Auckland Council

At the local elections in 2010, the new Auckland Council will be established, with new councillors and a single mayor elected by the people of Auckland.  At that time, the present eight local authorities (seven local councils and Auckland Regional Council) will be dissolved. The new Auckland Council will be a new unitary council, with all the responsibilities and powers held by the current local authorities.  It will take over all regional assets, including museums, stadiums, parks, and entertainment and exhibition venues. For more on the the Government’s proposals and decisions on the Auckland Council go the Making Auckland Greater website.

Auckland Council executive team appointments

The first senior appointments reporting to the Interim Chief Executive of the Auckland Council were announced today (Monday) by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA). They are:

  • Chief Operating Officer: Patricia Reade, who is currently Deputy Chief Executive (responsible for Work and Income) at the Ministry of Social Development.
  • Chief Planning Officer: Dr Roger Blakeley. He is currently the Chief Executive at Porirua City Council.
  • Chief Financial Officer: Andrew McKenzie, who is currently General Manager of Auckland City Council’s finance division.
  • General Counsel: Wendy Brandon, who until recently was Legal Counsel for the Ministry of Health.
  • Manager Risk and Assurance: Natalie Verdouw, currently the National Audit Manager for FirstMac Ltd (Australia).
  • Manager Communications and Public Affairs: Shelley Watson, who is General Manager of Marketing and Communications at the Auckland Regional Transport Authority.
  • Manager Civil Defence and Emergency Management: Clive Manley. He is a consultant specialising in civil defence emergency management and is currently the Northland Group Controller and Chairman of the Northland Co-ordinating Executive Group.

In announcing the appointments, ATA executive chairman Mark Ford said there was a high level of interest in the positions and the successful appointees came through an extremely competitive process. There is mix of local government and outside experience.

The roles will report directly to Doug McKay, Interim Chief Executive designate of the Auckland Council.

Mr McKay said: "This is a diverse, dynamic, group of professionals who are outstanding in their individual fields. Each of them is driven by wanting to be part of the most significant transformation of any organisation, ever, in New Zealand. Without exception the candidates want to make a difference to Auckland and to New Zealand, given how important the city is to our country.

"Establishing and building the Auckland Council is a hugely exciting challenge and together with Council staff and elected members I know we are going to deliver great results for the people of Auckland."

Individuals’ start dates will range from August to November and further appointment announcements will be made. 

Auckland Council election information

Later this year (during September and October), registered electors will be able to vote for representatives on the new Auckland Council.

The elections will be conducted through a postal ballot.

People will be able to vote for a Mayor (elected across the whole region), Councillors in the ward in which they live, and Local Board members in the local board area in which they live.

Elections will also be held for District Health Boards and, where applicable, Licensing Trusts.

A timetable and fact sheet is attached.

 

Discussion document feedback

On 26 February 2010 The Auckland Transition Agency published a Discussion Document on Local Boards of the Auckland Council and invited feedback. A similar process was followed with respect for council-controlled organisations (CCOs) of the Auckland Council on 1 March 2010.

Several hundred responses have been received from a wide range of individuals and organisations on the documents. These have been collated and the ATA's responses, which are based on the proposals in the first version of the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, may be acessed at www.discussiondocuments.co.nz. On 24 May 2010 a second version of this bill was released, which could affect some responses in the ATA’s feedback report.

Regulatory improvements

The regulatory services provided by Councils cover a huge range- from licensing, to consents, environmental monitoring etc. In the new Auckland Council the aim is to ensure customer interactions in the regulatory area are quick and easy. A range a fees and charges will also be set at generally lower levels that is the case currently. An overview of the initiatives underway in the regulatory area has been released by the ATA. Regulatory Improvements for the Auckland Council is attached.

Announcement of Interim Chief Executive for Auckland Council

The Interim Chief Executive of the new Auckland Council is to be Doug McKay, the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) announced today (March 25).

Mr McKay, 54, has an extensive background in leading large organisations in both New Zealand and Australia. This includes senior roles with Carter Holt Harvey, Lion Nathan and Goodman Fielder. Most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer at Sealord and CEO and Executive Chairman of Independent Liquor.

He will take up the role on August 1, 2010 for a fixed term to 29 June, 2012.

