Newsletter April 2004

Home , South Taranaki District, Tararua District, Upper Hutt

Dunedin City to Contest Australasian Management Challenge Final

Congratulations to the RPM (Raw Power in Motion) team from Dunedin City Council in winning the New Zealand leg of the LGMA Management Challenge.

General Manager Customer Services, and Mentor, Norah Familton, says “Winning the Challenge has demonstrated that Dunedin City Council has managers that are every bit as good as anywhere else. Local government managers are becoming as good as in any other sphere.

Working for the public sector means our managers are responsible on a range of levels. We are much more accountable because we are essentially managing a city.”

This year Dunedin City entered two teams to compete in the Challenge. The teams were selected based on the skills they could bring to the group and were made up of staff from Team Leader level or above, she explained.

“The Challenge forced us to look at the way we manage, and offered ways to improve it. It was a strategic-thinking exercise, and taught us about long-term sustainability when making decisions” says Mrs Familton.

The teams were given 10 tasks to complete on the day, as well as a pre-challenge task. The Challenge was set by Australians, and Mrs Familton says it had a real-life focus with a local government theme.

The team will compete against the Australian state winners of the Australian Challenge on 22-23 May in Melbourne. The UK Local Government Management Challenge winning team from East Sussex will also be competing.

On behalf of all their local government colleagues throughout New Zealand, SOLGM wishes the Dunedin City team all the best for the Australasian Final. Left to Right: Adrian Blair, Marie Talbot, Norah Familton (Mentor), Neil Brown, Ros MacGill, Kevin Thompson and David Tapp

Facilitator Reports on Management Challenge

This year the standard of every team participating in the Management Challenge matched that of the very high quality demonstrated over the eleven years that New Zealand councils have participated in the event. The winning team from Dunedin, consisting of Kevin Thompson, Adrian Blair, Neil Brown, David Trapp, Marie Talbot and Ros MacGill demonstrated the very high quality of management skill in local government throughout New Zealand.

Principal Sponsors

Numbers were a little down on last year, partly because of flood recovery management and partly because of LTCCP commitments, but the overall standard demonstrated by all teams reflected the fact that New Zealand has won the Australasia final on four out of ten occasions.

Teams from the following councils competed: -

• Auckland City • Manukau City • Christchurch City x 2 • New Plymouth District • Dunedin City x 2 • Rotorua District • Environment Waikato • Tasman District • Hamilton City • Upper Hutt City • Kapiti Coast District • Waitakere City

Second and third respectively were Taranaki Hardcore from New Plymouth and REM from Environment Waikato.

The Challenge provides each team with opportunity of being the management team of the fictitious city of Tavish for a day and acting in the absence of the Chief Executive. The core themes were Council advocacy, leadership and influence together with the demonstration of team skills.

Teams are confronted with real life issues realistically appropriate in the day-to-day management of a city. Tasks range from a pre-challenge current issue in the real life community of each team, to a range of simulated events relating to:

• Staff moral and turn over, • Community concern at drug abuse, • Secondment of a team member to another team and associated HR issues, • A joint team presentation, • A media briefing session.

And advising the CE on matters surrounding the calling of a special meeting of the council by the Mayor as a result of being picked up by the Police while driving under the influence.

Responding to these tasks under a very strict time regime certainly places teams under real life pressure and exposes members to facets of local government management that they may not have experienced.

While winning is wonderful, the primary purpose of the challenge is personal development. Every participant who learns and has personal horizons expanded is A WINNER! All participants demonstrated the ability to work productively at a higher level.

Co-facilitators Sheryl Bryant and Don Day were equally impressed with the quality of management skills on display.

We look forward to more teams participating in this important management development and training tool next year.

Best wishes and GO DUNEDIN!

Kinsley Sampson Facilitator, LGMA Challenge.

Good Interest in the International Best L Practice Symposium

Registrations for the Symposium in Melbourne on 21-22 May Best Practices Symposium

show real interest from New Zealand local authority managers INTERNATIONA in attending this event. To date there are 27 delegates from bps New Zealand attending.

