Costs mount over mysterious absence of two senior council managers

Thursday, 24 August 2023

Christchurch City Council general manager Jane Davis, left, is still employed by the council but has not worked since February. Three waters boss Helen Beaumont resigned in July after also being off work since February.

The Christchurch City Council has spent more than $300,000 reviewing staffing in its Three Waters department after two senior managers left under mysterious circumstances.

Three Waters boss Helen Beaumont resigned last month after not being at work since February.

Her boss, Jane Davis, the general manager of infrastructure, planning and regulatory services, is still employed by the council, but has not worked there since February.

Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale has repeatedly refused to say why the pair were off work for months, why Beaumont resigned and why Davis was still employed yet had not worked for seven months.

Baxendale would also not say if Beaumont had received a payout, if she had been on full pay before resigning or if Davis was still receiving full pay.

The pair’s exact salaries are not publicly known, but based on the salary bands in the council’s 2022 annual report, Beaumont’s annual wage was likely to be at least $200,000, and Davis’ $220,000.

Christchurch City Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale, pictured, has refused to answer several questions about Beaumont and Davis.

Based on that, the council could have paid out at least $195,000 to the pair while they were not at work.

Following a query by The Press, Baxendale confirmed she engaged external consultant KPMG to conduct a review into “staffing numbers” within the Three Waters unit.

It also looked at “the council’s related processes, procedures and controls” - exactly what that means is unclear.

The council has refused to release the report under four sections of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. It has cited the need to protect people’s privacy, to maintain legal privilege, and to enable the council to carry on negotiations.

The report cost $302,485, including GST, however, the council can claim the 15% tax back.

Baxendale said the council would release a public version of the report, but she would not say when.

Beaumont resigned in July after being off work since February.

Councillor Sam MacDonald, who chairs the council’s finance committee, said it was a matter the chief executive was dealing with and he expected to be briefed on the public report when it was released.

He was also not sure when that would be.

Staff have been left in the dark about the situation, causing many to guess what was going on, sparking several rumours.

A council report revealed in April that its Three Waters department was $2.5 million over budget for operational and staff costs.

The Press asked at the time if the budget issue had contributed to Beaumont being away from work, but was told the chief executive was unable to comment.

Beaumont joined the council in January 2013 and more recently has been in charge of Three Waters, which made her one of the more publicly visible council staff members.

Davis was one of the most senior staff at the council. Another general manager, Mary Richardson, has been covering Davis’ portfolio.

Davis was one of five people on the executive leadership team headed by Baxendale, and joined the council in mid-2021. She was previously the chief executive of the Carterton District Council.