Official Information Request - 16 September 2020

Sent: Tuesday, 29 September 2020 2:34 pm

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - NZ Taxpayers Union annual Ratepayer Report part 3

I refer to your email of 16 September 2020 requesting information on Council's audit and risk oversight, payments to third parties and non-residential rates for the purposes of the 2020 Ratepayer's Report for the Taxpayers' Union.

The following information is for the 2018/19 financial year.

1. Audit and Risk Oversight

a. The number of members on the Council's Audit and Risk Committee (or equivalent). 7

b. The number of elected officials on the Committee. 4

c. The number of independent members on the Committee. 3

d. The number of lawyers (with a current practising certificate) on the Committee. 0

e. The number of chartered accountants (with a current practising certificate) on the Committee. 1

f. Whether the chair of the Council's Audit and Risk Committee is an independent member. Yes

g. Whether the Council has an election year protocol requiring Council staff to act in a politically neutral or impartial manner. Attached is the Election protocols for council staff 2019'.

h. Whether the Council has a code of conduct (above and beyond an election year protocol) requiring Council staff to act in a politically neutral or impartial manner. The Election protocols for council staff' is also relevant for non-election years.

2. Payments to third parties (GST exclusive)

a. The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to any Chamber of Commerce.

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce - $40,552.79 (including Rotorua Lakes Council and three CCOs - Infracore Ltd, Rotorua Regional Airport Ltd, Rotorua Economic Development Ltd)

b. The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

$5,272.00 (Rotorua Lakes Council only - not applicable for CCOs)

c. The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM).

$46,099.75 (Rotorua Lakes Council only - not applicable for CCOs)

3. Average non-residential costs (GST exclusive)

a. The average non-residential costs of rates and other Council charges, where average non-residential costs = (X + Y) / Z. Please ensure that the figures used (X, Y, Z) are disclosed in the response, where:

• X is the total of all rates (general and targeted) charged by the Council to rating units except those defined as residential*;
• Y is the total amount of user charges or levies applicable to rating units except those defined as residential* (for example, charges related to metered water, infrastructure contributions, refuse collection, fire protection etc); and
• Z is the number of rating units except those defined as residential* (however defined by the Council) within the Council's district or city. If the Council does not have a classification for non-residential, please use the closest definition (such as commercial).

Please do not include Council charges that are not part of the rates demand (for example, retail sales of Council rubbish bags).

X = 53,041,209

Y = 0 (metered water total unavailable)Z = 10,242Therefore (53,041,209 + 0) / 10,242 = average non-residential rates $5,178.79

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response. Complaints can be sent by email to info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters' personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz .

Regards