The growth of staff numbers at Tauranga City Council over recent years is because the council has taken on more work, as well as expand to meet the demands of the city, says acting chief executive officer Christine Jones.
The city council today employs 506 full-time equivalent staff, an increase of 124 over the 2004 levels.
The wage bill over the seven year period has nearly doubled from $19.5 million to $35,990,000.
'Growth is one of the reasons, but of the 124 FTE increase over that period of time since 2005, roughly 60 of them are doing things that we didn't use to do,” says Christine in reply to figures publicised on Friday by councillor Bill Faulkner.
The council has picked up 15 staff incorporating Bay Building Inspections into council, and the council now also directly employs its own staff at the Mount Hot Pools and the Domain Motorcamp, says Christine.
Food inspections are now done by the council instead of being contracted out, as are the grounds and crematorium staff at the Pyes Pa Cemetery.
'Now we employ them directly and we don't pay a contractor,” says Christine.
'But the total costs to council haven't changed. The cost to council is still there, it's either an employee or we contract someone to do it – and they have an employee.
'So 60 of those people are just a change in the way a service is delivered, not an increase in a service.”
Council staff numbers have also increased in some departments because of increasing demand. There are more IT staff because more work is being done electronically.
'The business over that period of time changes and we need to respond,” says Christine. 'But some of it is growth. We have more people in the infrastructure area doing forward growth planning than we used to have.
'As any business there are a lot of reasons. One of the other reasons is there are quite a few increased requirements in terms of building processes in terms of the Building Act, in terms of building accreditation, weather tight homes.
'Across the council there is a range of things that have driven or are the reasons under lying increased staff. All the staff are doing something to deliver a service to the community, or to deliver a service internally to support delivering a service to the community.”
Council staff numbers and job allocations are subject to review on an ongoing basis, says Christine.
'So we always review as any business does in terms of its costs; have we got the right staff in the right places, doing the right things.
'Whenever we have a vacancy, or when someone resigns we look at the job. Is it the best way of doing this? Can we do it differently? Is it the best use of resources?”
26 comments
Whatever,
Posted on 14-03-2011 09:13 | By wreck1080
Don't care, my rates are still going up 30%, and Tauranga council debt is still more than Christchurch, even though we are 1/3 the size. Whatever this persons excuses, they are still guilty of poor fiscal management. Each time I pass the new 20 million dollar 'bowls' center on Totara street I am reminded of this councils financial hopelessness. I enjoy skiing, will the council build me a 30 million dollar indoor ski center? Maybe they would.
Why
Posted on 14-03-2011 09:48 | By Chris
Why is the council involved in the provision of so many non-core services? Why can't many of these services be contracted out to local businesses? Or better yet, can't we remove council involvement in services which should be provided by the private sector, if in fact they're feasible in any case?
Yes Minister
Posted on 14-03-2011 11:29 | By cinik
Are the videos of this TV Show used for training council staff? Since the council has survived so long with out a CEO do we need one? Surley the practice of waiting till someone resigns to "look at the job" could be replaced by "look at the job" for every current job?
Core Services...
Posted on 14-03-2011 12:45 | By silent no more
Yes there are a number of services Council has to provide. The unfortunate side is that some of these services/facilities 'WE WANT/DEMAND AS RATEPAYERS' are not commercially viable as stand alone 'PROFIT MAKING' enterprises and that is the reason Council ends up providing them or subsidising the operation. I always chuckle to myself when I read some of the negative comments posted about the facilities we have in Tauranga and the Council. Because if you think you can do any better well then stand for Council at the next election and then we can judge your performance!!!
Love it....
Posted on 14-03-2011 12:55 | By Tauranga Tazmin
An Accountant trying to justify her budget? Really? There is no financial benefit for the people that work within a government department to watch the pennies and make the hard decisions that need to be made, which is why we have a doubling of salaries within the council over the past 6 years, when the population of Tauranga has only increased by 25%. Unfortunately the sheeple of Tauranga will allow it to happen!
New slogan for Tauranga
Posted on 14-03-2011 12:59 | By SpeakUp
"Move to financial filth-pit Tauranga and become a debt-slave too".
