Rotorua Lakes Council extends CE’s contract

Rotorua Lakes Council has extended the contract of chief executive Geoff Williams for a further two year period.

Mr Williams recently presented to council under clauses 34 and 35 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 which is relevant to the employment of the Chief Executive role.

Council can appoint a CE for a second term, or advertise the vacancy, after assessing: the performance of the CE; the mix of skills and attributes possessed by the CE and the degree to which they are consistent with the skills and attributes that the local authority considers necessary for the future; and any other factors the local authority considers relevant.

Mr Williams joined Rotorua Lakes Council on 1 July 2013 on a five-year contract and the two-year extension takes his appointment through to 31 June 2020.

This review process, which needed to be completed no later than 6 months prior to the end date of the initial contract, was facilitated with the full council by independent HR consultant Greg Tims.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said Geoff Williams’ performance had been exemplary as the organisation responded to the direction set by elected members in the Rotorua 2030 vision work.

“There has been considerable change in our community since 2013 and Geoff has led our organisation to both support and encourage growth in the Rotorua district.

“In 2013 we were responding to a district in decline and remarkably, now we have pressures of growth to navigate with our population now at 71,700,” the mayor said.

“Strategies and visions are nothing if they can’t be activated and Geoff has the councillors’ confidence in leading the organisation to work differently with partners and community stakeholders for our district’s advancement and this approach needs to continue.”

Mayor Chadwick said highlights of Mr Williams’ tenure to date included a new Financial Strategy, organisational realignment to support Rotorua 2030, portfolios, the partnership with Te Arawa through the Te Tatau o Te Arawa board, Rotoiti/Rotoma Sewerage project, the Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant project and the 2030 vision refresh (The Rotorua Way) post the 2016 election.

“This has all happened against the need to continue to shape our district and organisation,” Mayor Chadwick said.

“It’s important that we continue to take advantage of the opportunities ahead for Rotorua while balancing the ongoing needs of our community. The next two years will continue to be challenging and the continuity of having Geoff leading the organisation was an important consideration and decision for all of our elected members.”

[ENDS]

Relevant clauses from Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2001:
34 Terms of employment of chief executive
(1) A chief executive appointed under section 42 may not be appointed for a term of more than 5 years.
(2) The local authority and the chief executive must enter into a performance agreement.
(3) When the term of appointment expires, a vacancy exists in the office of the chief executive, and that vacancy must be advertised.
(4) Despite subclause (3), if the local authority has completed a review under clause 35, that local authority may, without advertising the vacancy, appoint the incumbent chief executive for a second term not exceeding 2 years on the expiry of the first term of appointment.
(5) After completing a review under clause 35, but before the date on which the chief executive’s contract of employment for the first term expires, the local authority must resolve whether or not to—
(a) appoint the chief executive for a second term under subclause (4); or
(b) advertise the vacancy.
(6) If a vacancy is advertised,—
(a) the incumbent chief executive may apply for the position; and
(b) the local authority must give due consideration to any application for the position by the incumbent chief executive.
(7) Despite the provisions of any other enactment or rule of law, a chief executive has no right or expectation of renewed employment at the end of any term.
35 Performance review at end of first term of appointment
(1) A local authority must, not less than 6 months before the date on which the chief executive’s contract of employment for the first term expires, conduct and complete a review of the employment of the chief executive.
(2) The review must assess—
(a) the performance of the chief executive; and
(b) the mix of skills and attributes possessed by the chief executive, and the degree to which they are consistent with the skills and attributes that the local authority considers necessary for the future; and
(c) any other factors that the local authority considers relevant.
(3) To avoid doubt, responsibility for determining the degree to which any factors in subclause (2)(a) and (b) apply to a review, and the relevance of any additional factors under subclause (2)(c), rests solely with the local authority.
(4) Subclause (1) does not apply if the incumbent chief executive declares in writing to the local authority that he or she does not wish to be considered for appointment to a second term.
*Source: www.legislation.govt.nz

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