Councils do it on the cheap

Bay council employees should not expect a Christmas present or big night out to celebrate the silly season because ratepayers are only likely to foot the bill for a barbecue.

The Bay of Plenty Times Weekend asked the region's three local authorities and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board to provide information on what they would be spending on staff Christmas functions.

Staff at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council will not get anything, other than an annual team planning day over summer - as long as it does not cost more than $10 per head.

In contrast, the Tauranga City Council was the most generous and allowed $25 per head under its internal policy that outlined funding of team Christmas functions but it had to be authorised by a group manager.

Spokeswoman Alison Clifford said the type of function was decided by each group or team and any additional costs were picked up by staff. At the end of October, it had 518 full-time equivalent staff that amounted to $12,950 if they all attended a function.

"But bear in mind that not everyone would attend one of these functions," she said.

Exact figures on how many people attended the functions was not available at the time of print.

Every year, the TCC Social Club had an evening Christmas party with its members picking up the tab and about 100 celebrated at Bethlehem Hall with the same amount expected to go to the Mount Maunganui Golf Course, this year, she said. Elected members were having a social event at the Tauranga Bowling Club.

"They will purchase their own drinks and a simple supper will be provided. Costs are yet to be decided."

Employees did not receive any corporate Christmas gifts, she said.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council spent $3500 last year on a Christmas Eve barbecue that 145 staff attended at about $24 a head.

Human resources manager Barbara Faulkner said that money came out of the staff welfare budget and the event would be repeated in December.

But councillors, their partners and council's senior management team attended an evening function last year at council's Barkes Corner office.

In total, 40 people were involved and the total cost for the function was $2120 or $53 per person, she said.

Its staff did not receive a Christmas gift.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council relied on its social club to spread Christmas cheer and each office had a staff social club to cover "pay as you go" events.

At the end of 2013, councillors had an in-house function in the council chamber but costs were not available at the time of print.

Strategic communications manager Sue-Ellen Craig said it did not have a Christmas party or provide presents for staff.

"In addition to this, we encourage the various departments to hold their annual team planning day over the summer period, to take advantage of the $10 per head that the organisation funds towards the costs of these days."

Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief operating officer Pete Chandler said it provided an annual Christmas lunch for its employees and volunteers at Whakatane and Tauranga hospitals.

At Tauranga hospital, food was budgeted at $1200 or $15 per head and came out of the chief operating officer's general administration budget, not from frontline clinical care budgets, he said.

"The staff social club also contributes by funding a live band at the lunch event.

"We see this as a reasonable investment to help maintain high morale and team spirit within our DHB and to recognise the amazing work that our teams do for our community."