Council's Aquatic Centre discussion to remain confidential

Discussion about management of the Rotorua Aquatic Centre will remain behind doors. Photo/File

Rotorua Lakes Council's discussion around whether management of the Rotorua Aquatic Centre should be outsourced has remained behind closed doors, despite a councillor's plea to have the debate in an open forum.

The discussion is being held in a confidential section of today's council meeting, where a decision is expected to be made as to whether management of the Aquatic Centre will be outsourced or kept in-house.

Councillor Rob Kent initially argued it was in the public interest to have the debate in an open forum, but later withdrew the motion, after advice from the chief executive.

"My own feeling is the decision before the council is whether there is going to be an issue or not and I think staff should have the right to know that as well as the public.

"It is only if we decide that we should go down the track of putting a contract out to another party that the issue arises, so in the interest of the public, I strongly recommend we hold this preliminary debate, which is whether we should or should not go down that track, in an open forum."

Mayor Steve Chadwick said she was aware this was a sensitive issue and in the interest of the Aquatic Centre staff, the debate should remain confidential.

"This is something that will be disclosed with the community at the right time, it's just in the interest of the staff down there."

Chief executive Geoff Williams seconded this, though noted he "fully understands the need and wish for this to be a debate in the open".

"The issue we have however is that we need to work with our staff through a due process. What an open debate will mean for us is that [staff] will potentially be watching this debate and will be hearing and learning what this direction is through a council debate as opposed to a discussion which we are able to walk them through."

Williams went on to add the issue was being presented to councillors after being considered by a committee.

"The full debate has been had by this committee and you are considering a recommendation from the committee.

"General practice has it that we as staff do not represent to you a complete picture of all the material that was actually presented to the committee. If this is viewed externally, those that are viewing this will not have and do not have the same access to the confidential material discussed in that committee that you have access to. What they are seeing is only part of the story.

"If you make a decision, one way or another, we want to work with our staff and ensure they have available to them the complete picture of what is actually proposed and how this will affect them.

"If you have this debate [publicly] today, we can't ensure the complete picture is conveyed to [staff] through this debate."

Councillor Charles Sturt initially supported Kent's motion, but withdrew, saying, "We've got some staff down there... that are very nervous about what's happening and with due respect for them, we should have it in confidential".

Chadwick concluded it was clear "our staff really matter to us" and "looking at the tenor of some of the community concern, they too haven't got the full picture. I think this is a stepped process".

Kent withdrew the motion.

The rest of the public meeting saw councillors agree to proceed to detailed design work for strengthening and enhancing the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, that the Statement of Proposal and proposed amendments to the Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 be approved for special consultation, that the Rotorua Special Housing Areas Police be adopted and proposed speed limits be consulted on.