Core Services...
Posted on 14-03-2011 14:08 | By Socantor
I stand shoulder to shoulder with this comment. If you can do a better job, have the guts to stand for Council. If not, get back to your couch and sleep your grumps off.
So what do we do?
Posted on 14-03-2011 16:21 | By Tony
As ratepayers What do we do Socanator....If we dont run for council we are to just let theses people run riot and do / spend as they see fit. Im sick of stupid people saying ...If you think you can do better have a go.OK lets have 100,000 people in the bay on council...Ahhh then who will work to pay for their ideas .? Democracy demads we challenge elected officals or nothing ever changes . Im asuming we all still belive in Democarcy?
A grazing paddock 4 bureaucrats
Posted on 14-03-2011 17:26 | By EYESPY
Come on give us a break.To say TCC have taken on more work that is wishful thinking and acting CEO knows it. Hope she isn't angling for the new CEO job coz looks to have learned no lessons over last 7 years.Any extra work only arises from things TCC should never be involved with in the first place and has nothing to do with core services nor infrastructure.Staff level should not exceed 400 and total wage bill say $25million.The number of TCC people earning $150000 & over $200000 defies belief.
BEST GOVERNANCE PROVEN
Posted on 14-03-2011 23:21 | By TERMITE
WHEN YOU HAVE A HAND ON THE HELM AND THE REEF BECKONS THE ONLY ANSWER A POINTY HEAD HAS IS TO RATHER AS MANY AS POSSIBLE ON BOARD TO ENJOY THE RIDE WHILE IT LASTS, WHEN WILL ANYONE WITHIN LOOK OVER THE SIDE TO SEE WHAT IS THERE ?
@ silent no more
Posted on 14-03-2011 23:48 | By SpeakUp
"... if you think you can do any better well then stand for Council at the next election and then we can judge your performance". Does it occur to you that some have still jobs out here, producing all the money YOU people just shove around? And who says that the "want/demand facilities", which are wanted/demanded by circles able to grease the system, are wanted demanded by the rest of us ratepayers? As if the new bowling greens would have a wider appeal than the Tauranga cemetery!
Socantor
Posted on 15-03-2011 06:22 | By Tauranga Tazmin
Those of us that could do better are in the private sector running successful businesses that pay the taxes that allow the council to survive so that they can increase our rates up to 30%.
CULPABLE FINANCIAL CARNAGE
Posted on 15-03-2011 10:53 | By ROCKY
The wanton wastage of capital moneys and interest payments on various ill thought out schemes with TCC debt rocketing toward $400millions is an indictment of Council and TCC bureaucrats and administration.They refuse to acknowledge whats caused it and are living in a state of blissful denial.It follows they can't or won't fix it so get on with it just appoint a Local Government Administrator to sift through the wreckage and sort it out once and for all.The longer it drags on the worse it gets and the competence and numbers of TCC staff is not a plus.
Wean yourselves off council services then
Posted on 15-03-2011 12:00 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The more you people demand the council do, the more staff they must employ to do it. The more staff they employ, the more we must pay - thats why your rates are up. Time to wean yourselves off the State tit and stop demanding the council do this that and everything else that private enterprise can do BETTER and CHEAPER, and at NO COST to you unless you wish to use it. Then if you use it, then so should you pay - what do you want? - a Free Lunch!
like rabbits they keep multiplying no matter what the cicumstances
Posted on 15-03-2011 22:16 | By POCO O POCO
brilleaux : I for one don't want these losers doing one more thing than they have to nor to become involved in any insane non core project or scheme.I don't ask them to do anything outside the core essentials probably because I know TCC is incapable of handling it.Having got that off my chest lets assume for one moment I was someone who demanded all the extras and Council as usual was sucker enough to run with all the crap TCC should be able to accomodate all this with 600 staff & a 36million wage package on its ear. Should do it with half the numbers and half the money.In a nutshell no matter what rubbish Council has on its plate(most of it manufactured by the bureaucracy) current staff numbers and the wages paid are way over the top.Fixate them get a staff audit.
