PDF File - Guidance to Departments in Relation to Crown Entities

Guidance to Departments in
Relation to Crown Entities
About this guidance
This guidance is for
departments that
support Ministers who
have roles and
responsibilities in
relation to Crown
entities
This guidance is for departments that support Ministers with roles and
responsibilities in relation to Crown entities. It is part of a set of advice
developed by central agencies to help responsible Ministers, their
departments, and boards improve the performance of Crown entities
under the Crown Entities Act 2004 (“the Act”) 1 . This guidance should
be read together with Cabinet Office Circular CO (99) 13 Ministers’
Roles and Responsibilities in Relation to Crown Entities 2 .
This guidance applies to departments’ engagements with Crown
agents, autonomous Crown entities (ACEs) and independent
Crown entities (ICEs) – which are the three types of statutory entity
described in the Act. Monitoring approaches will be tailored to
respect differences between types of entities, and each entity’s
enabling legislation.
The term “monitoring department” is in common usage, and this
circular continues this practice. A department’s work in relation to a
Crown entity involves a diverse range of activities, however, such as
board appointments, interactions on strategic planning, direction and
budget, as well as ongoing performance monitoring, advice and
reporting.
Overview
Monitoring departments work for their Minister. They are expected
to help Ministers:
• focus on results for New Zealanders – as well as output and
fiscal results
• improve strategic alignment of departments and entities within
their area
• build an effective medium and long-run focus and direction
• ensure vital outputs are delivered well, and produce the results
intended
• assess non-financial and financial performance
1
2
Including “Guidance for Crown entities: planning and managing for results”,
“Guidance and requirements for Crown entities: preparing the 2006/07
Statement of Intent”, and relevant Cabinet Office Circulars.
This Cabinet Office Circular is about to be updated to take account of the
Crown Entities Act 2004 and other developments. The 2006 Circular will be
available from www.dpmc.govt.nz/Cabinet/circulars
Guidance to Departments in Relation to Crown Entities | 3