4 Nov 2010

Auditor-General questions council executive's payout

8:31 am on 4 November 2010

Auditor-General Lyn Provost has criticised the Rodney District Council for the redundancy package paid to its outgoing chief executive.

Ms Provost has been investigating the payouts to eight council chief executives who lost their jobs when the Auckland super city was formed.

Rodney's chief executive, Rodger Kerr-Newell, received $349,200.

Of this, $35,000 was for untaken professional development opportunities and $7000 for missing out on receiving career transition advice.

In her report, the Auditor-General says those two payments were not authorised.

Former mayor Penny Webster says she believes the payments were contractual obligations.

Lynn Provost also criticises a decision to delay giving notice to other council staff, which affected how much they had to be paid out.