13th Annual Local Government Finance Forum

About

Local Government in New Zealand is currently undergoing a process of change, with the councils of Auckland merging to form a ‘super city’, further local authority reorganisation being signalled and sweeping changes to the Local Government Act (2002) being considered by parliament. Understanding what this process of change means for Local Government and how you will respond to this change is critical as it will ensure future success for your local authority.           

Conferenz has put together a compelling two day conference discussing the critical issues affecting your organisation such as:

• What are Pre-Election reports and how will your council use them
• Assessing alternative debt funding options to ensure the best fit for your council
• Consequences of reforms to the Local Government Act
• Local Government reorganisation and amalgamation
• Performance Management/Benchmarking and how this works for Local Government
• How to use shared service arrangements and CCOs to provide value to your local authority
• How to manage a high performing team through times of organisational change or uncertainly

Our events bring together peers from across the country, creating a fertile setting for professional development and building those key networks.  This is a great opportunity in itself as just one idea, vision or contact could make all the difference for your organisation.

With case studies, a CEO panel and presentations from New Zealand’s leading Local Government practitioners, this event continues too be one of the key events in the local government finance calendar. Attend this conference and gain new knowledge that can be taken back and applied to your own financial or accounting activities.

This event will be a fantastic experience to learn about the future direction of Local Government in New Zealand so seize the opportunity!

Agenda

Agenda: Day 1

8.30

Registration & Coffee

9.00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Brian Trott, Group Manager – Corporate Services, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

9.10

Ministerial Address: The future of Local Government

• Changes to fiscal management for local authorities
• The role and scope of Local Government in the current economic climate
• The need for, and outcomes of, Local Government Act reform
• Reform of the LTCCP process to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the sector

Minister under invitation

9.30

Q&A with the Minister

9.40

Local Government reform and how it will change financial management within local government

Reforms to the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill will change the way Local Government operates. The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill is designed to improve transparency, accountability and financial management in local government. This session will discuss:
• How a Council’s fiscal envelope will be defined
• What changes are being made to current auditing and reporting practices
• How financial strategies will be reported in a more transparent and coherent manner

Jonathan Salter, Partner – Local Government and Environment, Simpson Grierson
Jonathan Salter is of New Zealand’s leading experts on the structures and processes of Local Government. He has over 25 years of providing legal advice to local authorities.

10.30

Morning tea

10.50

What a pre-election budget report will include and how will it be presented

The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill introduces a requirement that the Chief Executive of a local authority prepare a financial report before each local authority election. The purpose of the pre-election report is to promote public discussion about the issues facing local authorities. This session will explore some issues surrounding pre-election reporting.
• What will the pre-election report include?
• How will the pre-election report be prepared?
• How will un-audited financial statements be presented?

Larry Mitchell, Local Government Finance and Policy Analyst

11.40

Plain English Reporting: How to make financial statements easier for the public to understand

Amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 seek to make financial information contained in local authority annual plans and LTCCPs easier for rate payers to understand.
• How will Plain English Reporting comply with current reporting standards, or would it work along side them?
• How will local authorities ensure financial information provided in Plain English Reports are relevant to rate payers?
• How can local authorities present non-financial information in a standardised manner?

Nalar Mohamed, Business Performance Advisor, Auckland City Council

12.30

Lunch

1.30

Performance Benchmarking for Local Government: How will it work?

performance is an important process, as it shows rate payers and local authorities where improvements need to be made which will make local authorities more transparent and accountable for their actions. This session will discuss:
• How systems will be developed to ensure any performance measures are fair, can be applied across all (or most authorities) and not be discriminatory to either rural or urban authorities?
• Will local authorities have to measure activities they do not currently provide?
• What will be the consequences for not reaching specified performance targets?
• How should local authorities set performance measures not prescribed under section 261A of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill?

Michael Garbett, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Michael Garbett has worked at Anderson Lloyd since 2003 and has worked closely with local authorities setting performance management targets and measures.

2.30

How changes to the way LTCCPs are written will affect financial reporting

Under proposed changes to the Local Government Act LTCCPs will be renamed and will be called Long-Term Plans (LTPs). These LTPs will be streamlined documents with a greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and financial management. This session will discuss this and other changes to LTCCPs (LTPs).
• What financial statements/documents need to be included in LTPs?
• How will performance management measures be reported in LTPs?
• How else are LTPs different to LTCCPs?

Keith Miller, Principal Policy Analyst, Department of Internal Affairs

3.20

Afternoon tea

3.40

The development of a Local Government bond bank and other debt funding options for local authorities

The capital market development taskforce recommended the development of a local government bond bank, with the intended purpose of raising funds for infrastructure development. The development of a local government bond bank will give local authorities better access to capital markets and help lower their borrowing costs. This session explores:
• What type of structure and function will a local government bond bank have?
• Is a local government bond bank a viable proposition?
• What other options do local authorities have when raising debt?

Adam Jackson, Senior Associate – Banking and Finance, Simpson Grierson
Adam Jackson has aided both Tauranga and Manukau City Councils in bond issues and has been working with the Securities Commission on the creation of a Local Government bond bank.

