30 jobs axed in Tauranga council cost cutting plan

Tauranga City Council has decided to cut 30 positions after consultations, lowering the number from 45. Photo / Jimmy Joe

Tauranga City Council has scaled back its restructuring plans following staff consultation, with 30 positions now to be cut instead of 45.

Chief executive Leigh Auton has confirmed plans for the new organisational structure a month after a draft plan proposing the net loss of 45 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions was announced to staff.

The draft plan would have saved the council $2.7 million, however that figure has now been brought back to $1.5 million as a result of the reduced number of job losses.

While numerous positions will be disestablished next year, 29 new positions will be created, meaning a net loss of 30 FTE positions. Nineteen of the disestablished positions are currently vacant and will not be filled again.

Meanwhile, APN New Zealand has announced it is closing its printing site in Tauranga with the loss of 27 jobs. The closure will take place next year and mean the Bay of Plenty Times will be printed in Auckland.

The outcome of the council's review was an organisation that had adjusted to the political and economic climate, and was in a strong position to move forward, Mr Auton said.

"I believe that this organisation review and the work that follows will result in staffing levels that are appropriate and designed to enable a continuation of current levels of service to the community."

Staff reductions will rise to 66 by 2014 with the loss of six Baycourt staff who will be transferred to a proposed super-CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) in July next year and 30 temporary staff employed to scan council's hardcopy documents (STAR project) in early 2014.

Councillors approved a budget of $445,000 for the two reviews (organisation and CCO) and while external consultants were hired to work on the reviews the council would not say how much they were paid, claiming commercial sensitivity.

One of the positions to be created will be that of an adviser to the chief executive although it will be up to the new chief executive to decide whether the position is established.

Mayor Stuart Crosby refused to be drawn on whether the scaled-back staff cuts were a victory for staff, saying it was just "part of the process".

External submissions from organisations affected by the proposed disestablishment of 45 positions had played a part in the final decision, he said.

Mr Auton said the organisational review was not the end of the process of reforms at the council.

The design principles adopted for the review were based on good practice, that included recommendations from the State Services Commission, he said.