The Symposium is a collaborative event between the International City/County Management Association in the USA, Local Government Managers Australian, and SOLGM. It is based around 6 comprehensive international local government case studies and 2 other good practice presentations, plus a ‘Market Place of Ideas’ session. The programme and registration form is available on the SOLGM website www.solgm.org.nz

SOLGM, PO Box 5538, Wellington Telephone 04 494 6251, Facsimile 04 494 6259, Email [email protected] Website SOLGM – www.solgm.org.nz; Local Government Online – www.localgovt.co.nz The Symposium includes participative workshops to facilitate discussion between international delegates on the benefits, adaptation and transferability of the case study projects. The Symposium presents a valuable opportunity to experience a learning environment which is reasonably priced and close to home, and is generally not readily available to New Zealand local government managers.

So if you want to join your New Zealand colleagues and other international delegates at this premier Symposium, it is certainly not too late to register for it.

SOLGM Invited to Participate in Two Important Reviews

SOLGM has been invited to participate in two reviews – the Review of Local Government Funding and the Regulatory Framework Working Party. These two initiatives arose from papers put to the Central/Local Government Forum by Local Government New Zealand.

SOLGM’s representative on the Officials Group led by DIA for the Funding Review is Philip Jones, Chief Financial Officer, Western Bay of Plenty District Council. In relation to the Regulatory Framework Working Party, SOLGM’s representative is Dennis Bush-King, Environment and Planning Manager at Tasman District Council.

SOLGM will provide information on the Terms of Reference for the two exercises once these are available for dissemination to the sector.

Legal Compliance Programme

The Legal Compliance Working Party met on 27 April to review progress on the work programme, and give preliminary consideration to the 2004/05 work programme.

A key current focus is the migration and upgrading of the website. This will provide an improved platform for the future and include some additional features. The target date for the new site is 1 July.

The current year has also seen some significant development and enhancement of the programme’s content. Guidance notes have been added to the L.I.M.S. module. Reviews of the modules on, property sales and acquisitions, procurement, resource consents, employment, health and safety and LGOIMA are all substantially complete. The new Dog Control module, and additional material on leasing for the property sales and acquisitions module are both at peer review and on track for completion this financial year. The development of additional material for the employment module on Chief Executive employment is also substantially complete. Both the updates and new material are expected to be available from the start date for the new site.

Possible development topics for next year’s work programme include a review of Legal Compliance evidence that will be needed following the enactment of the Building Bill, the addition to the employment module of material on paid parental leave, and a rating module.

For any enquiries about the programme, please contact Don Mackay – [email protected]

Development of National Dog Database Underway

Work is underway on the development of a National Dog Database, part of the package of measures introduced in the Dog Control Amendment Act 2003 aimed at improving public safety.

The Department of Internal Affairs is managing and funding the National Dog Database Project to set up a national database of the information on dogs required by the Dog Control Amendment Act 2003. It is expected to be operational from 1 July 2006.

Ellen Cohen has been appointed to manage the project and is working closely with SOLGM and Local Government New Zealand representatives, along with animal control officers and the Association of Local Government Information Technology Management (ALGIM).

“It's important that we all work closely together on developing the database,” Ellen says. “Consultation is already underway with interested groups and will continue throughout the project. It's going to be a crucial element in ensuring the success of the project.”

SOLGM, PO Box 5538, Wellington Telephone 04 494 6251, Facsimile 04 494 6259, Email [email protected] Website SOLGM – www.solgm.org.nz; Local Government Online – www.localgovt.co.nz An early part of the project's work is a survey of all territorial authorities to gather technical information about the IT systems being used for dog control and the platforms they run on.

Territorial authorities will be required to upload some of their dog control information to the national database. The project is aiming to have the detailed system design completed and interfaces defined in time for IT managers to plan the changes required at their end in the coming financial year.

Ellen says the National Dog Database is a key part of the package of measures introduced to improve public safety through the use of stronger deterrents, preventative measures, more extensive powers of enforcement, education, and better information about dogs.

“While this project is focused specifically on developing the national database, other dog control work is also underway in consultation with but separately from the National Dog Database Project. Department of Internal Affairs policy staff are working on developing regulations to cover microchip and microchip insertion standards and microchipping policy and procedure guidelines are being developed by a team of territorial authority animal control officers.”

