Auckland Council training spend $7m

The council employs the equivalent of 6088 full-timers.Picture / Greg Bowker

Ratepayers’ association criticises $1080 cost per employee despite downward trend

The Auckland Council has spent more than $28 million on staff training and related travel costs in four years.

In the financial year to June 30, it spent $6.58 million on training and $445,622 on related domestic and international travel, including flights and accommodation, down from the previous two years.

In a letter providing the data under official-information legislation, the council says it employed the equivalent of 6088 full-timers at June 30. Its 2014/15 training equates to $1080 for each full-time equivalent employee.

"Investing in staff training ensures our staff are up to date with the latest technical, professional and legal requirements needed to carry out their jobs and, like other organisations, contributes to the attraction and development of staff," the council says in the letter.

"The training costs covered by the figures [provided] encompass a wide range of training-related activities. In this context training includes everything from role-specific accreditation, internal staff-development programmes and technical-skills training, in areas such as regulatory compliance, health and safety, auditing and IT, through to presentations or attendance at relevant conferences, along with workshops and training-related meetings."

The council's director of people and capability, Christine Etherington, said the spending was wise use of ratepayers' money.

Another council official said yesterday she was unable at short notice to obtain an explanation of the cost variations between years.

Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokeswoman Jo Holmes said the council was spending too much on training.

"We do understand that ongoing staff training is important but $1000 an employee seems excessive. We think the council should pay more attention to cutting staff numbers and getting debt under control than sending staff on expensive training courses."

Training and travel

Auckland Council staff training expenses, including travel, parking, taxis, accommodation and meals, by financial year ending June 30

2012: $6.17 million

2013: $8.06 million

2014: $7.41 million

2015: $7.02 million