Chief Executive of Rotorua Lakes Council
Job Description: The Local Government Act 2002 requires the Council to employ a Chief Executive whose responsibilities are to employ other staff on behalf of the Council, implement Council decisions and provide advice to the Council.
On Westbrook Sports Precinct:
- As Chief Executive of the Rotorua Lakes Council Mr Williams bears responsibility for preparing the Agenda for all Council and Committee Meetings. Despite the Council voting against deferring discussion on the Westbrook Sports Precinct, the Agenda for the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee meeting of 7 July 2021 did not include the Westbrook Sports Precinct. He refused to implement Council’s decision of 27 June 2021 to expedite discussion of Westbrook at the SP&F Committee.
- At the Council Meeting of 28 June 2021 he declined to give an assurance that the Westbrook Sports Precinct would be ready for a decision in the first year of the Long Term Plan (1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022), refusing to expedite a decision despite widespread community concern.
- As Chief Executive of the Rotorua Lakes Council Mr Williams bears full responsibility for every aspect of how the Westbrook Sports Precinct has been managed. (or mismanaged).
Council Meeting of 28 June 2021:
Mr Williams was asked by Mayor Steve Chadwick to give an assurance the assessment for Westbrook Sports Precinct would be done in the first year of the Long Term Plan (1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022). This was done in response to a request made be Cr Mercia Yates. Mr Williams responded as follows:
Look absolutely. We’re very aware that this is a piece of work that has got high public interest and therefore needs to be expedited quickly. That said, it is actually a large piece of work that will need to be undertaken so I couldn’t at this point provide a definitive timeline.
Curiously, despite Mr Williams not giving an assurance that this “piece of work” would be completed in the first year of the Long Term Plan, Mayor Chadwick continued as if he had saying:
So that assurance is given.
Mr Williams’ so-called “assurance” apparently did not satisfy Cr Yates who moments later voted against the Trumper Amendment which had sought:
That the discussion on the future of the Springfield Golf Course be deferred until such time as a full assessment is conducted by Council on a future sports facility that is fit for purpose to meet the future needs of the Rotorua community to go out for full consultation at the appropriate time.