Steering Committee

SOLGM's representative on the Steering Committee is Don Mackay, recently appointed Manager, Good Practice and Policy. Formed earlier this year, the Committee meets monthly in Wellington.

Other committee members are:

• Alison Fleming, GM Information & Facilities, DIA (Chair) • John Payne, Animal Control Manager, Tauranga City Council • Peter van der Burg, IT Manager, Porirua City Council • Jane Johnston, Senior Policy Analyst Environment, Local Government New Zealand • Wilbert Goosens, Strategic IT Advisor, Dept of Labour (independent external advisor) • Anne Carter, Deputy Secretary Local Government & Community Branch, DIA • Rosalind Plimmer, Manager Local Government Policy, DIA • Shareez Farouk, Acting GM Finance & Performance, DIA

Project Timeline

The User Requirements Definition and a paper outlining options for implementation of the system has recently been sent to all territorial authorities for their comment. This will lead to the preparation of a Cabinet paper seeking approval for the project funding.

Assuming Cabinet approval an RFP process will begin after July and a supplier contract is expected to be agreed by the end of September. The central application should be completed at the end of February next year.

The national system should be ready for local authority interface testing from April 2005. All local authorities should plan to be able to interface with the national system several months before the “go live” date of 1 July 2006.

For more information

If you want to know more about the project or to share your views, you can contact: Ellen Cohen - [email protected], phone 04-4957212, or Don Mackay – [email protected], phone 04-9241258 or visit www.dia.govt.nz and click on Dog Control

Creative NZ – Creative Places Awards

The 14 May 2004 deadline for the Creative Places Awards is fast approaching.

The Creative Places Awards are the only awards in New Zealand that provide local authorities, large and small, with the opportunity to profile their innovative arts initiatives.

Established by Creative New Zealand in partnership with Local Government New Zealand, these awards are an opportunity to recognise those district and city councils that have made a real commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of their communities through the arts. 4

SOLGM, PO Box 5538, Wellington Telephone 04 494 6251, Facsimile 04 494 6259, Email [email protected] Website SOLGM – www.solgm.org.nz; Local Government Online – www.localgovt.co.nz The Creative Places Awards 2004 are open to projects or initiatives that have been established and actively supported by the local authority. Entries are invited in five categories:

• Arts Provision • Built Environment Initiatives • Celebrating Cultural Diversity • Strategic Arts Initiatives • Youth Arts Initiatives

In each of these categories a prize is awarded to the outstanding entry from both a city council and a district council. An overall Premier Creative Places Award is chosen from the category winners.

The closing date for entries to the Creative Places Awards: 2004 is 5pm, Friday 14 May 2004. Brochures about the awards, which include the entry form, can be downloaded from the resources section of the Creative New Zealand website: www.creativenz.govt.nz. They can also be obtained from Robyn Vear at Creative New Zealand’s Auckland Office: Tel: 09 373 3066 and Email: [email protected]

The winners will be announced at the Local Government New Zealand Conference, to be held in Auckland from 26 – 28 July 2004.

New Members

The Executive Committee recently approved and welcomes the following persons as members of SOLGM:

• Jeff Dougal, Manager, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Waitakere City Council • Anusha Guler, Manager, Secretariat, Christchurch City Council • Leigh Halstead, Chief Executive, Rangitikei District Council • Charlie Inggs, Democracy and Governance Team Manager, Waitakere City Council • John Walker, Business Manager, Tararua District Council

Forthcoming Events

Branch Meetings/Seminars

• Northern Branch Meeting – to be advised • Midlands Branch Meeting – to be advised • Central Branch Meeting – Friday 18 June 2004. South Taranaki District Council. 10am – 3pm. ‘Balance of Lifestyle – Work versus Non-Work’ • Wellington Branch Meeting – June/July. Date and venue to be confirmed • Top of the South Branch Meeting and AGM – Friday 16 July 2004. Christchurch. Further details to be confirmed • 45 South Branch Meeting – Friday 28 June 2004. Venue to be confirmed

SOLGM Opus Business School

With April behind us and the end of the 2003/2004 financial year just two months away, the Business School is in great shape with more people than ever taking the opportunities for learning and professional development on offer.

