29 March 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Redundancies at Rotorua Lakes Council
Enquiry
I am working on a story about council redundancies.
Could you please tell me:
If the council has made any staff redundant since April 2 2020? (If applicable, please separate these into the council organisation and the CCOs)
If so, how many staff have been made redundant?
Why were they made redundant?
Why were the redundancies necessary?
How much money are these redundancies saving the council?
Have there been any pay increases for existing staff since April 2 2020? How many? If so, how much are those pay increases worth, total? Were any of them for the executive / senior / manager leadership team?
On April 2 2020 council chief executive Geoff Williams said : "Like anyone in the workforce our staff are key income earners in their families and staffing changes at a time like this is a serious move that would have significant implications, for the staff and their families as well as the wider community. Redundancies at this time would see more locals without income and with reduced spending ability that then has ripple effects into our broader economy."
How does this reconcile with redundancies made since then? Does he still hold that position?
For the mayor:
What is your view about redundancies among council staff in the Covid context? Do you support the redundancies?
In your view, were these redundancies necessary? Could they have been avoided?
Response
The following information and comment was provided:
PLEASE NOTE:
- The following relates to RLC only, NOT CCOs which are separate entities. RLC does not make decisions or comment on behalf of the CCOs and they deal with media enquiries themselves so please contact the CCOs directly for information and comment relating to them.
- We have assumed that by 'pay increases' you are talking general pay rises (eg like those negotiated by unions) rather than staff whose roles have changed and whose pay may therefore also have changed eg someone leaving and an existing staff member moving into that role.
- Mr Williams' comments in April 2020 were in response to questions asking if any council staff had been made redundant or were offered voluntary redundancy as an immediate way to cut costs in response to the COVID-19 situation (as some councils did at that time) and what council's general approach was regarding retention of staff at that time.
How many staff have been made redundant?
12, including 2 who elected to take redundancy after declining redeployment opportunities.
Why were they made redundant?
Why were the redundancies necessary?
See Mr Williams' comments below
How much money are these redundancies saving the council?
The changes have been cost neutral. They were not driven by cost-cutting but ensuring the right mix of roles and skills for what the organisation currently requires.
Have there been any pay increases for existing staff since April 2 2020?
No - a freeze on general pay rises was implemented as part of the 2020/21 annual plan and remains in place for all RLC staff.
How many? If so, how much are those pay increases worth, total? Were any of them for the executive / senior / manager leadership team?
N/A (see above)
From CE Geoff Williams:
Staffing changes [since April last year] were not made as a way to cut costs in response to COVID-19. The demand for, and expectations of, RLC services and leadership in the community did not reduce as a result of COVID and staffing changes that have occurred have been due to operational departmental changes to meet current needs.
Redundancies are never taken lightly but changes that occur from time to time reflect our ongoing evolution as an organisation and reflect our responsibility to elected members and our community to provide cost effective and efficient services that meet community needs.
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
It is the role of the CE to manage the organisation and as mayor I do not get involved in staffing changes. However, I am informed and I am assured that any changes made are deemed necessary and that any redundancy processes are conducted in the proper manner.