4 December 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Aquatic Centre follow-up
Inquiry
- The union has told us 11 of the existing 38 roles are being made redundant. Is this right? Our previous story said 10 jobs were being made redundant
- The union has also told us lifeguards and swim instructors had been offered transitional employment agreements with CLM with a continuation of existing pay rates, although not all of their current terms and conditions are included in the transition contract. Is this right? (Is this a question you can answer, or do we ask this of CLM, not sure if it was part of your negotiations with staff)
- The union has said the council has offered a one-off $600 payment to all staff to recognise a variation in terms and conditions and a one-off payment to those successful in re-applying for their jobs of up to 30 per cent of their redundancy entitlement in recognition of CLM's lower pay rates. Is this right?
- The following quotes from Henry Weston were received on Thursday last week but haven't yet been published. I'd like to check they are still relevant, or now outdated sine the letters were handed to staff on Friday.
Council operations group manager Henry Weston said following the council's decision, it was now in a transition phase and there were a couple of processes under way - negotiations with staff and contract negotiations with CML.
"We've worked hard with CLM to create as many opportunities for existing Aquatic Centre staff as we can and we're confident the majority will be offered opportunities with the new management company. That's expected to happen quickly," Weston said.
"An update will be provided at the appropriate time. In the meantime we ask for the community's patience to enable all parties to work through this in an appropriate manner."
- There will be a hikoi to council on December 14, the day of the council's last meeting. What's the council's intention on this day? Will it meet those who hikoi to the council building? How does the council feel about this hikoi?
- I see there is an online petition circulating which is calling for people to support the staff. The petition will be given to the council following the hikoi (as I understand but am yet to clarify). There are currently more than 2600 signatures. Could the petition change the council's mind or is the decision set in concrete? What is the council's reaction to the petition's support?
- The petition blurb mentions the outsourcing is saving the council $200,000 in wages alone. Is this correct?
- Councillors have voted in favour of the outsourcing during a confidential section of a council meeting. Can you please now let me know who voted for and against?
Response
Comment
From Operations Group Manager Henry Weston:
There is a lot of inaccurate information being circulated but Council does not consider it appropriate to play out employer-employee negotiations through the media.
However, we can confirm that 28 lifeguards and swim tutors have been offered roles with CLM, at the same pay rates as they currently receive and with similar contract terms and conditions.
We are working with 10 other permanent staff (front-of-house and administration staff, duty managers and supervisors) and their union on options for them, which include applying for new roles with CLM and redeployment within Council. They all have the opportunity to apply for positions with CLM and we are hopeful a number of them will be successful.
Redundancy will be a last resort although that is also an option they can take up if they do not wish to apply for roles with CLM or be redeployed.
Staff will be paid their normal wages by Rotorua Lakes Council until the end of January 2018. Any redundancies would take effect from February.
Council is required to periodically review all its services. The review of the Aquatic Centre focussed on whether a partnership could result in better services and outcomes for the community.
All the current services and programmes - including learn-to-swim and water safety programmes - will continue and at the same prices as now. It's CLM's intention to increase revenue by providing more services and programmes and increasing the number of people using the facility. They have a good record of working with and within local communities, as well as partnering with others to provide additional facilities/features and introducing initiatives like youth programmes.
Council has made a decision to outsource management of the Aquatic Centre in the interests of improving services and outcomes for the community.
The cost to Council of the partnership with CLM for provision of Aquatic Centre services will be about $700,000 less than it was costing council to do this itself.
We are aware a hikoi is being planned and we respect people's right to do so. However we haven't been contacted by the organisers at this stage so don't know what they plan to do or what they expect or want when they arrive at the council.
Information
Votes for and against resolutions are not recorded unless an elected member requests that their vote against something to be recorded.
The minutes of the full Council meeting at which the decision was made are not public yet. Draft minutes will be public this week and they will then go to the next full council meeting (14 Dec) for sign-off.
Please contact CLM if you want to explore how they can provide these services for less than council was able to - they basically have the ability to gain efficiency of scale because they operate 15 other pools around the country. They also do in-house training etc but they'll be able to tell you about that.
Re your question: How does the council feel about this hikoi? The council as in the organisation doesn't have a position but if you want to know how Council, as in elected members, feel, you'd need to ask them.
Re whether council would consider changing its mind? Council can't just "consider changing its mind". There is an official process they have to go through if they want to reverse a decision.
The process is part of the Standing Orders (Standing order 23 - Revocation or alteration of resolution). One member of Council needs to initiate it via a "notice of motion" and needs the support of no less than one third of elected members before the mater can then go back to Council. I can get you exact wording if you like - let me know.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Hemo sculpture follow-up
Inquiry
From Rotorua Daily Post:
How much is the sculpture expected to cost and who is paying for it - what is the RLC's contribution and has it also agreed to underwrite some of it and how much?
When is the sculpture expected to start and when will it be completed?
In the last 12 months how much funding has the council put towards sculptures in the city?
How durable is carbon fibre - in regards to what is the lifetime of the sculpture and who will be responsible for any ongoing maintenance.
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council arts and culture director Stewart Brown:
The cost of the sculpture is $370,000 with lighting, installation and the plinth on which the statue will stand accounting for the remainder of the estimated $500,000 total cost of the project .
Council has allocated up to $200,000 from existing arts budgets but external funding will be sought so Council's contribution could be less than that. New Zealand Transport Agency will also contribute.
Kilwell is waiting on printing equipment and has indicated it expects to be able to start printing in the new year. Unless there are any unexpected delays, the sculpture should be finished and in place around the end of August next year.
The material being used can withstand winds of up to 150km/hr and has an unlimited lifespan as long as UV protection is re-applied every seven years and it is cleaned thoroughly every few years. If any part of it is damaged at any time it can be reprinted.
Council will be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
[Information regarding how much funding Council has put towards sculptures in the city during the past 12 months not immediately available but being sought]
