Wellington City Council is facing fresh scrutiny over another questionable procurement process, despite Deloitte warning of widespread failures in how council manages contracts.

Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Deloitte found serious, systemic procurement problems at Council, including that only around one in five contracts are centrally recorded. This latest mess is a case in point.”

“With Council chasing $60 million in savings, ratepayers deserve to know how much is being wasted because council is failing to deliver competitive procurement?”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance says the Government’s decision to pause its council amalgamation plans until after the election should be used to guarantee ratepayers a direct say on any future shake-up.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Putting amalgamation on pause gives something the rushed process did not: time. Wellington Councils should use it to give local ratepayers a referendum before councils mergers are approved.”

“Ratepayers know who sets your rates, manages your assets and represents your community is too important to be decided by politicians and officials behind closed doors.”

“There is now no need to rush ahead without a public mandate. If amalgamation stacks up, there is no reason to fear putting the final proposal to ratepayers.”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is welcoming Finance Minister Nicola Willis backing our call for Wellington City Council’s infrastructure boss to front up over the Moa Point disaster.

Chief Infrastructure Officer Jenny Chetwynd has refused to be interviewed by the Government’s Moa Point inquiry, despite taking home around $440,000 in salary each year.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Senior executives closing ranks and burying their heads in the sand is exactly what led to 14 billion litres of raw sewage flowing straight into Cook Strait in the first place. With the Acting Chief Exec defending Chetwynd’s refusal to front, clearly Wellington City Council has learnt nothing from its stuff-up.”

“The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance has been calling for accountability on Moa Point from the start. Nicola Willis has put herself firmly on ratepayers’ side by calling out the arrogance of senior officers who think they don’t have to answer for what happened.”

“Front up to the inquiry or pack up your desk. It’s as simple as that.”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is questioning how Wellington City Council infrastructure boss Jenny Chetwynd can remain in her job after refusing to be interviewed by the Government’s Moa Point investigation.

Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Wellington richlister Jenny Chetwynd takes home around $440,000 a year to take responsibility for Wellington’s infrastructure. But when the Government came asking questions about one of the biggest infrastructure disasters in the city’s history, she refused to front.”

“If high-flying executives can dodge accountability when 14 billion litres of sewage get dumped into the sea, what exactly are Wellington ratepayers paying for?”

The Wellington City Council Rich List can be found at www.wellingtonrichlist.nz

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling on Wellington City Council to reveal how many actual staff will lose their jobs in its latest restructure.

The Council’s supposed headline reduction of 47 roles is made up of:

• 94 new roles being created

• 141 roles being disestablished, of which 41 are already vacant.

This suggests a net reduction of only 6 roles, but Acting Chief Executive Anna Calver has claimed it will be more than this.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Council might have 47 fewer roles on paper, but the reality is much murkier. Once you strip out the 41 positions that are already vacant and account for the 94 new roles being created, the reduction could boil down to just single-figures.”

“Even accepting revised Deloitte estimates of 284 excess roles in Wellington City Council, this supposed right-sizing is a drop in the ocean. After years of bloat, Council is still falling hundreds of roles short of the number of cuts ratepayers need to see.”

“Council need to front up to ratepayers and tell them straight how many staff are being let go.”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is backing Mayor Andrew Littles call's for the release of a third report into the Moa Point treatment plant, currently being withheld by Tiaki Wai while insurers consider their position.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Wellingtonians deserve more than partial answers on what went wrong at Moa Point, particularly when this hidden report deals with the operational causes behind the failures.”

“Ratepayers ultimately own this infrastructure. Not Tiaki Wai, not Wellington City Council, and not the insurers. They deserve the full picture of what happened, what caused it, and who is responsible.”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling on Wellington City Council to act on overstaffing findings within the Deloitte report while elected members argue for a discount.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Whether Wellington City Council is overstaffed by 284 people or 330, arguing over the precise number misses the wood for the trees. Even the Council’s revised figure says there are hundreds too many bureaucrats.”

“While our elected members are busy pushing Deloitte for a discount, they should spend at least as much energy following through on the report’s main recommendations.”

“The report identified potential savings of between $15 million and $37 million from reducing managers, removing duplication and cutting administration costs, with another $11.8 million available from managing vacancies. Squabbling around the edges cannot become a distraction from the fact Wellington City Council is still massively overstaffed and overpaid.”

The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling on every organisation involved in the Moa Point sewage disaster to cooperate fully with investigators, after it was revealed at least one party has refused to be interviewed.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“This investigation isn’t a catch-up over coffee. After fourteen billion litres of sewage have poured into the sea off Wellington’s coastline, what right does anyone involved have to refuse to front up?

“Green MP Julie Anne Genter is right. Anyone who refuses to cooperate with the investigation should be publicly named and shamed. Moa Point cannot just become another local government stuff-up swept under the rug with no one held accountable.”

Responding to Tiaki Wai boss Michael Brewster defending his $645,000 salary, the Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance says Tiaki Wai needs to implement performance-based pay.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Tiaki Wai’s problems aren’t a secret. Bursting pipes, ageing infrastructure, and water bills set to almost triple over the next decade. If they think a chief exec salary larger than the Wellington, Porirua, and Hutt City mayors’ combined is what it takes to guarantee improvements, why not put their money where their mouth is?”

“Water billpayers deserve to know they’re getting bang for their buck from the chief executive. If Brewster wants top-tier pay, his salary should depend on top-tier performance.”

“Given Tiaki Wai has already landed on the Commerce Commission’s naughty step barely a month after launching, we can see why he might not be too keen on the idea.”