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Discussion document: Council-controlled organisations of the Auckland Council

General News | 03/01/2010

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

ATA advisor John Dragicevich said: “It will be the Auckland Council, in conjunction with the community, that sets the objectives and accounts to the ratepayers for the performance of these CCOs. They exist under the democratic process and the ultimate accountability of the elected council to the ratepayers.”

The discussion document invites feedback on the structure and responsibilities of the CCOs, their accountability and governance arrangements, and the assets and activities associated with individual entities.

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 ATA will analyse feedback before making its final recommendations to Cabinet. The deadline for feedback is Friday March 26.