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An independent evaluation report into Otago Regional Council (ORC) has revealed it needs to improve in a range of areas, including climate change, governance and financial transparency.
The evaluation was done as part of Local Government NZ's excellence and improvement programme, Te Korowai.
Te Korowai included interviews during 25 meetings with more than 70 people, including staff, councillors, iwi partner representatives and stakeholders.
Te Korowai applies a four-point range of performance benchmarks which include: Mauri moe - Inactive, Mauri oho - Aware, Mauri tū - Active and Mauri ora -Thriving.
ORC's overall performance in the report was rated Mauri tū - Active, which recognised there were some highlights and considerable work in progress to build council into a mature institution and in developing the planning and regulatory frameworks.
Recommendations/areas of improvement
The report identified areas of improvement covering a range of topics, including catchments and climate change, investments and financial transparency, governance and regional advocacy, strategic directions, regional planning and science, communication, consultation, and engagement and systems and capability.
Recommendations included that the council provide a statement of the environment - that is, a stocktake of the environment in Otago - have better coordination and explanation of the approach to land and water planning, including detailing the implementation plan and desired end result.
It also said to move beyond themes in strategic direction and activities in the climate change strategy to detailed catchment-based discussions.
It also recommended the council start to develop mitigation options and costs to share with stakeholders in catchments, and to continue to develop management accounting systems, so costs can be allocated to geographic areas such as catchments, rather than just to activities.
It also recommended the council consider grouping and managing all investments together in an arm's length council-owned investment vehicle.
ORC chief executive Richard Saunders welcomed the findings and recommendations.
"This is a welcome report and a good step in benchmarking where ORC is up to, and more importantly which areas need focus to deliver the best outcomes for the environment, Otago communities, our mana whenua partners and our stakeholders around the region.
"These recommendations give us and our community a great insight into the organisation evolving further to meet demands on many fronts, from the up-front environmental issues through to back-room strategies and streamlining the delivery of services."
ORC strengths
The report also identified a number of strengths within the council, including a strong commitment to building science and environmental capability, a big focus on functional relationships from the chair and CEO, through the organisation, with communities, industry and other councils.
Quick turnaround times and reduced costs to users in seeking consents for activities was also noted, and a long-term plan addressing a wide range of issues from public transport to the costs of reinvesting in existing flood protection assets.
It also had a financial strategy greatly simplifying the rating regime, and highlighted investment costs and a commitment to building financial and enterprise systems as well as people capability.
Next steps
The $35,000 report is set for noting by councillors at its meeting on 19 February, with an introduction by independent assessors and report authors, Davide Moore and Toni Kennerly.
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