The Star: January 23, 2020

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The Star Thursday January 23 2020 6 NEWS Multi-use arena investment case decision pending • By Louis Day PARLIAMENTARY officials are preparing advice for a final decision around the investment case for the city’s multi-use arena. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods have been delegated authority over the decision by Cabinet. A department of Prime Minister and Cabinet spokeswoman said the two ministers will have until March 2 to make a decision otherwise it will return to Cabinet. The investment case for the $472 million arena, which asks for $220 million from the Government’s Christchurch Regeneration Acceleration Fund, was approved by the city council in December. The case states that for the arena to be competitive and attract international and national events, it needs a roof, a minimum seating capacity of 25,000, with potential to add 5000 temporary seats, fixed rectangular turf and high-quality acoustics. The city council has put aside $253 million in its 2018-28 Long Term Plan for its contribution to the arena’s construction costs. Work on the site could begin as early as mid-this year. • By Louis Day CHIEF OMBUDSMAN Peter Boshier says the city council appears to be making good progress in response to his heavily critical assessment of it last year. In his investigation into how the city council responds to requests for official information he identified “serious concerns” around the city council’s commitment to openness and transparency. Within his findings from his investigation from October 2018 to July 2019 he alleged city council bosses were “manipulating” reports before they were released to elected members and the public. In response to Mr Boshier’s concerns, the city council formulated an improvement plan consisting of 90 different actions to address his recommendations. An update from the city council on the improvement plan set to be received by city councillors today states: “Good progress is being made on the implementation of the improvement plan. “Of the 90 identified actions Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Progress on Boshier findings Peter Boshier IMPROVEMENT: The city council says good progress is being made in response to Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s scathing assessment which accused council bosses of manipulating reports. for the council, 28 have been completed, 44 have been initiated and are ongoing, 17 have yet to be started and one has been delayed,” it reads. Mr Boshier said he planned to check in with the city council in late February. “The council appears to be making good progress on the recommendation and that is encouraging, but we will know more after we check in late next month,” he said. During Mr Boshier’s investigation, he said city council staff raised concerns with him about the behaviour of “some members of the then executive leadership team.” He said he had received no further concerns from staff since the release of the report. In his report, he said former chief executive Karleen Edwards failed to take “appropriate and adequate action” after staff raised concerns that some members of the executive leadership team were withholding information. Ms Edwards chose not to reapply for the chief executive role after her five-year contract ended in June. Current chief executive Dawn Baxendale announced in July she was quitting as Birmingham City Council chief executive to take on the role. Mr Boshier recommended that Mrs Baxendale review the practice of the executive leadership team’s involvement in controlling the flow of information to elected members and the public, which has since been completed. Mrs Baxendale said herself and the executive leadership team were committed to implementing the improvement plan. “Solid progress is being made with an emphasis on not just completing the actions but embedding the cultural change in the council. Our expectations are to drive continuous improvement so it becomes part of our natural behaviour,” she said. Mrs Baxendale said she expected the remaining action points to be completed by the end of May. Other recommendations from Mr Boshier included allowing a clear process for staff to raise concerns “without fear of reprisal” and ensuring the “mayor’s adviser” is not a participant in the weekly meeting where LGOIMA requests are discussed. Both recommendations have been acted upon. • From the editor’s desk, p14 ENROL NOW FOR 2020 LIMITED PLACES STILL AVAILABLE ON THE NZ CERTIFICATE IN ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENT TECHNOLOGY (LEVEL 4) WITH STRANDS IN LIGHTING AND LIVE SOUND CALL NOW TO ENROL! CHRISTCHURCH 0800 264 426 MAINZ.AC.NZ
• By Sophie Cornish CHANGES WILL soon be implemented at Canterbury’s health facilities to monitor and manage the risk of superbugs. Also known as multi-drugresistant organisms, superbugs are an ongoing issue both globally and within the Canterbury District Health Board. The rise of superbugs, which are strains of bacteria that are resistant to the majority of commonly-used antibiotics, means ordinary infections can in some cases become untreatable with antibiotics and life-saving medical procedures, such as surgeries or transplants, can become extremely difficult or risky. “The risk of an MDRO infection, particularly in critically ill and immune-compromised patients, is very real and increasing every year,” said microbiology clinical director and chair of the CDHB infection and prevention control executive committee, Joshua Freeman. CDHB staff will be required to implement a new risk assessment flowchart and guidelines for superbugs from February 1, to assess all patients presenting, transferred or being admitted to CDHB hospitals. “Just as the epidemiology of these bacteria has changed over time, so must our response. That’s why we’re currently making changes to the way we monitor and manage MDRO risk,” Dr Freeman said. To ensure the CDHB continues to respond appropriately, Dr Freeman’s committee made policy updates, which all staff will be required to learn. Staff education sessions are being held and the changes are in line with the Ministry of Health’s antimicrobial resistance action plan, which aims to achieve a consistent approach Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Superbugs in spotlight CHANGES: Joshua Freeman, who chairs the CDHB infection and prevention control executive committee, is helping education staff about new procedures around superbugs. towards reducing MDROs, their harm and cost, nationally. The five MDROs which CDHB list as current concern. • Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) • Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) • Extended Spectrum Betalactamase producing bacteria (ESBL) • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) • Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) • By Sophie Cornish A WINDOW-smashing rampage in east Christchurch suburbs on Monday night has caused thousands of dollars of damage to cars. Police are now investigating after receiving 11 reports of car windows being smashed in one night. Shirley, Richmond and Mairehau were targeted and police received reports of vehicle damage on Averill St, Slater St, Nicholls St, Flockton St, Squire St, Aylesford St, Erin Cres, Patrick St, Fergusson Ave, Archer St and Vogel St. Slater St resident Kristi Millard was “gutted” to discover on Tuesday morning that seven of her car windows had been smashed. Fortunately, Ms Millard has insurance, but her car will take weeks to be repaired as the windows required aren’t currently available in the country. “It’s certainly not driveable. I’m gutted as I was going to Timaru to visit a sick friend on Tuesday but due to discovering the damage done to the car at 8am I couldn’t drive anywhere,” she said. Warden St resident Lilly Van’t Wout was shocked to discover Thursday January 23 2020 The Star NEWS 7 Vandals smash windows on 11 cars SMASHED: Kristi Millard was “gutted” to discover seven of her car windows had been smashed on Monday night, on Slater St. (Below) – Lilly Van’t Wout’s car on Warden St. almost every window in her car had been smashed. “They didn’t hold back that’s for sure,” she said. business is easier in South City WSLWK26F warehousestationery.co.nz
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The Star: January 23, 2020

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