Staff under spend a worry though
From Auckland Council:
Quarterly Performance shows council finances remain on track
Auckland Council is performing well against agreed budgets, according to the latest quarterly update to the Finance and Performance committee today.
The report to 31 March 2018 shows that the Council Group (including all council-controlled organisations or CCOs) recorded an operating surplus (before gains and losses) of $788 million. Total assets were at $36,411 million, while $1,115 million had been invested in community infrastructure during the period.
The Council Parent (excluding CCOs) net operating result was $42 million better than budget. This was mainly due to lower than budgeted interest costs ($21 million below budget) and staff costs ($16 million below). At the same time, the report showed that the parent met 63 per cent of performance targets set as part of the ongoing performance reporting measure.
Chair of the committee, Councillor Ross Clow said the report showed the value of prudent transparent financial management.
“This report shows that we are managing our financial responsibilities in an effective manner. At the same time it demonstrates our commitment to transparency and that Aucklanders can have confidence that we are doing all we can to remain within our agreed parameters, despite the challenging financial environment we are operating in,” he says.
“The recent 10-year Budget shows just how many challenges we are facing as a council, with significant investment required to keep Auckland moving. Doing so while ensuring we keep within prudent debt limits and delivering a great service for Aucklanders is a challenge, but one I am confident this council is striving to meet.”
The committee also received updates from CCOs Watercare, Regional Facilities Auckland, Auckland Transport, Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, Panuku Development Auckland and Auckland Council Investments Limited.
The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.
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Source: Our Auckland
I am worried about the under-spend in the staff department as two primary areas of Council business are often affected by this:
- Planning. The amount of times I see Planning (Consenting) vacancies come up is bound not to be a good sign
- Communications. Often flogged by the Right but the Right are first to whinge when information is not communicated fast enough.
Staff numbers need to keep up with population growth otherwise we start seeing Real service cuts and what the whinging that follows that one (like night and day).
None-the-less finances are in good shape and Debt is due to start tracking down from 2021 as the City Rail Link CAPEX starts making its way off the front of the books.
Source: Auckland Council
Talking Southern Auckland 