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The Review and Observer Team established by Tauranga City Council to address elected member relationship issues will be chaired by Peter Winder.
 
Chief Executive Marty Grenfell said Mr Winder’s appointment was confirmed unanimously in a public-excluded section of today’s (Wednesday, 2 September) Council meeting, where the terms of reference and financial implications of the Review and Observer Team were considered. That follows a meeting of the council on 21 August, where a proactive approach was adopted in response to a Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) request that the Council provide evidence that it was taking steps to “restore trust and confidence in its ability to meet the Crown’s expectations of a high-performing council”.
 
“Mr Winder brings significant local government experience to the Review and Observer chair role, including serving as both the former Crown-appointed Commissioner and the Crown Manager of the Kaipara District Council until the last local elections,” Mr Grenfell said. “He is also a former chief executive of the Auckland Regional Council and Local Government New Zealand; and is currently Chairman of both the Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec, a member of the State Services Commission Risk and Audit Committee, and a member of the Council of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.”
 
He said four other candidates with the required experience have been identified and Mr Winder will select up to two members he believes will contribute to an effective, multi-skilled team.
 
The role of the Review and Observer Team is to provide support, guidance and assistance to ensure that council elected members can work together as a governing body; have the capability and knowledge to make decisions effectively; and can address any behaviours which might impact on its decision-making on behalf of the city. It will also investigate and report on the nature, extent and causes of governance performance issues; monitor and report on progress to the council and chief executive; and set out measures of success and an action plan to achieve those measures.
 
The first report will be submitted 4-6 weeks after the team is constituted, following which, the Council will consider the need to continue the review and observation process.
 
Expected costs for the 2020/21 financial year will be up to $350,000, including Review and Observer Team member remuneration, governance executive remuneration, legal costs and any measuring and monitoring tools required.