He sees the role at the new Auckland Council as “hugely challenging, exciting and unique”, and said: “The work of councils touch on the lives of people in some way every day.”

Mr McKay describes himself as “an Aucklander, through and through.”

He said: “I grew up in Waitakere, worked in Manukau and live in Auckland City. I went to university and teachers’ training college in Auckland, and built my career here. We also chose to raise our family here. Auckland is a fantastic city with huge potential - that’s what attracted me to the job.”

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said Mr McKay was an outstanding candidate for the role. “His background in customer service, driving results-focused organisations, managing performance and leading staff through periods of change will be invaluable as the new council begins and develops,” Mr Ford said. 

In the months before taking up his new role, Mr McKay will work closely with the ATA as it develops the structure and resources needed for the new council.

Mr McKay said: “This is a large project which has some very challenging timelines but I am confident that these will be met. We want this City to be an even better place to live, work, and play and I’m looking forward to working with council staff and elected members in delivering great results for the people of Auckland.”

A brief profile and career summary is attached.

Discussion document - Council-controlled organisations of the Auckland Council

A discussion document containing detail on the roles and accountabilities of proposed council-controlled organisations (CCOs) of the Auckland Council has been released for feedback.

The document, released by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA), considers the structure of five Auckland Council subsidiaries that were approved in principle by Cabinet last year. These are:

  • Council Investments
  • Economic Development, Tourism and Events
  • Major Regional Facilities
  • Property Holdings
  • Waterfront Development Agency

These entities will be owned by, and report to, the new Auckland Council.

The discussion document – available at www.discussiondocuments.co.nz – outlines the accountability mechanisms which exist between the council and its CCOs. Specifically, each CCO must:

  • Give effect to the Auckland Council’s Spatial Plan and other plans
  • Have its Statement of Intent (SOI) agreed by the council and made public
  • Report regularly to the Auckland Council, with an audit by the Auditor-General
  • Have its performance monitored by the council’s Governance and Monitoring Unit

Additionally, CCOs are subject to the access to information provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the Ombudsman Act 1975. The Auckland Council will appoint CCO board members (after the initial boards have been appointed by Ministers) and the council has the power to remove board members.

The ATA is recommending that CCOs must take account of the views expressed by local boards as a requirement of the SOI approved by the Auckland Council.

There are currently around 40 CCOs operating under existing local authorities in Auckland. Under the new Auckland Council it is planned to rationalise and streamline these.

Feedback can be submitted online at www.discussiondocuments.co.nz or in writing to Auckland Council CCO Feedback, Auckland Transition Agency, PO Box 99394, Newmarket 1149, Auckland. The deadline for feedback is Friday March 26.

Local Boards discussion document released

Auckland Council’s local boards will play a key role in strengthening community representation when they begin work this November, a Select Committee on Auckland governance legislation has been told.

Grant Taylor, local government advisor with the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA), said the agency – which has to plan and manage the transition to Auckland’s new local government arrangements – was proposing to allocate significant responsibilities to local boards.

A 53-page discussion document on Auckland Council’s local boards is issued for feedback today.  A dedicated website for feedback –www.discussiondocuments.co.nz – has been set up, and copies are also being circulated by all of Auckland’s existing city, district and regional councils. The deadline for feedback is Friday March 26.

Under the model proposed by the ATA local boards will oversee:

  • Local facilities – such as community parks, halls, swimming pools, sports fields and libraries
  • Local programmes and activities – such as local events, community arts and culture programmes, community advisory services and social housing initiatives
  • Local services – such as graffiti control and cleaning programmes for the local area.

The boards will reflect the distinct characteristics and needs of their communities in a wide range of non-regulatory areas. Mr Taylor said: “In allocating these activities instead of asking ‘why should local boards undertake this work?’ we asked the question ‘why not’.”

Auckland Council - delivery model

The Board of the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) has signed off a service delivery model for the Auckland Council. The ATA's working assumptions have been outlined in an internal memorandum from Executive Chairman Mark Ford.

Council and Transport roles advertised

Management roles with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport have been advertised in major newspapers and at www.jobs.momentum.co.nz. Applications for these positions close on 10 March 2009.

Discussion Document - Watercare Services Ltd

Watercare Services Ltd has released for feedback a Draft Discussion Document - Organisational Structure and Staff Transition to water industry staff members in Auckland.

