Tuesday, 28 November, 2017
OPOTIKI District Council’s new planning and regulatory manager Gerard McCormack is beginning to make his presence felt with the Audit and Risk Committee yesterday considering, and then adopting his draft enforcement policy.
After a lengthy period without a permanent planning and regulatory manager at council, Mr McCormack, who replaces Barbara Dempsey, presented a draft policy for the committee.
The policy sets out how the planning and regulatory group will perform its regulatory responsibilities. Mr McCormack said, as a regulator, the council is responsible for a wide-ranging list of statutes or legislative requirements.
And at times the council is required to take formal enforcement action against individuals or entities that fail to comply with aspects of the various statutes.
Mr McCormack said the policy set out what could be expected of those involved in the compliance process.
“In order to ensure consistency of approach and transparency of process many councils around New Zealand have policies that set out how council will carry out its role as a regulator.”
The draft policy outlines that after an investigation is carried out, any enforcement decision is made by either the planning and regulatory manager, Mr McCormack, or council chief executive Aileen Lawrie.
If prosecution is pursued, it first needs to be referred to the council for comment or a decision before an independent legal review, and if charges are laid, either the district or environment court would determine guilt, impose sentences or make certain orders.
Mr McCormack arrived in Opotiki from the West Coast and, before that, from Ireland.
He has a strong background in consents and compliance and said he was looking forward to bringing his skills to Opotiki.
“There are a lot of exciting projects being undertaken to unlock the untapped potential within the district which I am keen to assist with,” Mr McCormack said.
He is living in Opotiki with his wife Sarah, a Kiwi who he met 10 years ago on what had become an extended OE for her in London.