MEDIA RELEASE
13April 2005

Appointment Process for City Manager decided

Long serving City Manager Colin Dale has formally announced his retirement effective 31 March 2006. The Corporate Governance Committee has agreed on the appointment process for his replacement.

Beginning in May this year, with the selection of an appropriate recruitment consultant, the process will involve an appointment panel made up of a Councillor from each ward and the Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.

“The Committee acknowledges the importance of this appointment and consider that it is important that each ward is represented on the panel.” said Councillor Bob Wichman, Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee.

“We believe it is a fair balance between ensuring a clear picture of the whole city’s needs is incorporated together with the need to have an effective and efficient process.”

The Appointment Panel will make recommendations to full Council regarding the brief to the selected recruitment agency which will include the selection criteria and position description.

While the majority of the selection process will be managed by the appointment panel all Councilors will have the opportunity to meet the short listed candidates.

“We are also considering a transition arrangement whereby the successful City Manager designate works alongside Colin Dale for a number of months prior to taking up the role.

“The Council is a large organization with responsibilities to match,” said Councilor Wichman, “to expect a new City Manager to come in cold on the first day with no handover is not an option we prefer. There is an added advantage that some changes in structure could be considered before the newly appointed person fully assumes responsibility as City Manager.”

At the same meeting it was confirmed that the Executive Review Committee - the Committee delegated with the responsibility to manage the employment relationship between Councilors and the City Manager - will recommend decisions to the Corporate Governance Committee. The recommendations would in turn be passed to the full Council for the final decision.

While the final decision-making responsibility lies with Council the day-to-day management of the relationship remains with the Executive Review Committee. The current Committee’s membership was endorsed as it is now, comprising of His Worship the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the Chairs of the Economic Development and Corporate Governance Committees.

ENDS