Information for each group in Council
The Council has a matrix organisational structure which promotes collaboration across the organisation and reinforces our value of working as one team. Matrix structures promote and reinforce a multi-functional team approach. By taking advantage of shared services, our operational groups can better focus on the delivery of their core business.

City Environment
The City Environment group cares for the city’s open space assets, such as waterways, parks and reserves. It supplies Christchurch with the best drinking water in the country and protects this valuable resource. It treats waste water and ensures its safe disposal. It keeps the city clean by collecting rubbish, recycling and finding ways to reduce landfill waste. The group investigates the sustainable use of resources (such as power and water) by the Council and the wider community. It provides pedestrian walkways, cycle tracks and roads, and manages traffic flow, public transport and parking. This group is also responsible for preparing civil defence plans and training volunteers.

Community Services
The Community Services group provides services to local communities. These services contribute to social wellbeing and help communities to help themselves. The group is the second-largest landlord in New Zealand, with a proud history of providing social housing.

1. It supports and funds recreation, sports and community organisations.

2. It promotes healthy lifestyles by offering residents the opportunity to participate, meet others, keep active and learn new skills through recreation facilities and programmes.

3. It provides a network of libraries which connect people with information and ideas.

4. It manages the Christchurch Art Gallery, the Akaroa Museum and various community arts programmes. These programmes aim to connect people with art by providing a varied exhibition programme, daytime and evening lectures, films and special events.

Regulation and Democracy Services
The Environmental Policy and Approvals unit, the Inspections and Enforcement unit, the Legal Services unit and the Democracy Services unit comprise the Regulation and Democracy Services group. This group administers the Council’s regulatory processes and provides administrative support to the elected members of the Council and community boards. The group administers and enforces building and development regulations, especially relating to the City Plan, and administers licensed health and safety activities, including dog ownership. The group also conducts elections, and provides support to the elected members in their governance capacity. It provides legal advice, especially in the context of the Council’s responsibilities under the various statutes it administers, including the Local Government Act and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

Capital Programme
The Capital Programme group is responsible for delivering the Council’s Capital Programme. It provides professional services over a range of disciplines, as well as providing project management services for the Council. This group operates as a shared service across the Council, providing integrated services and solutions.

Corporate Services
The Corporate Services group operates as a shared service across the Council, providing the infrastructure that allows others to carry out their daily duties. This group is responsible for information technology and telecommunications. It provides administrative support to other groups. It handles procurement and purchasing, property services, rates administration and financial transactions. The group is responsible for energy use, corporate reporting, financial planning, audit and fiscal responsibility, compliance with tax laws, accounting regulations, fulfilment of the Council’s tax obligations and securing adequate insurance
protection.

Human Resources
The Human Resources group operates as a shared service across the Council, working with the leaders of the organisation to ensure that staff achieve the organisations goals. This group develops workforce strategy and policy around organisation development, remuneration, employment relations, recruitment and selection, and health and safety. By recognising and interpreting business trends, the Human Resources group helps the organisation to plan for future knowledge, skill and labour requirements.

Public Affairs

The Public Affairs group is the public face of the Council, providing information and assistance to its

customers, both internal and external. This group operates as a shared service across the Council, providing communication advice, customer contact and marketing services to the business units.

The group helps build relationships with the community by:

•  developing and delivering events and festivals

•  co-ordinating civic functions

•  fostering the city’s international relationships

•  liaising with the media and

•  co-ordinating public consultation across the entire range of Council activities.

Strategy and Planning

The Strategy and Planning group is responsible for the preparation and monitoring of the city’s community outcomes. It supports the Council’s contribution to these by:

•  developing long-term policies and plans for the Council’s four adopted strategic directions: to have a liveable city, a healthy environment, strong communities and economic prosperity

•  conducting research and monitoring the social, environmental and economic trends of the city, providing policy advice, and undertaking planning projects relating to the city as a whole or to specific areas

•  being involved in long term land use and infrastructure and resource planning, urban revitalisation, heritage management and urban design

•  providing policy advice to support the Council’s community, environmental and economic functions, and undertakes economic initiatives to support the City’s strategic directions

•  maintaining the City Plan and overseeing the development and implementation of the Urban Development Strategy.

The outputs produced by the Strategy and Planning Group set the direction for other Council documents, primarily activity management plans for each organisational group, the City Plan, and the Long Term Council Community Plan.