Feedback sought on economic growth CCO proposal

Rotorua District Council (RDC) is giving residents the chance to comment on its proposal to establish a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) tasked with implementing the Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy recently adopted by the council.

The council recently narrowed its options for a governance structure for driving the new strategy down to a pure CCO model or a council committee and CCO hybrid model, ultimately opting for the simple CCO option.

RDC economic & regulatory services group manager Mark Rawson said the council’s preference for establishing a CCO was in line with recommendations made by an independent project reference group made up of local business leaders.

“The group has worked with the council over recent months to develop Rotorua’s Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy. They also undertook extensive research to identify economic development models that might best match Rotorua’s needs before putting forward the two preferred options, ie a CCO and a hybrid committee/CCO.

“Setting up a CCO as RDC is proposing, would mean appointing a board of independent people from outside of the council. They would take on responsibility for driving the economic growth strategy’s implementation but they would of course work in close partnership with the council.”

Mr Rawson said the district’s sustainable economic growth strategy set the direction for Rotorua’s future economic progress and would be a major focus for the council over the next few years. He said economic development objectives were now firmly embedded in the objectives of all council departments across the entire organisation.

The growth strategy aims to achieve three key outcomes which contribute to realisation of the district vision of ‘Rotorua: Living the dream – world Class in Every Way’.

“Over the next five years those three broad priorities will be to boost the reputation of Rotorua, to lift the performance of the local economy, and to raise living and skills standards.

Anyone interested in making comment on the council’s proposal to establish an economic growth CCO for the district can pick up a CCO Establishment submission form and a copy of the proposal from the Council Civic Centre, or download the form and proposal from the council website. Submissions close on 21 February 2012.