Boss shares Goff’s agenda

Auckland Council boss Stephen Town says he shares the agenda of new Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for a turnaround in council performance.

Goff got a strong mandate at the polls to rebuild public trust and confidence in the council and cut waste.

In an interview with the Herald, Town said the council already shared the mayor’s agenda and there was nothing to be alarmed about.

Responding to claims by Goff that satisfaction with council’s performance across the board is at “rock bottom”, Town said the council would love to see trust and confidence scores increase on the back of improved performance.

Town was also relaxed about a suggestion from Goff that former Air New Zealand bosses Rob Fyfe and Norm Thompson could be brought in to improve the culture at council. He said the council in conjunction with the PSA union had been working to set up seminars with Air New Zealand to get the two organisations together.

Town expected a new mayor would ask the council to “push a bit harder” and it was a good thing to have a positive tension there.

Goff has already exerted his authority by questioning the need to spend $10m to $12m on a mooring dolphin at the end of Queens Wharf for mega cruise ships. The project has gone on hold for 20 days while officials look at other options.

Town said he wanted to have more in-depth discussions with the new mayor about his proposal to save an extra 3 per cent to 6 per cent over and above existing savings targets. He has told Goff he would like to see a number when the mayor presents his first draft budget next month or early December.