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n this column in October 2017, I discussed how the council had committed to opening up to outside scrutiny by asking independent assessors to examine how well we delivered key services.

We were one of 18 New Zealand councils that had volunteered to become foundation members of the CouncilMARK™ local government excellence programme. A team of independent assessors visited our offices to question staff and managers about their work. They then rated us in four priority areas: leadership, finance, service delivery and community engagement.

We received a very creditable B rating on a scale ranging from AAA to C. Using that assessment as a benchmark, we then set to work on 34 transformation projects, and prepared for our second assessment in three years. Like so many plans laid for 2020, that assessment was delayed by the nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Delayed but certainly not forgotten.

In November 2020, two assessors visited us over 21⁄2 days and again interviewed elected members and staff about the same key areas of leadership, finance, service delivery