Official Information Request - 31 August 2020

Sent: Monday, 28 September 2020 12:00 pm

Subject: LGOIMA - Communication costs

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 31 August 2020 regarding Council's spend on communications and PR services, and respond below as per the amended queries following clarification:

This information is provided for the 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years.

• How much was the total spend each year by Council on communications and PR services (staff and external contractors)? 2017/18 - $831,977.252018/19 -$720,593.612019/20 - $791,439.68
• How much of the total spend was on outsourced PR/communications services in each of these years? 2017/18 - $315,611.942018/19 - $206,320.53 2019/20 - $45,669.09
• Among all communications staff (internal and contracted), how much did the highest paid individual receive? Were they a staff member or a contractor?Council does not hold records of salaries of external contractors or their staff so we are unable to answer this question, as per section 17(g) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 'that the information requested is not held by the local authority '
• Please list the projects for which external PR/communications services have been contracted. External PR/communications companies have been engaged to support the following projects:2017/18Big Moves - Whakarewarewa Forest and LakefrontPresentation on WWTPWhare image in Youth VillageLong-term Plan collateralLGNZ Awards submissions - Te Aka Mauri and Inner CityLotteries Significant Projects Fund submission - Aquatic CentreTe Aka MauriLibrary funding and promo planEmergency Response communications assistanceHIP brochure production2018/19WWTP resource consentTe Aka MauriEconomic Development Aquatic Centre funding application stage 1-3Museum applicationSOLGM Awards and video collationBig Moves - Whakarewarewa Forest and LakefrontPGF funding applicationLibrary newsletterHIP brochure productioniPark changes communications2019/20Big Moves - LakefrontMitre 10 Cup FinalVision to Action videoDrone photographyHIP brochure production
• For each project in the period spanning the above years, please supply the date the contract started, how many people were contracted and the cost of that contract to date, and, if applicable, when it ended External contractors are engaged on components of projects only, not the project as a whole. Payment is via Purchase Order and Invoice.
• For each of those years, how many people were employed in the council in external communications/public relations/engagement roles? What were those roles (i.e. the job title)? Please provide staff numbers as well as FTEs. The following staff are employed by council and provide communications services both internally (in-house) and externally (out to the public):2017/188 staff (6.6 FTE)Marketing and Communications Lead - Arts & CultureDigital Print and Communications Lead - Te Aka MauriManager Council Communications - RLCCommunications Advisor x 2 - RLCCommunications Advisor, Marketing - RLCDigital Communications Advisor x 1.6 - RLC 2018/1910 staff (7.1 FTE)Marketing and Communications Lead - Arts & CultureDigital Print and Communications Lead - Te Aka MauriMarketing, Communications and Events Lead - Te Aka MauriMarketing and Communications Coordinator - Te Aka MauriManager Council Communications - RLCSenior Communications Advisor - RLC Communications Advisor - RLCCommunications Advisor, Marketing - RLCDigital Communications Advisor x 1.6 - RLC 2019/2011 staff (8.9 FTE)Marketing and Communications Lead - Arts & CultureMarketing, Communications and Events Lead - Te Aka MauriMarketing and Communications Coordinator - Te Aka MauriManager Council Communications - RLCSenior Communications Advisor x 2 - RLC Communications Advisor x 1.8 - RLCCommunications Advisor, Marketing - RLCDigital Communications Advisor x 1.6 - RLC

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