Dear Residents

 We would like to address some key concerns that have been raised by members of the Wanaka community in regards to the current Organisational Review, particularly regarding Wanaka Library.

 We wish to start by being very clear on three matters:

 1.      The Organisational Review involving the future employment of individuals will continue to respect the privacy of staff – this is non-negotiable. The outcome of the consultation with staff will be made known to staff in the first instance at the end of April. We cannot consult with the community about individuals and their employment at Council.

 2.      As we have continually stated the intention of the review is to both improve services across Council and find efficiencies across the entire organisation. That does not include closing or diminishing library services, quite the opposite, we aim to enhance services.

 3.      The community is objecting to something that is in draft form only. The purpose of consultation with staff is to add to the quality of decisions made. In this regard, additional or alternative suggestions to the manner in which library and other customer services can be delivered are an important part of the process. While no particular solution has been finally agreed, it will be one that provides flexibility for delivering all Council services, and also recognise the current skills and accommodation available to Council need to be factored into that solution.  The review team is now considering the many submissions made on the proposed changes and its final report to the Chief Executive will incorporate these ideas and comments. It also should be noted that the public concerns with regard to any change have been well understood and the report will have regard to any valid or relevant issue.

 Consultation in more detail

 QLDC recognises that consultation is a cornerstone of Local Government decision-making. Council have an explicit obligation under the Local Government Act to have regard to the views of all of its communities when making a decision on important issues. However there are numerous aspects to the principle of consultation.

 The first is that consultation contemplates all of the views of the community being considered. In this regard, the views of those who wish to see Council services managed more cost-effectively are as relevant as those who wish to have library services provided at a particular level.

 The second is that consultation is not an absolute. If every issue were to be consulted on, local government would be paralysed. Consequently, the Local Government Act also imposes on Council an obligation to manage its resources in a manner that is “efficient and effective.”

 This obligation gives rise to a separation of duties and responsibilities between elected representatives and the Council’s Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has responsibility for ensuring the delivery of services for which Council provides funding, and in ensuring that these services are effectively and efficiently managed. Council is obliged to ensure that the respective roles of governance and management are understood and observed.

 In considering whether the manner in which library services are delivered are a matter for public consultation, we are guided by our “Significance Policy.” The threshold for determining whether an issue is “significant” and thus requires consultation is determined by reference to whether it will significantly affect the capacity or cost of Council to carry out an activity identified in the 10-Year Plan.

Our 10-Year Plan promises to provide libraries at specified locations; assistance to customers wishing to access books and information; space for people wishing to study and learn; and a range of books and other resources. None of these fundamentals will change under the proposed changes to the structure and resourcing of QLDC.

 The Chief Executive is tasked with delivering these services and is also specifically required to conduct a review of the organisation in a manner that will more efficiently deliver those services. The draft proposals are a matter between him and the staff which he employs. They are not a matter which could appropriately be regarded as a matter of sufficient magnitude to warrant public consultation.

 Accordingly, the Council is satisfied that consultation, beyond staff members, is not formally required, nor could it in good conscience commit public resources to consulting, on a matter where neither the Act nor our Significance Policy contemplates consultation

 That’s the official response, which is in answer to those raising matters under the Local Government Act.

 It is also important to point out the following:

 The Council respects the high regard with which the Wanaka Library is held and the obvious community support for this important activity.

As outlined, we have committed there will be no change in level of service. That doesn’t mean there will not be new and better ways of delivering it.

 What we have heard about are the things that are important to the community, like holiday programmes, special care packs, help with selection of books, recommendations, school visits and research assistance, to name a few. 

Our commitment is to find ways to continue to deliver these highly valued services. We ask the community to be open minded to the possibility that what is being proposed may actually enhance the services at the Wanaka Library.

Finally we would like to note that the points raised by this letter also apply equally to the Queenstown Library. Arrowtown Library already functions as a ‘service centre’.

 Mayor Vanessa van Uden and Chief Executive Adam Feeley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Meaghan Miller