Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is planning a significant cost-cutting review of the council.
The review will focus on:
- water, wastewater and stormwater services
- domestic waste services, including refuse services, recycling, inorganics and organic services
- organisational support, starting with communications and engagement activities across the group
- investment attraction and global partnerships looking at international and trade engagement across the group
The council is required under the Local Government Act to look at its cost effectiveness and efficiency every six years.
During his mayoral campaign, Mr Goff was critical of the council's spending, and said he would look at merging back-office services.
"The Section 17A reviews are to ensure that services across Council and the CCOs are of high quality and deliver value for money," says Mayor Goff.
"We need to be proactive in ensuring that we are a cost effective organisation and the first step is to assess where and how we are spending ratepayers' money. The review also ensures accountability of CCOs through Council to the people of Auckland."
The review will analyse possibilities to combine back office services between council-controlled organisations (CCOs) - Auckland Transport, Watercare, Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed), Regional Facilities Auckland and Auckland Council Investments Ltd - and the Auckland Council's own services.
The review programme will go to the Finance and Performance committee for approval next week. The findings will then be reported back to the same committee.
Newshub.
