Producer Statement Author (PSA) Register - structural engineering policies

Hunter K made this Official Information request to Auckland Council

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Auckland Council should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Hunter K

Dear Auckland Council,

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA), please provide all information regarding the Producer Statement Authorship (PSA) structural engineering register:

1. the rationale for the need to evaluate structural engineer’s qualifications for the PSA register when there is already an established CPEng registration process with Engineering New Zealand. Please provide decision-making and advice documents leading to this decision;
2. what are the minimum requirements for structural engineers to be on the “high risk” register (e.g. how many projects, level of involvement, how seniors who do not do “number crunching” are assessed)
3. the review process in the event of any disagreement/dispute over the structural engineering PSA register, in particular disputes over “high risk” applications;
4. how the current external consultant who assess applicants were selected including any tender documents;
5. who is the current consultant reviewing “high risk” applicants for the PSA register, and what are their credentials;
6. how much has Auckland Council paid the current external structural engineering consultant for “high risk” candidate qualification assessments for the 5 years ending 31 March 2023.
7. conflict of interest process or policy for PSA registration assessments;

Yours faithfully,

Hunter K

Link to this

From: Official Information
Auckland Council


Attachment LGOIMA and Privacy Information Sheet 2022.pdf
186K Download View as HTML


 

Kia ora Hunter,

 

Thank you for your request for information about Producer Statement
Authorship.

 

I have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 22 May 2023.

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact Jenny Hua
([1][email address]) on 09 301 0101, quoting reference
8140011858. 

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Hunter K <[FOI #22542 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 23 April 2023 4:44 pm
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Producer Statement Author (PSA)
Register - structural engineering policies

 

 

Dear Auckland Council,

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
(LGOIMA), please provide all information regarding the Producer Statement
Authorship (PSA) structural engineering register:

1. the rationale for the need to evaluate structural engineer’s
qualifications for the PSA register when there is already an established
CPEng registration process with Engineering New Zealand. Please provide
decision-making and advice documents leading to this decision;
2. what are the minimum requirements for structural engineers to be on the
“high risk” register (e.g. how many projects, level of involvement, how
seniors who do not do “number crunching” are assessed)
3. the review process in the event of any disagreement/dispute over the
structural engineering PSA register, in particular disputes over “high
risk” applications;
4. how the current external consultant who assess applicants were selected
including any tender documents;
5. who is the current consultant reviewing “high risk” applicants for the
PSA register, and what are their credentials;
6. how much has Auckland Council paid the current external structural
engineering consultant for “high risk” candidate qualification assessments
for the 5 years ending 31 March 2023.
7. conflict of interest process or policy for PSA registration
assessments;

Yours faithfully,

Hunter K

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[2][FOI #22542 email]

Is [3][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Jenny Hua
Auckland Council

Dear Hunter

I refer to your request for information relating to Producer Statement
Authorship. Further to our acknowledgement on 27 April 2023, we require
more time to respond to your request.

I’m sorry that we will not be able to provide you the information today.
We are currently still collating and processing information for your
request. Therefore, Auckland Council is extending the time limit for
responding to your request under section 14 of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). We will reply to your
request by 19 June 2023. Please note this is a maximum response time and
we will endeavour to respond sooner.

The reason for this extension is:

- The request is for a large quantity of information or necessitates a
search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original
time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operation of Auckland
Council.

Please note you have the right to request a review of this extension from
the Ombudsman.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Regards

Jenny Hua | Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner
Governance Services | Auckland Council
Ph 09 301 0101
Auckland Council, 135 Albert Street, Auckland
Visit our website: [1]www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

From: Mary-ann Childs <[email address]> On Behalf
Of Official Information
Sent: Thursday, 27 April 2023 10:15 am
To: [FOI #22542 email]
Subject: LGOIMA - 8140011858 - Producer Statement Authorship

 

 

Kia ora Hunter,

 

Thank you for your request for information about Producer Statement
Authorship.

 

I have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 22 May 2023.

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact Jenny Hua
([2][email address]) on 09 301 0101, quoting reference
8140011858.