4.10

CEO PANEL: Funding pressures facing Local Authorities now and in the future

Local authorities around the country are facing a squeeze on their finances. How the leaders of local government respond to these issues will be critical for the future of the regions they represent. How are local authorities responding to funding pressures now and how are they planning to meet future funding obligations. What qualities are CEOs looking for in finance professionals to help them deal with these challenges?

Tony Stallinger, Chief Executive, Hutt City Council
Dr Jack Dowds, Chief Executive, South Wairarapa District Council
Craig Stevenson, Chief Executive, South Taranaki District Council
Facilitated by:
Brian Trott, Manager – Corporate Services
Bay of Plenty Regional Council

5.00

End of day one & networking drinks

Agenda: Day 2

9.00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Brian Trott, Group Manager – Corporate Services, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

9.05

Local Government reorganisation & amalgamation – what this means for the future

The Local Government Minister is signalling further changes to the structure of local government in New Zealand. One possible structural change will be amalgamation.
• With local authority re-organisation on the political agenda for the foreseeable future what are the options for change in New Zealand?
• Has local authority reorganisation achieved its stated goals - both in New Zealand and globally?
• What lessons can be taken away from local authority reorganisation and how should New Zealand authorities respond to them?

Dr. Andy Asquith, Senior Lecturer – Change Management and Public Sector Management, Massey University

9.50

Council Controlled Organisations (CCO): Future directions in CCOs in an era of Local Government reforms

This session will discuss the role of CCOs in the reformed Local Government environment.
• How do current and future CCOs fit into a reformed system of local governance?
• How can local authorities use CCOs to achieve positive outcomes for the communities they represent?
• What types of council controlled organisations are there and how does a local authority choose the best fit for its needs?

Grant Hewison, Senior Associate – Local Government, Kensington Swan
Grant Hewison worked as a senior manager in strategic and economic development roles at both Auckland and Manukau City Councils before joining Kensington Swan.

10.30

Morning tea

10.50

Improving the asset management process to provide better financial information

Good asset management is essential to the governance and management of any organisation’s business, and is integral to improve financial planning and service delivery. Are local authorities managing their assets properly to ensure the best use of them or are their asset management systems letting them down? This session will cover:
• How to make an asset management plan and who should be involved?
• What are some best practice guidelines to follow?
• What should you not do when managing assets?
• What improvements could be made to asset management systems?

Natalie Rodgers, Finance Manager, Wanganui District Council
Robin Mackie, Asset Management Team Leader, Wanganui District Council
Sarah Dennis, Group Manager, National Infrastructure & Strategy

11.30

How do you get the best out of your team in times of organisational uncertainty?

Local Government in New Zealand is entering a period of change, with local authority elections taking place this year and changes to the legislation underpinning local government in New Zealand on the way. Organisational change can be a trying time for all involved; it is not uncommon for organisational change to bring about increased stress and decreased morale. This session will look at strategies you can employ to you maintain an effective team through periods of change.
• What best practice approaches could be employed to manage teams through change?
• What strategies can encourage staff retention through stressful periods?
• What can your organisation gain through structural change?

Peter Ryan, Manager – Planning & Performance, Christchurch City Council

12.15

Lunch

1.00

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs): Sharing the burden

Central government has signalled their appetite to partner with the private sector to deliver prisons and schools. Proposed changes to the Local Government Act will allow water services to be contracted out for 30 years. What are the opportunities for local authorities to partner with the private sector and what are the key success factors to be considered?
• What are PPPs and what are the opportunities in the Local Government Reform Act?
• Where have PPPs been used in local government? Some case studies.
• What are the key success factors for a PPP?

Rob Steel, Manager - Management Consultancy Services, Opus

1.45

Risk/Liability Management: How to manage council debt to ensure future stability?

Recent reports done by the Auditor-General have revealed that councils are carrying increasing amounts of debt. Managing this debt while maintaining effective delivery of core council services will be a challenge councils have to face. Councils need to ensure risk management practices are realistic in nature and are open for public consultation.
• What are appropriate financial risk management best practices or benchmarks?
• How should local authorities manage liquidity and their mix of financial assets and liabilities?
• How do local authorities ensure they have sound risk/liability management strategies that don’t inhibit regional growth or limit spending on essential infrastructure?
• How does a local authority ensure it has the right risk/liability management strategy in place?

Earl White, Director, Bancorp Treasury Services Limited

2.30

Afternoon tea

2.45

Your essential Local Government tax update

This session will bring you up to date with the critical elements of any new tax legislation affecting local authorities and provide you with details of the content of the most recent tax bills. Any outstanding issues arising from the GST rate change will also be discussed. In addition, this session will give you some insight in terms of the issues that the IRD currently have on their radar.

Michelle Macdonald, Director, TaxTeam

4.10

Closing remarks from the Chair and end of conference

Sponsors/Partners

Interested in sponsorship?

There are some exclusive opportunities to promote your company, and its products and services, at this leading event. Contact the sponsorship team below to request a prospectus or discuss the options, or view more about event sponsorship.