executive." He outlined the structure under the legislation: "C.Quncillors, as elected representatives, are accountable to their community for the organisation as a whole and for the overall focus. They are accountable for the role local government plays in the community as well as for specific actions or programmes. "The chief executive has an executive accountability to elected members. As an employee, the chief executive is accountable for operational performance." "The chief executive' s contract requires him to maintain an organisational structure and environment that will achieve all of the objectives of the council."

Mr Ryan stated that it follows that if the council (wants) to make changes to the organisational structure then that must be negotiated directly with the chief executive and that the appropriate forum is as part

of the annual review of the CEO's contract. He said such a process would involve professional consultants which would cost around $20,000 plus internal costs. As to contestability, he said the only true test is a formal tender process and council would need to commit to such a process with genuine intent, not simply to benchmark its own costs of delivery. Such a process would cause widespread disruption to staffing due to the uncertainty , he added.