25 May 2020
Official Information Request No. 8140006698
(Please quote this in any correspondence)
Simon Veritas
[FYI request #12696 email]
Dear Simon
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Re: guarantee of employment with Auckland Council
I refer to your email, which we received on 24 April 2020, requesting information about
guarantee of employment with Auckland Council.
For ease of reference, I have included your request below:
1. Has any manager of tier 3 or above guaranteed employment for Auckland Council
staff for any period of time as a result of Covid-19?
2. If the answer to the above is no, please provide a transcript of Regulatory Directors'
Chat of 17 and 24 March
3. If the answer is yes, who, when, and what was the exact wording of the guarantee?
4. Any communication (email, text, or memories of meetings) between the Director
Regulatory Services and the Chief Exec or acting Chief Exec or any senior manager
(tier 3 or above) relating to Covid-19 and employment of staff between 24 and 26
March
In his Director’s Chat on 24 March 2020, Craig Hobbs advised the Regulatory Services
Directorate that “council has guaranteed your employment for 12 months and beyond.” On 26
March 2020, Mr Hobbs sent an email to the directorate retracting this statement.
I have liaised with all Executive Officers in relation to all other tier three managers and tier two
division leads. I have been advised that no manager has guaranteed employment for Auckland
Council staff for a period of time as a result of Covid-19.
The email bundle attached contains the information readily available to respond to your
request:
• The notes distributed to staff after the Director’s Chat on 24 March 2020.
• Correspondence between Mr Hobbs and Patricia Reade, Director People and
Performance.
• The email sent to staff in Regulatory Services Directorate from Mr Hobbs on 26 March
2020.
• The same email forwarded to the Executive Leadership Team (including Stephen
Town, Chief Executive) from Mr Hobbs.
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
A brief phone conversation took place between Mr Hobbs and Ms Reade on 26 March 2020.
To the best of Mr Hobbs’ recollection, it is likely that they discussed:
• The context of Mr Hobbs’ statement during his Director’s Chat dated 24 March.
• Mr Hobbs’ proposed wording in his draft email to staff, which Ms Reade had
questioned.
For completeness, other than what is provided, Mr Hobbs did not communicate with Mr Town
or any other senior manager regarding this topic between the 24 and 26 March 2020.
Decisions pertaining to the release of this information have been made by
Sara Hay,
Executive Officer to Stephen Town.
As advised in a previous response, if you have concerns about the conduct of the council’s
staff, you can raise a complaint with the council’s Assurance Services team. The Assurance
Services team are independent to the council and are tasked with investigating integrity-
related complaints and issues. To contact the Assurance Services team, please email:
[email address].
Mr Hobbs is also happy to discuss any concerns you may have. To arrange a phone call or
meeting, please contact Mr Hobbs by email:
[email address] or phone:
027 454 8845.
Should you believe Auckland Council has not responded appropriately to your request, you
have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of the LGOIMA, to apply to the
Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the decision.
If you have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101 quoting Of icial Information
Request No. 8140006698.
Yours sincerely
Grace Ray
Senior Privacy & LGOIMA Business Partner
Democracy Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
