Auckland Council has today confirmed decisions on the first phase of a structural change that will move the organisation towards its goal of becoming a more simple and efficient organisation that delivers for Aucklanders now and in the future.
Chief Executive Jim Stabback says that with a projected $325 million ongoing operating budget shortfall in the next financial year, as well as storm-related costs of $50 million, changes that will be made between now and the end of the year will help to create an organisation that’s focused on long-term financial sustainability.
“It’s important Aucklanders understand that while the context for these changes is operational cost savings, the council is not working towards a target in mind when it comes to the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) roles it plans to reduce by,” he says.
“Instead, this is the first step in a wider programme of work as we think about how we do things differently and streamline our organisation.”
The decisions confirmed today follow a three-week consultation period with staff, which generated close to 800 pieces of feedback, including from the council’s union partners and staff networks, Council-controlled Organisations and the Independent Māori Statutory Board.
Mr Stabback says that as a result of that feedback, areas of the proposal that received strong support have been confirmed. In other areas, the feedback helped to make some different decisions than what was proposed.
The decisions that have been made will result in a net reduction of 160 roles – this has come from the removal of vacancies, the merging of functions for greater efficiency and reducing duplication.
“I have long signalled that becoming a leaner organisation more focused on delivering for Aucklanders in the longer term and becoming more financially sustainable would mean a reduction in our workforce,” says Mr Stabback.
“Any change is difficult, but it is even more difficult when it affects people we value. I want to thank those people who will leave our organisation as a result of this change - their contribution to serving our customers and communities with pride has been truly appreciated.”
Further changes will be aligned with the adoption of the Annual Budget 2023/2024 in June and the implications brought by any cuts to projects and programmes confirmed in the budget. This will be followed by the second phase of reshaping the organisation, which is anticipated to begin in July.