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Hunter K <[3][FOI #22542 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 23 April 2023 4:44 pm
To: Official Information <[4][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Producer Statement Author (PSA)
Register - structural engineering policies

 

 

Dear Auckland Council,

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
(LGOIMA), please provide all information regarding the Producer Statement
Authorship (PSA) structural engineering register:

1. the rationale for the need to evaluate structural engineer’s
qualifications for the PSA register when there is already an established
CPEng registration process with Engineering New Zealand. Please provide
decision-making and advice documents leading to this decision;
2. what are the minimum requirements for structural engineers to be on the
“high risk” register (e.g. how many projects, level of involvement, how
seniors who do not do “number crunching” are assessed)
3. the review process in the event of any disagreement/dispute over the
structural engineering PSA register, in particular disputes over “high
risk” applications;
4. how the current external consultant who assess applicants were selected
including any tender documents;
5. who is the current consultant reviewing “high risk” applicants for the
PSA register, and what are their credentials;
6. how much has Auckland Council paid the current external structural
engineering consultant for “high risk” candidate qualification assessments
for the 5 years ending 31 March 2023.
7. conflict of interest process or policy for PSA registration
assessments;

Yours faithfully,

Hunter K

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #22542 email]

Is [6][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[7]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Hunter K

Dear Jenny Hua,

It has been more than a week since 19 June, the "maximum response time", and a response has not yet been provided. Please provide an update as to the status of this request.

Yours sincerely,

Hunter K

Link to this

From: Jenny Hua
Auckland Council


Attachment AC2325 Producer statement application seeking approval to perform high risk work.pdf
131K Download View as HTML

Attachment 8140011858 Response Letter.pdf
238K Download View as HTML


Dear Hunter

Thank you for your request for information regarding the Producer
Statement Authorship. Please find attached our response letter and its
attachments.

 

I also wish to apologise for the delay in getting this response to you and
thank you for your patience while we have worked on this response. If you
have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101, quoting
Official Information Request No 8140011858.

Kind regards

Jenny Hua

Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner

Governance Services

 

From: Hunter K <[FYI request #22542 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2023 2:26 AM
To: Jenny Hua <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LGOIMA - 8140011858 - Producer Statement Authorship

 

Dear Jenny Hua,

It has been more than a week since 19 June, the "maximum response time",
and a response has not yet been provided. Please provide an update as to
the status of this request.

Yours sincerely,

Hunter K

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Hunter K

Dear Jenny Hua,

Thank you for your response. I would like to follow up on Item 4 & 5, and 6 that have not been answered.

(4 & 5) This has not been answered. If this information is withheld, you need to specify that you are withholding this information and under which provision. If this is under Sections 9(2)(b) and 9(2)(i), I note that there is 'public interest test' that needs to be met. Examples include accountablity for spending public money, transparency in procurement practices, and public safety. The credentials of a person(s) reviewing all high-risk structural engineer applications in Auckland is indeed public interest as it involves the safety of high-risk buildings. Engineering New Zealand has an even more rigorous process of assessing engineers, and there appears to be no need for secrecy on personnel and credentials.

(6) Revealing the total cost for this activity is again in the interest of the public, which demands accountability and transparency. I reference the Ombudsman who has said that high-level information (for example, total costs), is less likely to be prejudicial (Example cases 457760, 449159, 439321, 366653 and 179073). You can find this in the link below.

https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...

I am therefore again requesting for the information requested, particularly the total-cost of this activity over the past years for the year ending 2023.

Yours sincerely,

Hunter K

Link to this

Auckland Council


Attachment 8140011858 Response Letter Feb 2024.pdf
224K Download View as HTML


Dear Hunter

I refer to your request for information regarding Producer Statement Authorship. Please find our response letter to your follow-up request attached.

If you have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101, quoting Official Information Request No 8140011858.

Kind regards
Jenny Hua
Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner
Governance Services

[Summer splash pads are calling.] <https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt...>

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Link to this

From: Hunter K

Dear Auckland Council,

Thank you for your response to Queries 4,5 and 6.

Query 4 - Thank you for the history of the appointment of the contractor. There might be no tender documents, but please provide:
(1) the original agreement/terms of reference between Auckland Council and the external contractor
(2) how long the agreement was intended to go on for when they started in 2017
(3) assessment/decision documents on the engagement continuing beyond the period originally envisaged
(4) current agreements/instructions to the contractor

I understand this may be considered a new request with the normal 20 working days to respond, etc.

Query 5 - I note disagreement regarding withholding of information but the Ombudsman's office would be in touch.

Query 6 - Closed, thank you

Yours sincerely,

Hunter K

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