19 December 2005

Councillors support Chief Executive Designate’s Plans

The City Council’s Chief Executive designate, Leigh Auton, presented his reorganisation plans to Councillors at the last Council meeting of 2005.

“The proposed structure will build on the strengths of the current model with enhancements to the Council’s capabilities, systems and processes to meet the ever changing needs of the City,” said Mr Auton.

“The Manukau environment has changed dramatically since the mid nineties. As one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand the issues we deal with on a daily basis are becoming increasingly complex.

“The Council is also faced with ongoing devolution of Government responsibilities and increasing demand from residents for services and facilities. Likewise, the demand to ensure affordability is ever present.

“To manage the needs of our current and future residents we have designed a structure that promotes accountability and clarity of roles within the organisation. The new structure will be built on its capacity to engage in an influential manner with the various communities of interest in the City, and with all levels of local and central government and their respective agencies.

“Innovation and engaging with the community have become more important as we identify new ways of doing things, systems and processes that may be outside what is normally expected of a council. It is important that we have the skills and structure in house, and the trust and understanding of elected members and residents to achieve the development and maintenance of services required by a growing city.

“The development of a sustainable funding capability to deliver on community aspirations is likewise a significant challenge for Council. The creation of commercial opportunities to create ‘value’ for the Council is an important feature of the design. To fully gain the benefits available from these opportunities we have to review our priorities and the way we deliver services. The new structure’s clarity of roles and accountability will enable us to the organisation, our activities and the links to the community we serve in a more holistic manner.

“I am more than confident,” said Mr Auton, “that significant visible benefits will flow from this new structure for Manukau residents and businesses through greater transparency of structure and roles providing clearer points of contact, greater accountability and enhancements to service delivery.”

The detailed structure will be finalised in the New Year with senior appointments being made in the first quarter. The structure will be in place at the start of July 2006.

Mr Auton will take up the role of Chief Executive fully on March 31 following the official retirement of the current City Manager Colin Dale on that date.

ENDS

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