The document is aligned with discussion documents previously released in respect of the Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.

Feedback received on Transport Discussion Document

A total of 91 submissions have been received on the Organisational Structure and Staff Transition - Auckland Transport Agency Discussion Document that was released by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) on 20 November 2010.

The submissions were collated into 227 individual issues, themes and recommendations. These – and the ATA’s reponses – are included in a new document Feedback and Decisions – Organisational Structure and Staff Transition - Auckland Transport Agency which has been released by the ATA.

Copies of the document were sent to council chief executives for circulation to staff and to employees of their council-controlled organisations. 

Senior council and transport roles advertised

Six senior roles with the Auckland Council and the Auckland Transport Agency are being advertised in major newspapers and on the website of Sheffield Search. The reference numbers shown below may be used to locate the vacancies on that site.

The Auckland Council roles are: Chief Planning Officer (reference 45410), Chief Operating Officer (reference 45411), and Chief Finance Officer (reference 45396).

The Auckland Transport Agency roles are: Chief Intrastructure Officer (reference 45413), Chief Operating Officer (reference 45414), and Chief Finance Officer (reference 45412).

The closing date for applications is 16 February 2010.

Feedback received on Discussion Document

More than 700 submissions have been received on the Discussion Document – Organisational Structure and Staff Transition that was released by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) on 2 November.

The submissions – totalling 1.5 million words – were collated into 3,300 individual issues, themes and recommendations. These – and the ATA’s reponses – are included in a new document Feedback and Decisions – Organisational Structure and Staff Transition which has been released by the ATA.

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said: “We are grateful to those individuals and organisations that took the time to offer their feedback. A number of the issues have been reflected in changes we have made in relation to the draft organisational structure for tiers 1 to 3 of the new organisation. Others relate to issues below the senior management level and these will be addressed at a later stage. All of the feedback is presently being analysed and will inform the ongoing design and strategy work continuing through the ATA work streams.”

Copies of the document were sent to council chief executives for circulation to staff and to employees of their council-controlled organisations. 

Feedback related to the proposed structure of the Auckland Transport Agency and on the recruitment and job-matching proposal released by the ATA will be reviewed in the New Year.

 

Proposed structure for council-controlled organisations (CCOs) of the Auckland Council

A Cabinet paper containing proposals for the structure of council-controlled organisations (CCOs) for the Auckland Council was released on 3 December 2009. The proposed CCOs are:

1          Regional Transport Authority*

2          Watercare Services Limited*

3          Waterfront Development Agency*

4          Economic Development, Tourism and Events Agency

5          Property Holdings and Development

6          Major Regional Facilities

7          Council Investments

 *These CCOs have previously been approved by Cabinet or are legislated for

A diagram showing the proposed CCO framework and giving examples of existing entities that could form part of new CCOs may be accessed from this page. The Government's decision document and supporting Cabinet papers may be accessed at www.dia.govt.nz.

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said: "Our work on CCOs is still ongoing. We aim to release a Discussion Document on CCOs in the new year for consideration and feedback."

Discussion Document released – Auckland Council

A discussion document that will help to shape the administration of the new Auckland Council was released by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) on Monday 2 November 2009.

The document has been circulated to the chief executives and staff of Auckland existing local government organisations. It is summarised in the 2 November 2009 of the Transition Times newsletter.

There are three parts to the document:

  • Part 1: a draft organisational structure showing the most senior roles in the new Auckland Council, including proposed groupings of functions under the Interim Chief Executive.
  • Part 2: a draft scope of workforce change document.  This includes some descriptions of the types of roles or functions which may be subject to the greatest and the least degree of change during the transition.
  • Part 3: a description of the draft processes and protocols to be applied during the transition. This document outlines the draft principles proposed when staff move from jobs with existing local councils to roles with the new Auckland Council and describes how people will be treated when a suitable job is not available.

