News Release

Monday 10 February 2014

Rotorua Council consulting staff on proposals to realign organisation structure

Rotorua District Council (RDC) has begun consulting with staff on proposals for a new organisational structure as it moves to realign resources to support the New Directions programme and Rotorua 2030 vision signalled late last year.

Rotorua 2030 was developed following workshops with Mayor Steve Chadwick and councillors, and marks a commitment to a long-term vision and goals for Rotorua in 2030 and more immediate key priorities to be achieved through to 2016.

As part of the realignment process, the council has recently completed a stocktake of all current activities to identify functions that are consistent with Rotorua 2030 goals and those that are not. That information has been used to create the new realignment proposals.

The mayor and councillors agreed in principle to the changes being proposed at last Wednesday’s council meeting [Feb 5], ahead of this afternoon’s [Feb 10] staff briefings that revealed current thinking to employees and asked for their feedback.

Council chief executive Geoff Williams says council staff will play a major role in shaping a final structure to meet expectations for Rotorua 2030 goals and 2016 priorities.

“We have quality and experienced staff whose input will help us make the most of this opportunity to realign the organisation to deliver on the future direction made clear by the council and our community,” says Mr Williams.

“We propose a nimble, future-orientated organisation that meets the district’s needs, supports a strong partnership with Te Arawa, and functions well both internally and externally. It also needs to be responsive, gets results, follow best practice and deliver efficiently and cost effectively on expectations.”

Mayor Steve Chadwick says the organisational reshaping proposals support the council’s identified priorities.

“These organisational changes would build on the many significant successes of the organisation to date, and continue to support the high standard of services currently being delivered, while working towards the Rotorua we want by 2030.”

The proposals identify a structure with three key operational groups to deliver the activities identified as ‘core’ to RDC. The groups are:

1. Strategy and Relationships: setting a foundation for all council activities

2. Performance and Delivery: focusing on the provision of agreed services

3. Finance and Capability: providing support through information and business infrastructure to enable the organisation to focus on strategy and delivery.

Also proposed is the possibility of some traditional activities being more effectively managed or delivered by entities other than RDC - such as CCOs (Council Controlled Organisations), private sector partnerships or community partnerships.

Four new CCOs are proposed.

• A new service delivery organisation comprising Castlecorp, the nursery and landfill;

• A new tourism, venues, events and economic development organisation comprising I-Site, Events and Venues, Grow Rotorua, the role of the Tourism Committee, Destination Rotorua Marketing, The Redwoods & Information Centre, and the airport;

• An infrastructure organisation providing roading services for multiple councils.

• An infrastructure organisation providing water services for multiple councils.

“Expectations for CCOs are set by councils but they are more commercial and flexible than within a council structure, allowing the council to focus on identified core activities,” says Mr Williams.

The realignment proposal timeline calls for staff and stakeholder feedback by midday on February 17. This feedback will be evaluated and considered ahead of further and final presentations, including public consultation, on implementation plans and timelines for all structures on Wednesday, April 30.

Further information will be available once the realignment structure proposal has been finalised.

The Rotorua 2030 vision and goals, and 2016 priorities can be viewed on the council website rdc.govt.nz.

[ENDS]

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