Resignations loom as council staff told their fate

Auckland's local authorities are bracing for the effect of staff resignations on their services in the remaining months before the Super City merger on November 1.

Many of the 7500 staff at the eight councils now know whether their present roles continue with the new Auckland Council, or the options for jobs and where they will be.

In April, 3486 staff in parks, libraries and other frontline services learned there would be either no change or only minor change to their jobs. A further group of 3830 staff were told by the agency designing the Super City that their jobs were under review in a "change process".

Last week, many in this group learned what options may be open to them and where in the region they would be located.

About 340 had their jobs confirmed and workforce plans were revealed for fields, including human resources, community services, customer services, infrastructure and environment, information technology and legal services.

Staff are being asked for their views, individually, on the proposal by the Auckland Transition Agency.

Its human resources adviser, Laila Harre, said this would help form the final structure for the Auckland Council and the transport organisation.

Some staff remained in the change process while further work was done on the exact nature and number of the roles and where they would be based.

Until then it would not be known how many staff would lose jobs.

Managers at councils are worried about keeping up "business as usual" in the run-up to November now that staff have letters from the agency.

The agency has decided the new council head office and mayoral office will be in the Auckland CBD, transport will be based at Henderson, information technology services at Manukau and planning and policy at Takapuna.

Main customer service centres will stay in the city councils' buildings, each with 450 staff.

TOP DOGS

The first senior Auckland Council positions have been filled. The appointees are:

*Chief operating officer, Patricia Reade, who is deputy chief executive at the Ministry of Social Development.

*Chief planning officer, Dr Roger Blakeley, chief executive of Porirua City Council.

*Chief financial officer, Andrew McKenzie, finance general manager Auckland City Council.

*General counsel, Wendy Brandon, formerly legal counsel Ministry of Health.

*Manager risk and assurance, Natalie Verdouw, national audit manager for FirstMac (Australia).

*Manager communications and public affairs, Shelley Watson, general manager marketing/communications Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

*Manager civil defence and emergency management, Clive Manley, Northland civil defence group controller.