THE
Posted on 16-03-2011 01:48 | By The Master
I agree that to many want want want ... so perhaps projects and other hair-brain schemes should only occur is there is sufficient support (called public consultation) and those that vote for it can pay the rates to do it, then watch how many put up the hand with cheque book. All says that to many for to long are happy to spend everyone else's money as and when suits, not a good look.
fair enough?
Posted on 16-03-2011 17:26 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
@theMater: what you say is fair enough, apart from the fact that you still have a majority (the biggest gang) forcing the rest to pay for what they want. I still stand by the fact that just because they are a majority does NOT Automatically make them Right, and it is NEVER just to force others to pay for things they want. Much fairer to ONLY provide the essentials that EVERYBODY needs, and let private enterprise provide the other stuff. Therefore No Force - nobody paying for stuff they dont want. and people who wish to USE stuff get to PAY for it
city growth
Posted on 16-03-2011 20:09 | By Mr bay
Could all this debt and increase in rates(which i must say sucks) be because the city has grown so quickly, all those who are complaining could move somewhere with no growth like Invercargil. BRRRR COLD. Especially you speak up.
It will not happen but........
Posted on 17-03-2011 08:58 | By POCO O POCO
If you forced all those who wished to use and have all the goodies to pay for them then the excessive spending would stop immediately.Thats because they expect everyone else to pay for their indulgences.They rarely contribute anything personally and they have no money anyway!!!Its called the whats yours is mine syndrome.
Posted on 17-03-2011 17:42 | By Lostzone
Yes this all reads like another very good reason to have such a group of dedicated people. The odd letter here and there to the paper achieves ...??? Do you folk have any idea how these letters are treated by the mayor, councillors and employee's ..??? Have a look at all the replies from them ... can't find any ??? "Citizens Monitoring Council" ~ United we stand ~ divided we fall.
NEEDS AND WANTS, ESSENITALS AND LUXURIES
Posted on 20-03-2011 16:59 | By TERMITE
USER PAYS IS THE CONCEPT MISSING AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS CLEAR FROM THE SALARY STRUCTURES AT TCC, IT IS WAY TO HEAVY SLNTED AT THE TOP OF THE PILE, LIKE OTHERS SAY ELSEWHERE, IF YOU PAY THE TOP DOG TO MUCH THAN ALL THE PUPPIES BELOW WILL ALL WANT TO HAVE A FEED AS WELL. ONCE THEY ALL GET A TASTE OF THE IT THEY WILL RELENTLESSLY HANG ON AND ONLY EVER SEEK TO RACHET IT UP EVEN MORE. THE CONSEQUENCE IS TERMINAL
DO WE CHOOSE THE SERVICES
Posted on 20-03-2011 21:42 | By THE PELICAN BRIEF
NO WE DONT, IN FACT THEY ARE ROLLED OUT ENDLESSLY AND RELENTLESSLY UPON US THEN WE ARE TOLD IT IS WHAT WE WANTED, IT IS WHAT WE NEEDED ... IS THAT NOT SELF JUSTIFICATION ON AN UNPRECEEDENTED SCALE.
BLUBBER NOT FAT
Posted on 22-03-2011 10:21 | By TERMITE
Fat is not enough to insulate from teh outside world, in affect closited. So I could agree that there is no fat, but the massive level of insulation that TCC has in place can only be explained by there being a massive layer of BLUBBER!
Happy thoughts
Posted on 22-03-2011 16:44 | By WIDOWMAKER
I don't understand why there are so many negative comments about City Hall, there are such a wonderful well meaning talented staff here that I just can not understand all this happening here.
@ widowmaker
Posted on 23-03-2011 14:31 | By SpeakUp
Forgot to take your medication?
faulty logic
Posted on 24-03-2011 20:58 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
@WIDOWMAKER: I would say NONE of the councillors employed at the moment are there apart from the reason that they TRULY CARE: Unfortunately they are all part of the problem because they continue to fall into the same crimes as their predecessors, and want to fix the problems via FAULTY LOGIC, and Unprincipled and Immoral actions. They do not even understand they are doing this so how on earth can they Stop doing it.
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