Thank you for contacting the Far North District Council.

 

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Kia ora Annette and Victor,

Thank you for your request received Friday 23rd November 2018.

Pursuant to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987, you will receive a reply within twenty working days of Council
receiving your request.

Please quote your customer Reference in any future correspondence
concerning this matter RFS-3923274
 

We thank you for taking the time to contact us. Please do not hesitate to
visit our website for more information [1]www.fndc.govt.nz, call our
friendly customer service staff on 0800 920 029 or 09 4015 200 or email
[2][Far North District Council request email].

Naku noa,

Phillippa

[3][IMG] Ask Us Team  
District Services
Far North District Council  
09 401 5200 or 24-hour Contact Centre 0800 920 029 |
[4][Far North District Council request email]  

   

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Ms Leonie Exel et al

By email only to:     [FOI #9095 email]

 

 

Dear Ms Exel, Ms Inglis, Mr Bokulic

 

Official information request: 3923274

 

I refer to your information request received 22 November 2018 which has
been referred to Legal Services for consideration in accordance with the
provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987 (“the LGOIMA”).

 

Your information request and corresponding answers are as follows:

 

 1. Was a formal exit interview conducted with the manager of the Okaihau
pound?

 

No, Council did not conduct an exit interview as this was a contracted
service with an external contractor. The service provider gave written
notice to Council to terminate the service agreement.

 

 2. Was there was a conflict of interest declared by the FNDC animal
control manager who is related to the land owner from whom land has
been leased? Please attach evidence of that declaration, including the
date this was submitted.

 

The Team Leader – Animal Management (to whom you refer) was not involved
in the negotiations of lease agreements or contracts for service. Council
entered into a lease agreement with the land owner before the contract for
services with the service provider was terminated. A contract was arranged
for additional land for the temporary dog pound facility.

 

 3. Before Council made a commitment to go ahead with the Horeke Temporary
Pound, was a cost analysis or financial report produced? Please attach
a copy if so.

 

Council engaged an external contractor to deconstruct the Okaihau Pound
and reconstruct the Horeke Pound. Council received a quote for this work
which was approved according to appropriate Council procurement
procedures.

 

 4. Was a resource consent and/or preliminary assessment provided for the
establishment of the temporary pound, in terms of its location and
function? Please supply a copy.

 

Council staff held discussions with technical experts who confirmed that
resource consent was not required.

 

 5. Was construction of the facility and amenities carried out by approved
Site Wise FNDC contractors? Who were they?

 

The contractors involved in the construction of the facility and amenities
were Total Span, Mark Fell Engineering, Far North Drainlayers, Kerikeri
Plumbers and Just Spray It, Just Fence It Contractors.

 

 6. Is the annual cost of the lease comparable to the previous lease costs
for the former Okaihau pound? That contract was for $29,000 per year
for 24-hour oversight, care of the dogs, and a rehoming service, and
$14,500 annually for lease of the land.

 

The annual cost of the current facility is less than that provided
previously. Refer to the Southern Dog Pound Agreement (a copy has already
been provided).

 

 7. Council was advised by staff that building works began on the Horeke
site, and that a 12-month agreement had been negotiated, in a May,
2017 report. Who approved that work commence on the site before an
agreement was signed?

 

A verbal agreement between the landowner and Council had been reached in
order for work to commence as a matter of urgency.

 

 8. Is this consistent with FNDC policy and procedures?

 

Yes.

 

 9. Why did the Chief Financial Officer not review that report?

 

No requirement for CFO to read the report.

 

10. Who is responsible for ensuring that Council reports are
accurate/truthful?

 

The report author.

 

11. In the report provided to Council’s Operations Committee Meeting on
8th June 2017, the report stated that the Horeke pound would be
“operational no later than 10 June 2017” . However, dogs were not
present in that pound until March 2018 (CEO Report A2020062, 16th
April 2018). Why was there a nine-month delay?

 

The external contractor responsible for this project encountered delays
due to weather, access, availability of contractors, supplier constraints
and project manager health issues. The Animal Management team still
continued to operate a dog pound facility in Kaitaia that for a time
serviced the wider district.

 

12. When Council moves all operations to a new permanent location in
Ngawha, what infrastructure/buildings will be left behind on the
Horeke site? For example, the concrete slab, the water tank?

 

Refer to the Southern Dog Pound Agreement (a copy has already been
provided).

 

13. Please provide a breakdown of costs, and the total cost, of the Horeke
pound, so far.

 

We can provide a total cost for financial year 2017/18: $131,967.58.

 

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

[1]FNDC-swishYours faithfully

 

 

[2]FNDC Legal Services
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Far North District Council | Te Kaunihera o Tai Tokerau Ki Te Raki
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