13 jobs to go in housing offload

"Redeployment is not guaranteed . . .' '

Council city services general manager David Adamson

Thirteen jobs have gone as the Christchurch City Council prepares to offload management of its social housing to a new trust.

The Otautahi Community Housing Trust will take over managing the council’s more than 2300 social housing units on October 3, so the council no longer needs the 20 staff working in its housing department.

Council city services general manager David Adamson said nine positions would deliver the council’s housing function after the transfer to the trust.

Thirteen positions were disestablished and two new positions were created including a fixed-term role focused on the transition.

Eight housing unit staff have secured jobs with the trust. Three others have either accepted redeployment within the new council housing structure, or accepted redeployment elsewhere within the organisation.

The remaining two staff, whose jobs were disestablished, have yet to find work, but Adamson said the council was working with them to find other positions within the organisation.

‘‘Redeployment is not guaranteed, however, the council gives priority to ongoing employment wherever possible.’’

After almost two years of planning, the council unanimously agreed on Thursday to lease its social housing units to the trust.

The trust will assume responsibility for the day-to-day running of the service. The council will retain full ownership of its social housing, and will transfer $50m worth of land and assets held by its social housing unit.

The council has been struggling to generate enough money to maintain and upgrade the units, but the trust was able to access much-needed extra revenue through the Government’s Income-Related Rent Subsidy. The subsidy was introduced in 2013 and allowed the Government to pay the difference between what a tenant was able to pay and the market rent.

The trust expected to pay $12 million annually back to the council to provide for maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of housing stock. This was expected to increase to a maximum of $19m.

Trust chief executive Cate Kearney told councillors on Thursday, the trust had worked closely with council staff and she was thrilled to be picking up the social housing portfolio.

About 20 staff were due to start work in the next few weeks, she said.