Tēnā koe

Thank you for your email dated 3 June 2020 requesting information about the Decision-making process for wage subsidy applications in CCOs.

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to respond as soon as possible, but no later than 1 July 2020.

The reference number for your request is IRO-10054.

Please be aware that under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 many teams are still working remotely or working under different conditions, this may have an impact on the resources we have available to us, as a result this may mean that your request takes a little longer than usual. We will keep you informed of any delays and the reason for these should they affect your request.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Kind regards

Jessica Hall
Assurance Services Coordinator  | Wellington City Council
| W Wellington.govt.nz | |

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-----Original Message-----
From: S. M. Smith [mailto:[FOI #13007 email]]
Sent: 3 June, 2020 2:31 PM
To: BUS: Assurance
Subject: Official Information request - Decision-making process for wage subsidy applications in CCOs

Kia ora Wellington City Council,

I am interested in the decision-making process and communications relating to which employees were included in Council-Controlled Organisations' wage subisdy applications (and that of Council's itself if applicable).

I am requesting the following information under the LGOIMA and OIA:

For Zealandia/Karori Sanctuary Trust:

(1) A copy of all external or internally-generated advice/information on the subject of the eligibility of employees for the wage subsidy scheme, or minutes/recollection of conversation if advice was verbal.

(2) A copy of all internal communications relating to the decision-making process and decisions on applying for the wage subsidy scheme, or not applying, for different staff members. This includes communication between management members and between staff & management. I would like a copy of:
- Meeting, phone calls and conversation minutes (or recollection of these if minutes were not recorded), including dates the communication;
- Emails or messages, including dates of communication; and
- Any other relevant documentation.

(3) A copy of all internal commuications relating to how managers communicate with staff regarding decisions on applying for, or not applying for, the wage subsidy.

For any other Council-Controlled Organisations (and the Council itself) that included some, but not all, staff on a wage subsidy application:

(4) A copy of all external or internally-generated advice/information on the subject of the eligibility of employees for the wage subsidy scheme, or minutes/recollection of conversation if advice was verbal.

The timeframe I am interested in is from 10 March 2020 up to the date the request for information is recieved by each CCO.

Note: I do not require names of junior staff members, but I do require an indication where these names are redacted whether the staff member was included in the wage subsidy application or not.

I would appreciate a timely response; please break this request into parts and/or transfer it, if this will enable a faster reply.

Kind regards,

S. M. Smith

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #13007 email]

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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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Dear S. M. Smith, 

Thank you for your email to the Council’s Complaints and Information
Assurance Team received on 4 June 2020 in which you requested information
relating to wage subsidy applications in respect of Council Controlled
Organisations.

Under section 13 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 I can advise your request is granted and for no cost.

I am currently working with the relevant organisations to collate any
relevant information. Whilst I am currently unable to provide a date by
which the information will be available, I will endeavour to provide any
relevant information within the next ten working days.

Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.

Kind regards,

Ian

 

 

Ian Hunter
Assurance Advisor | Complaints and Information Assurance | Governance and
Assurance Directorate | Wellington City Council
P 04 803 8315 | M 021 227 8315 |
E [1][email address] | W [2]Wellington.govt.nz | [3]Facebook|
[4]Twitter

 

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Dear S.M. Smith,

Further to my email dated 1 July 2020 in which I provided the Council’s
decision in respect of your request for information I am now able to
provide you with the information requested.

Your patience whilst this information has been collated is much
appreciated.

In your email received on 4 June 2020, you requested information relating
specifically to Zealandia, and to any other CCO’s more generally.

I will address your questions in the order of your email.

Zealandia:

You requested the following:

1) A copy of all external or internally-generated advice/information on
the subject of the eligibility of employees for the wage subsidy scheme,
or minutes/recollection of conversation if advice was verbal.

 

2) A copy of all internal communications relating to the decision-making
process and decisions on applying for the wage subsidy scheme, or not
applying, for different staff members. This includes communication between
management members and between staff & management. I would like a copy of:

 

- Meeting, phone calls and conversation minutes (or recollection of these
if minutes were not recorded), including dates the communication;

- Emails or messages, including dates of communication; and

- Any other relevant documentation.

 

(3) A copy of all internal communications relating to how managers
communicate with staff regarding decisions on applying for, or not
applying for, the wage subsidy.

 

Please find the formal response from Zealandia attached as Appendix 1.

 

For any other Council-Controlled Organisations (and the Council itself)
that included some, but not all, staff on a wage subsidy application:

 

(4) A copy of all external or internally-generated advice/information on
the subject of the eligibility of employees for the wage subsidy scheme,
or minutes/recollection of conversation if advice was verbal.

 

Information relating to Experience Wellington (which incorporates Capital
E, City Gallery, Wellington Museum, Cable Car Museum, Space Place, Nairn
Street Cottage, and the NZ Cricket Museum) is attached as Appendix 2.

 

Under section 7(2)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 some redactions have been made to this document to
protect the privacy of natural persons.

 

Information relating to Wellington Zoo Trust is attached as Appendix 3 to
7.

 

Under section 7(2)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 some redactions have been made to documents 3, 5, and 7
to protect the privacy of natural persons. Document 7 also contains
information which is out of the scope of this request and this too has
been redacted.

 

Information relating to the Cable Car is attached as Appendix 8, 9, and
10.

 

Under section 7(2)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 some redactions have been made to documents 8, 9, and 10
to protect the privacy of natural persons.

 

Information relating to Wellington NZ is attached as Appendix 11.

 

Again, under section 7(2)(a) of the Local Government Official Information
and Meetings Act 1987 some redactions have been made to document 11to
protect the privacy of natural persons.

 

If you disagree with the decision to redact these documents, you can apply
in writing to the Ombudsman to have the decision investigated and reviewed
under section 27 (3) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987.

 

With respect to the Council itself, given the revenue decline did not meet
the 30% reduction required to claim a wage subsidy, no application was
made.

 

Should you have any further questions please contact me.

 

Kind regards,

Ian

 

Kind regards,

Ian

 

Ian Hunter
Assurance Advisor | Complaints and Information Assurance | Governance and
Assurance Directorate | Wellington City Council
P 04 803 8315 | M 021 227 8315 |
E [1][email address] | W [2]Wellington.govt.nz | [3]Facebook|
[4]Twitter

 

References

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