Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz

The ‘organisational review' - instituted two years ago by then-CEO, the late Ken Paterson, in response to this Council's requirement that the organisation is fit for purpose in this new era of financial restraint - is now finished.

A report this week outlined the statistics: 38.3 full time equivalent positions disestablished, 33.7 FTE new positions created. Budgeted salaries difference shows a saving of $2,058,351 but in actual costs a saving of $1,403,485 was realised.
Costs of the exercise were $1,634,899 of which $933,772 were redundancy payments. That's the statistical side. The real effects will be seen and felt in the coming year(s). From where I sit there is no doubt a review was necessary. Council organisation has ballooned during the so called ‘good' years where staff numbers and salaries had expanded exponentially as a majority of the then-elected members embarked on a big spend up of ratepayers' money. But the review took far too long. An unfolding exercise of unfortunate happenings dragged out what should have been a three-six month exercise, two years maximum. And for once elected members had no influence over events.
The organisational review is the sole domain of the position of the chief executive. This involved four people who occupied the position over the two years. That was unfortunately unavoidable. But it meant differing views which meant lack of continuity and consistency. Aspects of some of the consultant's performances left a lot to be desired, in my opinion – but they got paid just the same. Some good people have left, unnecessarily, in my opinion.

New executive team
There is basically a new executive team lead by new CEO Garry Poole. It's Garry's responsibility to implement Council's annual plan so it's a positive that his executive team is of his choosing. It means he can get on with the business his way and be fully accountable to Council for the required outcomes. So far Garry's experience and leadership have been excellent so there is the expectation that the city is on a steady path of sustainable management and financial restraint. Infrastructure spending is receiving priority and decision making is timely and accurate.
Most of this Council's elected members appear reasonably satisfied that the organisation as it now stands is fit for purpose to take our city forward, with the next challenge to significantly reduce next year's budgeted rates requirement increase of nine per cent. Clearly this is unacceptable and the mettle of the new management team will be tested – with the election in-between – as they prepare next year's annual plan.

Toll road Route K
Negotiations continue with NZTA. Nothing has changed since I last updated you. NZTA are bound by Government on what they can and cannot do. This route servicing Tauranga City and the Port is also an essential link for the whole country. Had the Council of the day not embarked on the project by buying the land and building the road, our roading network would be a shambles today. It does not cost ratepayers (loan interest is capitalised). Projections are for NZTA to take over maintenance if it is declared part of the state highway. NZTA also want to install an electronic toll gantry. This means having an electronic tag on your car or else you can pay online within a few days. Obviously this is TCC losing control over our road and it really is time for Government to step in, take over the whole package, debt and all. To this end I moved for another meeting with local government MPs Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall to get support at Cabinet level to run in tandem with TCC staff negotiations with NZTA. Interestingly four of our elected members voted against on-going negotiations – Rick Curach, Murray Guy, Catherine Stewart and Bill Grainger. I understand their motivation is a requirement they have to include the Hairini Link into the Route K bargaining.
We approved Statements of Intent outlining Council's requirement for the Boards of Directors of the CCO's Tauranga City Investments Ltd and Bay Leisure and Events Ltd who will administrate and manage Baypark, ASB Arena, pools, Baywave and other leisure assets.
Murray Guy and Catherine Stewart did not support the resolutions. In the confidential section Dean Waddell was appointed director of BLEL to take up the mandatory seat on the Board representing Speedway. This appointment is a requirement from the days when Bob Clarkson owned Baypark.

Living wage concern
A couple of weeks ago it was noted in this column that Rick Curach and Larry Baldock were most concerned that some Council employees didn't receive the ‘living wage' of $18.65 per hour.
Rick and Larry say they did not say that, and they too share my view that it would be good if all ratepayers could receive a weekly minimum income of $18.65 per hour.

Amalgamation debacles
Wayne Moultrie wants to ‘have a conversation' on the future of local government in the Bay of Plenty. He says we should be proactive not reactive to amalgamation. Mayor Stuart Crosby says we are doing well by progressing shared services. In my opinion amalgamations/mergers don't produce economies as witnessed by the Auckland amalgamation debacle.
Over the ditch in Australia they have realised the nonsense that amalgamations can create and ‘de amalgamations' are underway after only three years of forced amalgamations.
We approved a proposed direction for an Age Friendly City Strategy. I would have thought it was pretty basic stuff but in this modern wold where it seems it's almost every man for himself (or should that be person?), it has to be spelt out.
I particularly like the bit where it said ‘staff respectful, helpful and trained to serve older people'. That's staff everywhere. It seems it's not so and some businesses wonder why they aren't doing so well?

This week's mindbender from Terry Rossio –
'My lousy way of getting it done is better than your
great way of not doing it.”