Council projects address Crown Manager recommendations

Projects already under way are addressing recommendations made in a report on building control functions at Christchurch City Council.

Crown Manager Doug Martin has delivered his final report on the Council to Minister of Local Government Paula Bennett and Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith. The ministers have today publicly released the report.

As well as recommendations and suggestions for national policy, it includes a number of recommendations specific to the Council.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the report provides further evidence that the Council's system for processing building consents is robust and able to cope with the pressure of the rebuild.

“People rely on the Council to be able to issue consents and inspect buildings in a timely manner while also ensuring buildings meet regulatory standards. The Crown Manager's report recognises the work that has been done which led to International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) granting the Council accreditation as a Building Consent Authority.

"Not only does Mr Martin's report support the initiatives we have under way, it makes clear that there is no requirement or justification for further intervention by the Minister. It is an endorsement of our plan for further improvement."

Chief Executive Karleen Edwards says, "We are committed to working with the industry and central government to improve our building control activities. Completing our programme of work will achieve the outcomes identified in the report."

Recommendations to Christchurch City Council:

         The Council undertake a programme of work focussing on the following 11 key areas:

-    Maintaining IANZ accreditation

-    Extending Streamline residential consenting process

-    Incorporate aspects of the QA commercial consenting pilot into business as usual

-    Facilitate greater transparency over inspection reports (wider distribution of reports)

-    Continue with the implementation of the Alpha system for consents processing

-    Review administration and invoicing activities

-    Analyse the code compliance certificate process and implement efficiencies as identified through appropriate trials

-    Undertake further education to improve the quality of applications

-    Work with the industry to address the high failure rate for inspections

-    Develop a process to ensure consistency of decisions by inspectors

-    Communicate effectively and often with the industry about any changes

Building Control and City Rebuild Director Peter Sparrow says processing figures prove the changes already made are having the desired impact.

"For instance, last month 99 per cent of the 917 consents process were completed within the required 20 days. The 113 commercial consents processed was our highest monthly total since the earthquakes.

"The demand for inspections continues to rise, with 5428 completed in March. This is the most we have done in a month and the demand is one of the reasons we have launched a project to look internally and work with the industry to improve the way inspections are done."

The Crown Manager’s appointment ended as planned on 31 December after IANZ granted the Council accreditation.

IANZ plans to do a standard accreditation assessment of the Council in August 2015.

The Crown Manager's final report and information about accreditation is available on the Council website, go to www.ccc.govt.nz/bcactionplan

ENDS

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