Both of the events run in March (Communications Seminar and Senior EA/PAs’ Seminar) received high praise, with participants at both events saying that they were the best yet and looking forward to next year! The Middle Tier Leadership Course will have been completed by the time this newsletter goes out.

We are taking registrations now for the events listed below and are also working with INGENIUM on a series of Risk Management Workshops in August.

2004 Committee Secretaries/Advisors; Unravelling the Mysteries Seminar

Venue: Brentwood Hotel When: 17-18 May 2004 16 Kemp Street Kilbirnie Wellington

Our seminar for Committee Secretaries and Advisors this year is focused on raising awareness of new legislative requirements and emerging good practice, providing updates on latest processes, increasing knowledge and provoking thought by sharing experiences. It will also look at survival tips and tricks to help pre and post election day and provide Committee Secretaries and Advisors from all over the country with a unique opportunity to build and affirm networks and working relationships.

2004 Chief Executives’ Forum

Venue: Hotel James Cook Grand Chancellor When: 11 June 2004 147 The Terrace Wellington

This is the only annual, national forum for local government Chief Executives. It gives them the opportunity to be brought up to date with information from the Office of the Ombudsmen and Office of the Auditor-General that will have an impact on local government, to review the first LTCCPs, address the subject of work/life balance as it pertains to the unique stresses of life at the head of an organisation and meet with their peers from throughout the country to discuss matters of common interest and concern.

2004 Introduction to Policy Development

Venue: Hotel James Cook Grand Chancellor When: 24-25 June 2004 147 The Terrace Wellington

This is the third year that the SOLGM Opus Business School has offered this training seminar. Developed for the Business School by Dr Claudia Scott, Professor of Public Policy, School of Government, Victoria University, it offers those relatively new to policy development, the opportunity to learn the basics and get a feel for good practice. Presenters include experienced academics and practitioners from central and local government, and sessions provide an invaluable introduction and overview of the skills and competencies required for policy development in the sector.

2004 Strategic Policy Development

Venue: Hotel James Cook Grand Chancellor When: 12-13 July 2004 147 The Terrace Wellington

Once again, this seminar has been designed in partnership with the Victoria University School of Government and is being facilitated by Dr Claudia Scott. The target audience is experienced policy managers and analysts and this year the event focuses on futures planning, the relationships between various groups involved in the policy planning process and performance measures.

Other event programmes we are currently working on, which will be available on the SOLGM website soon, include:

Negotiating and Managing Conflict in the Local Government Environmen

Venue: Brentwood Hotel When: 16-17 August 2004 16 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie Wellington

Venue: Royal Lakeside Novotel When: 23-24 August 2004 Lake End Tutanekai Street Rotorua

2004 Team Leaders’ Course

Venue: Brentwood Hotel When: 13-17 September 2004 16 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie Wellington

Work is also underway on the following, as well as a possible forum to case study the emergency management experience of those authorities involved in the recent flooding around the central North Island:

2004 Women in Local Government Forum

15 October 2004 – date and venue to be confirmed

2004 National Local Government HR Conference

18-19 November – date and venue to be confirmed

The Business School is also taking a slightly new direction this year and will be managing a series of Risk Management Workshops for INGENIUM. These will be run on a regional basis as follows and full details will be available on both the SOLGM and INGENIUM websites in the very near future:

Auckland Centra Auckland Airport Monday 2 August 2004 Cnr Kirkbride and Ascott Roads Auckland International Airport

Rotorua Royal Lakeside Novotel Tuesday 3 August Lake End Tutanakei Street Rotorua

Palmerston North Palmerston North Convention Centre Wednesday 4 August 2004 Main Street West Palmerston North

Wellington Brentwood Hotel Monday 9 August 2004 16 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie Wellington

SOLGM, PO Box 5538, Wellington Telephone 04 494 6251, Facsimile 04 494 6259, Email [email protected] Website SOLGM – www.solgm.org.nz; Local Government Online – www.localgovt.co.nz