Key points in the discussion document include…

  • The draft organisational structure is designed to promote clear accountability for community outcomes and customer service. Management roles are significant and meaningful, with appropriate spans of control.
  • There is a commitment to maintaining or enhancing council service delivery.
  • Council staff who deal directly with customers will generally remain in their current locations. It is not intended generally to review staff numbers or roles of people involved in community facilities (such as libraries, parks, and recreational facilities) and community services.
  • Strategy, policy and planning functions and corporate services will be reorganised to support the new governance and operational needs. When redunancies occur, they will be managed in accordance with the terms and conditions of employment agreements and legislation.
  • The picture presented today in the discussion document is not final. Analysis and design work on the council and on council-controlled organisations (CCOs) is continuing; IT system constraints may impact the timing of some location change. 
  • There will be opportunities for employees to provide input on service design, development of the resulting staffing plans and their implementation. Mechanisms for this have been established and general comments are welcome to info@ata.govt.nz.  

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said: “We are committed to running fair, transparent processes and are working with existing local government organisations and employees to obtain their feedback.”

Web links for employee feedback have been established with councils. Additionally, general comment is welcome by post to Feedback, Auckland Transition Agency, PO Box 99394, Newmarket 1149, Auckland, or info@ata.govt.nz.

Draft Organisational Structure - Auckland Transport Agency

The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) has released the Draft Organisational Structure - Auckland Transport Agency. The document and a covering letter from ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford may be accessed at this site.

The document is Part 4 of the Discussion Document - Organisational Structure and Staff Transition released by the ATA for feedback on 2 November 2009.

The ATA is proposing a clear functional model for the Auckland Transport Agency, with three major organisational groupings reporting to an Interim Chief Executive.

The draft organisational structure has been circulated to employees of existing councils and council-controlled organisations for feedback.

Chief sought for new Auckland Council

The role of Interim Chief Executive of the Auckland Council has been advertised.

The position – which is for a fixed term to 29 June 2012 – calls for an individual who can build a high-performing, customer-focused organisation. The successful candidate is expected to have:

Significant experience at Chief Executive level in managing large and complex change.

  • Direct experience of strategic public sector leadership or exposure to commercial roles with public sector impact.
  • The ability to create a culture of innovation and performance.
  • Success in integrating teams into a high-performing unit. 

ATA Board member Wayne Walden is to chair the sub-committee that will make the final appointment. He said: "We are searching for an exceptional individual with expertise in change management who will establish an appropriate culture of performance at the Auckland Council."

Ian Taylor, the Executive Director of Sheffield Search – the agency appointed to lead the search – said: "This will be a local and global search and we anticipate there will be considerable interest."

The job advertisement will appear in local newspapers, online and be circulated via Sheffield’s local and international search networks. The job advertisement and the supporting job description supplied to applicants are available here.

Agency appointed for interim chief executive search

An executive search agency has been appointed by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) to undertake the search and recruitment of the interim chief executive of the Auckland Council.

Sheffield Search, an Auckland-based agency with strong national and international networks, has been appointed following a contestable process.

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said Sheffield had been briefed to begin the process as soon as practical “so appropriate time can be given to finding and recruiting the best candidate for the job”.

ATA releases draft project plan for transition

The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) has published a draft of its project plan and circulated it to Auckland’s existing local government organisations.

The ATA is required to plan and manage the transition from Auckland’s current local government structure to the Auckland Council by 1 November 2010.

The draft project plan is a high-level document which breaks the tasks into work streams and outlines proposed steps required to achieve successful transition. The work streams are:

  • Work force and human resources
  • Legal
  • Community services
  • Finance and treasury
  • Property and assets
  • Economic development – including tourism and events
  • Council-controlled organisations, trusts, investments and infrastructure.
  • Environment – including policy and planning, regulatory services and environmental services
  • Governance
  • Customer services
  • Business processes and systems
  • Communications and public affairs

The draft project plan may be accessed here. Alternatively, go to www.ata.govt.nz and click on work streams then scroll down to the link.

Executive Chairman Mark Ford says the ATA team leading work streams were grateful for the assistance being given by local council employees nominated by their chief executives.

“We are grateful to those employees and to the council chief executives who have facilitated their involvement,” he says. “The ATA expects to seek further support of this nature as the project progresses.”

Additionally, where necessary, the ATA will seek external assistance from organisations or individuals with specialist skills or experience. A registration of interest (ROI) document may be accessed through the government tenders website www.gets.govt.nz and is available here. The closing date for the registration of interest through the ROI process was Thursday 3 September.