Media Release
27 October 2006

Council approves Manukau Leisure as a Council-controlled Organisation

A Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) will manage and operate leisure services in Manukau city, making this the first such CCO in New Zealand.

The recommendation for a Manukau Leisure CCO was part of the council’s Long Term Council Community Plan, but councillors delayed their decision when adopting the long-term plan, asking instead for more information on the costs and benefits.

At last night’s Council meeting, councillors adopted the recommendation that the CCO be formed to take over the operations, but not the building assets, of Manukau Leisure Services from 1 July 2007.

Free access to swimming pools will continue under the new organisation, Grant Taylor, Director Strategy, says.

“Customers will not notice any difference after 1 July as services, prices and the staff they are used to dealing with will remain the same,” Mr Taylor says. “Council will also continue with its policy of free access to swimming pools and free access to swimming pool facilities for disabled people.”

“However, in the long-term, there will be differences as this change will allow a better and wider range of services to be provided for the community, and identify opportunities to generate income that will flow back into the city.”

Manukau Leisure will be 100 per cent council-owned, and will be fully accountable to Council through six-monthly reports, a Statement of Intent and a Contract for Service.

The Statement of Intent will detail objectives and operational requirements (such as the council’s policy for free swimming pool access and other social and community obligations) that Manukau Leisure will be expected to provide for the council. The Contract for Service will specify the services Manukau Leisure will provide for the Council. All the buildings that Manukau Leisure operates in will remain in direct council ownership

“As a CCO, Manukau Leisure has more opportunity to further improve the services they offer to Manukau residents, taking up new opportunities as they are identified. And, because a CCO operates in a company structure, the Council will appoint a Board of Directors which will bring additional commercial, industry and community experience,” Mr Taylor says.

ENDS

Background
Manukau Leisure Services principle objective is to deliver recreation services to support the Council’s intent to “promote healthy living and lifestyles through active participation in leisure.”

Manukau Leisure Services includes:

- Four integrated leisure facilities (Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, Otara and Lloyd Elsmore Park Leisure Centres and Manurewa Aquatic Centre/Ngaa Maahi a Rehia). These also include indoor swimming pools.

- Five recreation and community centres (Allan Brewster Recreatioin Centre, Clendon Community Centre/Te Matariki, Howick Recreation Centre, Manurewa Leisure Centre and Pakurange Youth Centre)

- Two swimming pools (Papatoetoe Centennial Pools, Totara Park Swimming Pool)

- Twenty-one community halls

Manukau Leisure Services also manages:

- Childcare facilities at the Manurewa Community Arts Centre (Nathan Homestead)

- The Te Puru Fitness Centre on a profit-sharing basis with the Te Puru Charitable Trust

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