16 February 2024
LGOIMA No. 8140011858
(Please quote this in any correspondence)
Hunter K
By Email:
[FYI request #22542 email]
Tēnā koe Hunter
Local Government Official Information And Meetings Act 1987
Producer Statement Authorship
Thank you for your initial information request dated 23 April 2023, regarding the Producer
Statement Authorship (PSA) structural engineering register, and your follow up request
dated 8 September 2023. The specific details of your follow up request are below:
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.
(6) Revealing the total cost for this activity is again in the interest of the public, which
demands accountability and transparency.
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.
We have reviewed our decision regarding questions 4-6 of your initial information request.
Upon further evaluation, we have resolved to release further information set out below.
Decisions pertaining to the release of this information have been made by
Denise Whelan,
Manager Building Consents Capability.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in getting this response to you and thank you for
your patience while we have worked on this response.
In response to your request:
4. how the current external consultant who assess applicants were selected
including any tender documents;
The engagement of the consultant was approved in 2017 by a Manager who no longer
works for Auckland Council. The consultant has confirmed that they were initially
engaged to undertake assessment of applications by the previous Manager due to an
Auckland Council staff member taking leave. This arrangement has continued since that
time. There are no tender documents in relation to this engagement.
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
5. who is the current consultant reviewing “high risk” applicants for the PSA
register, and what are their credentials;
This information is withheld under section 7(f)(ii) of the of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA), because withholding of this information is
necessary to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of
such members, officers, employees, and persons from improper pressure or
harassment.
In reaching this conclusion we have carefully considered whether the need to withhold
this information is outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable, in the
public interest, to make this information available, in particular the need for transparency.
In the present circumstances, we do not consider that these public interest
considerations outweigh the need to maintain effective conduct through protection from
improper pressure and harassment.
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.
Auckland Council’s consultant has not been paid to perform these assessments.
We wil provide a copy of this letter to the Ombudsman’s office to provide them with an
update on Auckland Council’s response to your complaint.
If you have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101, quoting LGOIMA No.
8140011858.
Ngā mihi
Jenny Hua
Senior Privacy & Of icial Information Business Partner
Governance Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
