Councils start to heed business needs

By TOM CLARKE

Local bodies are becoming more empathetic to business needs, but still have a way to go, according to businesswoman Dr Kathy Garden, who has joined the Manukau City Council as director of strategic development.

"It seems to me that councils have been made to, or have decided to, adopt a lot more business-like management practices," she says. "That helps to change the mindset because, all of a sudden, you're speaking a common language and using common frameworks."

Dr Garden says that "heavy knocking on the door by businesses saying, 'things have got to be made easier,' has certainly shifted things."

Councils have moved a long way, she believes, but they still have quite a way to go.

As strategic development director she is responsible for an overview of external factors that affect the council, for developing strategic and annual plans and ensuring planning and action is balanced, focused and on time.

Being an advocate for business is a part of her new role, she says.

She will also be trying to align the needs of business and the community with the mission of the council, to have everyone "pointing in the right direction," sharing a common language and interacting more with each other.

Before joining Manukau City, Dr Garden spend three years with Fletcher Challenge as sustainable development coordinator.

That involved her, as executive director, in the establishment and running of the Fletcher Challenge-created Business Council for Sustainable Development.

She says her experience with the business council, while with Fletcher Challenge, fits with her new job.

"Local government these days is quite a significant business in its own right.

"It's a classic resource allocation business of taking what is essentially public money and undertaking projects that have to last a long time.

"There's a strong sustainable development element in trying to get everything working right for the community while also promoting economic growth and protecting the environment."

Dr Garden, who has two children and lives in Howick, is a graduate of Canterbury University and has a PhD in electrical engineering.

She was senior lecturer in electrical engineering at Canterbury before spending five years with the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology in Wellington as chief policy adviser.