Official Information Request - 10 April 2019

Sent: Tuesday, 7 May 2019 11:15 a.m.

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - Council building alterations

I refer to your information request of 10 April 2019 regarding Council building alterations, and reply below as the questions in your email:

1. What renovations have been undertaken at the Council buildings in the last two years?The ground floor of the Civic Centre has been upgraded and fully refurbished including renewals to end of life equipment. This included furniture, flooring, meeting room creation, glazing, HVAC, lighting, cabling, electrical and mechanical switch boards, ceilings, walls and signage.
2. What was the total budget for the renovations?The total budget for the building refurbishment and renewals is circa $6.9 million, approved in the 2018 Long-term Plan and subsequent Annual Plans.
3. What was the contract price for the painting of the internal main Council building?There is no contract price in place for the painting of the internal area(s) of the building. Painting is contracted and carried out during each phase of the refurbishment.
4. What was the final invoice amount for the interior painting of the main Council building, that was finally paid?There has not been a final invoice for the painting as the refurbishment project is not expected to be completed until December 2020.
5. What caused the huge budget blowout?Refer to answers to the other questions.
6. What was the contract price for the painting of the exterior of the Council building and what was the invoice amount paid?The contract price was $159,000, payable over 3 years. We have paid the first two instalments with the third and final instalment due this year.
7. What is the total amount paid on the Council building renovations in the last two years?The total refurbishment and renewal cost over the past 2 years is $3.5 million.
8. What are the expenses paid for leases or rental of other buildings for the last two years, while displaced staff have been relocated during the renovation process during the last two years?There has been no external leasing required during the refurbishment project. All staff are located in Council owned facilities.
9. When does Council expect the renovations to be complete and the staff to reoccupy the renovated offices and the lease or rental of other buildings to cease?Council expects the refurbishment to be completed in late 2020/early 2021. As above - there are no external leases in operation.

As per the Act, 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