City Council To Save $3 Million In Restructuring

City Council To Save $3 Million In Restructuring

Some jobs will be lost in a restructuring of units within the Christchurch City Council.

The changes, announced by the City Manager, Mike Richardson, today include the merger of some units and the creation of others. He said that while the restructuring was partly for cost saving it was also to improve the services of the Council and to better equip it to face changing needs. Changes would save up to $3 million, Mr. Richardson said. In the restructuring plans, 58.5 jobs would be lost across the Council which has about 1500 jobs. However, Mr. Richardson said that at least 20 of these positions were either already vacant or filled with temporary staff. He was certain some staff would take voluntary redundancy and further positions would become vacant by attrition. The changes were significant and it was unfortunate that some jobs would be lost. He said some changes were necessary because of the changing nature of local government today. Increasingly the Council was expected to provide leadership in complex issues such as city centre renewal and responding to new technologies such as cable and wireless networks. Broadly, the changes will mean that the Water and Waste Management functions and Parks and Waterways functions will be merged. Planning and professional services within Council will be re-organised to make improvements in way the many capital projects are implemented. Also, a stronger policy team will be put in place to assist Council in responding to complex issues relating to social, economic and environmental conditions in the city.

Further Information: Ken Lawn, Director of Operations: 371 1607 or 025 274 3271.

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