Council to appoint new board for CCO
Published on 06 October 2017
6 October 2017
Whanganui District Council has approved an updated governance manual for its Council-controlled organisations (CCOs) which will mean a new board for Whanganui District Council Holdings Ltd.
The manual was brought to the 3 October meeting of the Council, where it was presented to Councillors and the Mayor in the confidential section of the meeting.
Chief Executive, Kym Fell says, “It is the responsibility of the Council to audit its governance structure for CCOs to ensure they are strategically aligned to deliver the best results for our community and its investments.”
Mr Fell says, “This is not a reflection on the good governance we currently enjoy, however it will provide a transparent appointment and accountability framework based on best practice principles for governance.
“Our CCO Governance Manual ensures we are applying a clear and consistent approach to the effective governance of all our CCOs. These organisations contribute significantly to the delivery of services and economic development for Whanganui and it’s important they line up with the aspirations of the Council and our wider community.
“In 2016 the focus for the manual was on Whanganui & Partners, which resulted in the establishment of their new board. Now, in 2017, we have included a governance structure review for Holdings.”
Under the new structure, the responsibilities of Holdings will be to oversee GasNet Ltd, the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, Whanganui Airport and Whanganui Port (Ports Group), and to pursue investment opportunities. The Quarry and Forestry portfolios will be transferred to the Whanganui District Council Property division.
Mr Fell says, “In line with this review, an independent third party specialising in governance recruitment will be appointed. The new Holdings Board will need to be made up of directors with relevant and specific experience to add value to the boardroom table across a variety of sectors. We will need aviation and maritime expertise, for example.”
Mr Fell says some of the current board members may indicate their availability for appointment to roles on the new board and he would support them expressing interest through an independent appointment process.
Mr Fell says he acknowledges the contribution to the community made by the Holdings Directors. “I would like to personally thank them for the commitment and expertise they have offered, often well beyond the scope of their duties.”
It is expected that the new board will commence in January 2018.