LGOIMA Requests

​I refer to your official information request dated 31 January 2023. The Information you have requested is below.

1. Average residential rates - $3713.23

The average residential costs of rates and other Council charges, where average residential costs = (X + Y) / Z.

Please ensure that the figures used (X, Y, and Z) are disclosed in the response, where:

X is the total of all rates (general and targeted) charged by the Council to residential rating units;

Y is the total amount of user charges or levies applicable to residential rating units (for example charges relating to metered water, infrastructure contributions, refuse collection, fire protection etc.); and  (X+Y) = $21,625,858.70

Z is the number of residential rating units (however defined by the Council) within the Council district or city. If the Council does not have a classification for residential, please use the closest definition (such as urban).  Z = 5824

Please do not include Council charges that are not part of the rates demand (for example retail sales of Council rubbish bags)

2. Average non-residential rates $2824.89

a. The average non-residential costs of rates and other Council charges, where average non-residential costs = (X + Y) / Z.

Please ensure that the figures used (X, Y, and Z) are disclosed in the response, where:

X is the total of all rates (general and targeted) charged by the Council to rating units except those defined as residential;

Y is the total amount of user charges or levies applicable to rating units except those defined as residential (for example, charges related to metered water, infrastructure contributions, refuse collection, fire protection etc); and

(X+Y) = $24,087,877.05

Z is the number of rating units except those defined as residential (however defined by the Council) within the Council district or city. If the Council does not have a classification for non-residential, please use the closest definition (such as commercial). Z = 8527

Please do not include Council charges that are not part of the rates demand (for example, retail sales of Council rubbish bags).

Please ensure that this definition matches that used to calculate average residential rates so that the respective X values of both requests add up to total rates income for the 2021/2022 Financial Year.

3. Personnel

a. The total number of staff dismissed due to poor performance. 0

b. If applicable, the FTE number of staff employed by council-controlled organisations.
We do not hold this information

c. If applicable, the total FTE number of staff employed, including those employed by council-controlled organisations. Council only 167.6

d. The total number of staff including those employed by council-controlled organisations receiving remuneration in excess of $100,000. Council only 29

e. The total number of staff including those employed by council-controlled organisations receiving remuneration in excess of $200,000. Council only 3 

3.1.Management

1.The FTE number of managers employed. Please confirm the ratio of management to staff.
20   1:9.2
2.The average and median salary of a manager.
Average $139,256.47  Median $135,839  

3.2.Communications

1.The FTE number of communications & marketing staff employed. 2

2.The average and median salary of communications & marketing staff.
Unable to provide breakdown due to sensitivity, only 2 staff members
3.Total expenditure on communications & marketing. $328,007  

3.3.Consultants & contractors

1.Total expenditure on consultants and contractors.  $3,909,529     

2.Total number of consultants and contractors paid. 49 consultants

RDC                                      398,726.95
PNCC                                     1,935,459.04
Misc                                            86,457.00
Consultants                          1,488,885.93
TOTAL                                  $3,909,528.92

3.4. Core services

a. The FTE number of staff employed to work on the delivery and/or maintenance of local infrastructure. 69.2 FTE

b. The FTE number of staff employed to provide regulatory functions. 14.7 FTE Compliance and Regulatory Teams only
c. The FTE number of staff employed in customer-facing roles. 17.5 FTE Customer Service roles at Council, Makino and Library only 

4. Audit and Risk Oversight

a. How many members are on the Council Audit and Risk Committee (or equivalent)? SIX

b. Does the Council have independent members on the Committee? YES X 1

c. Is the Chair of the Committee an independent member?   NO 

d. Does the Council have a lawyer (with a current practising certificate) on the Committee? NO
e. Does the Council have an accountant (with a current practising certificate) on the Committee? YES
f. Does the Council have a code of conduct requiring political neutrality from Council staff? YES

5. Payments to third parties

a. The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to any Chamber of Commerce, including GST. $12,000 (no information from CCO)

c. The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM), including GST.  $0 (no information from CCO)

6. Debt

1. Net debt as a percent of rates income 191%

2. The dollar amount of debt per rating unit $6,187

3. The dollar amount of interest paid per rating unit $140