Friday 22 November 2013

Changes signal focus on city rebuild

A proposal to reorganise Christchurch City Council’s executive management structure aims to focus the organisation on the city rebuild, strengthen relationships with key partners and the community and ensure we have senior financial capability in place.

Senior staff have been asked to provide feedback on the change proposal, which outlines the creation of six new second-tier roles (reporting to the Chief Executive) and the disestablishment of six existing General Manager roles.

Council Acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt says the Council’s structure has not been significantly changed since 2003.

“Since then our world has changed and the Council needs to change with it. The Canterbury earthquakes and the subsequent need to rebuild Christchurch have altered the way the Council operates – the proposed changes aim to create a “fit for purpose” organisation which can drive the rebuild of the city.

“A number of structural changes have already been made with the appointment of the Crown Manager to oversee building control matters earlier this year, recruitment for a General Manager Building Control and Rebuild, and the recent creation of a new Chief Financial Officer role. In August this year, I engaged consultants MartinJenkins to provide advice on how the Council might structure its functions and responsibilities in light of the changed operating environment.

“The proposed changes directly affect only second-tier management – those managers reporting directly to the Chief Executive. For the rest of the organisation, the outcome of this proposal is limited to a change in reporting lines. I understand that any change proposal of this magnitude will affect all staff and our staff support programme is available to anyone who wishes to use the service,” she says.

The three key drivers that underpin the proposal are:

The rebuild of Christchurch – the Council needs to structure itself cope with the $40 billion rebuild
Strengthening the Council’s relationships and reputation with a number of parties including central Government, the Council’s partners in the rebuild and the wider community.
Financial sustainability – Council’s finances will be under pressure. Priorities may need to be revisited.

A detailed table of the proposed new management structure is attached with this media release. Consultation with senior staff on the proposal runs for two weeks until 2 December 2013. Feedback will be considered and a final decision made by 12 December 2013.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says she is “standing alongside” Acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt to show the Council’s support for the direction being taken by council management. The proposal’s aim to sharpen the Council’s focus on the rebuild is an important one, she says.

“This Council was elected in October with a mandate to lead the rebuild of this city. Reading the change proposal, I am pleased with the direction being considered and totally support a renewed focus on rebuild issues and the development of key partnerships with Central Government, other agencies and the wider community.

“Our Council must seek to engage with Government and the community as it is through these partnerships that we will achieve the best results for our city’s recovery. While any changes to the Council’s structure is an operational matter for management to oversee, the elected Council is taking a keen interest in the process and will support any change which aims to see the organisation in a better place to face the challenges ahead.”

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