Official Information Request - 11 October 2017

Sent: Friday, 10 November 2017 3:04 p.m.

Subject: LGOIMA request

I refer to your letter of 11 October requesting various figures for Rotorua Lakes Council's legal spend, number of rateable properties and staff numbers.

The information is provided below as per your letter:

EXTERNAL LEGAL SPEND

1. Total external legal spend. What was your total spend on external legal services feesin the years ended 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 respectively?

2016 - $713,858

2017 - $671,786

2. Amount incurred with each legal services provider (above $10k).

INTERNAL LEGAL RESOURCES

3. For each of the years ended 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017:

(a) Legal staff numbers

1. Headcount: how many lawyerswere employed or engaged in a legal roleby your organisation during each year:2016 - 12017 - 2
2. FTE lawyers: if different, how many full-time equivalent (FTE) such lawyers?N/A

(b) Non-legal staff in legal team/law department

1. Headcount: how many non-legal staffwere employed or engaged during each year in the legal team or otherwise directly associated with or supporting the legal staff in 3(a) above:2016 - 02017 - 1
2. FTE non-legal staff: if different, how many FTE such staff?2016 - 02017 - 1

4. Total internal legal spend. In each year ended 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 what was your:

1. direct total spend on internal legal services, including all salaries:2016 - $7,0002017 - $174,761.91
2. the additional indirect costsof internal legal services2016 - estimate $2,0002017 - estimate $12,500

5. Chief Legal Officer reporting. At what organisational level does your most senior lawyer report?

Level 3 - reports to Chief Financial Officer

ORGANISATIONAL FIGURES

6. Rateable properties. How many rateable properties were within your jurisdiction as at 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 respectively?

2016 - 29,069

2017 - 29,087

7. Total staff numbers. In total, how many of the following were employed or otherwise utilised by your organisation as at 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 respectively?

1. Total employees/staff in whatever capacity2016 - 4642017 - 391
2. if different, the full-time equivalent (ie FTE) number of all such employees/staff2016 - 406.032017 - 360.15

We are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards