MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate use

Date: 19 August 2010

Board Members Appointed for PCC Operations And Facilities

Porirua City Council has appointed external members on two Management Boards to oversee the Council's Cultural and Leisure Facilities and its Works Operations.

Roger Miller (Chair) and Chris Kirk-Burnnand have been appointed to the Management Board for Cultural and Leisure Facilities while Ian Hay will Chair the Management Board for the Asset Management and Operations (AMO) group's works operations.

Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash says Council requested a review of the governance structures for Cultural and Leisure Facilities and for Works Operations last year.

"This came out of the Services and Costs Review where Council wanted to find ways to save money and provide better services. I am extremely pleased that we have appointees of the calibre of Roger, Chris and Ian. I am confident they will add value to the running of these business groups to improve service delivery and also to implement opportunities to maximise commercial revenue streams."

Council Chief Executive Roger Blakeley says there are a number of advantages of the Management Boards.

"The Boards will provide the overview to ensure the units are business focused and providing benchmarked cost-effective service delivery. This will lead to the creation of business disciplines and value-added options in addition to ensuring more effective current services."

Dr Blakeley says the new governance model will support the innovation needed to continually improve and embrace new and better work practices with no significant cost overheads.

The Works Operations business includes water, wastewater and stormwater services, streetworks, litter, parks and reserves and gardens.

The Cultural and Leisure Facilities include Te Rauparaha Arena (including Arena Fitness Gym, Arena Aquatic Centre), Cannons Creek Pool, the Library, Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures and the "Spine Complex" and Gear Homestead.

Roger Miller is the Managing Partner of Maude & Miller with established offices in Porirua since 1990. He specializes in commercial and trust law and acts as general counsel for a number of national and international corporate clients. In 2005 he was named Wellingtonian of the Year in the Business Category. He is passionate about the arts, reflected in Maude & Miller being the principal sponsor of Pataka.

Chris Kirk-Burnnand is a successful businessman who started Autostop Group in 1968 and developed it into a property owning company. He lives in the city and has worked with the Council for many years on economic development. He has extensive voluntary governance experience on various organisations including National President of the Motor Trade Association, President of Johnsonville Lions Club, Chair of the Porirua Community Appeal Trust which raised over $1.35 million towards the Porirua Aquatic Centre and Pataka, Chair of Life Educations Trust, Chair of Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Chair of Johnsonville Youth Grants Trust. In 2004 he became a Member of the New Zealand Order of merit for Community Service.

Joining Mr Miller and Mr Kirk-Burnnand on this Management Board will be PCC General Manager of Community Services Darcy Nicholas, General Manager of Strategy and Planning Moira Lawler and General Manager of Corporate Services Euan Dempsey.

This Board will undertake an operational review of the services provided at the Arena and Pataka, agree deliverable outcomes and investigate and implement ways to maximise commercial revenue.

"The Board is a very important opportunity to continue to develop the effectiveness of our leisure and cultural facilities and the contribution they make to our community," says Mayor Jenny Brash.

Mr Hay, a Chartered Accountant and experienced director and company secretary, has extensive experience at governance and senior management level in a number of industries. His strengths lie in strategic planning, financial and risk management, international marketing, change management, team leadership and business focus with a community perspective.

He will be joined on the Board by PCC Asset Management and Operations General Manager Peter Bailey and PCC Corporate Services General Manager Euan Dempsey.

Both Management Boards will report to the Council's Chief Executive. There will be a Statement of Intent agreed between each Board and Council before the start of each year, and the Boards will report on progress against Key Performance Indicators as part of the Council's normal quarterly and annual reporting to the public. The Boards will be subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act in the same way as Council.

ENDS

© Scoop Media