'Faulkners Corner” Sun 19 November re choosing a CEO. Bill Faulkner states,
'This is a key appointment. The Local Government Act of 1989 and 2002 wrested all the power from politicians and passed it to the chief executive. The future of Tauranga will be hugely influenced by the new appointment. It will be the single most important decision this council will make this term.”
Well that says it all!
It sounds as though the 'new” council have given in to the future demands of the yet to be appointed CEO already.
Why did we bother to elect a mayor and council a few weeks ago? It appears from what Bill Faulkner says that Tauranga ratepayers could have saved a considerable amount in salaries and other expenses annually by dumping the Mayor and Councillors and having the CEO run the city.
In reality the Chairman (Mayor) and Board (Councillors), representing Tauranga shareholders (Ratepayers), are elected to direct the CEO to carry out Council and Ratepayer requirements and decisions in exactly the same way as is done in any private corporation. If the CEO does not comply with any and all directions he /she should be immediately shown the door as there is far too much at stake for the individual appointed as CEO to push their own agenda. Under the immediate past administration it became very obvious that the previous CEO had far too much input and influence in major decisions made by Council.
The CEO is purely there to advise and not pressure Council into a decision, and carry out Council requirements once a decision has been made.
One of the first instructions the new CEO should be given by Council is to initiate a full independent audit of Council staff, to be repeated every three years, as is done in many self respecting private corporations.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach.