In November, the Government approved a new council performance measurement framework. 

The overarching objectives of the project are to ensure that information about how councils are performing is readily accessible in a central location, consistent and comparable. 

The result is that the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will publish a set of council profiles on its website annually, including key performance metrics for each council.

DIA has announced that the first of these will be released in mid-July. Says DIA: “Publishing in mid-July ensures the most up-to-date data is used, providing clearer and more accurate information on council performance in the last year.” 

The initial set of metrics are based on already-public data from councils’ annual reports and long-term plans. So, the information isn’t new, but having it consistently and well-organised for comparison purposes is a welcome contribution. The draft profiles were shared with councils to double-check for correctness. 

The initial profiles will include metrics relating to financial performance. Rather timely in view of upcoming local body elections. Other metrics and benchmarks will be added in future years, following some changes to council reporting requirements in law, to provide greater context and a more complete picture of council performance. 

When the Government announced the council performance benchmarks in December, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said the performance measures would “give ratepayers more visibility about the financial prudence of their council”.

Councils have been grouped by population size, and each council profile will list metrics relating to demographics, rates, debt, staffing levels, and remuneration, and operating and capital expenditure, alongside group medians.

Council profiles will be accompanied by comparison tables for each council group, where measures from the relevant profiles are tabled for direct comparison.

BayBuzz can’t wait!