By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Whanganui District Council is finishing the year with a $2 million surplus.
Outgoing chief executive David Langford signed off on his final yearly report this week, declaring the organisation in its strongest position in years.
The surplus caps three years of rebuilding culture and performance, he said.
Langford, who took the helm in March 2022, told councillors he was proud to leave behind an organisation that had lifted its financial performance, boosted staff morale and delivered improved services while keeping rates low.
“This year we not only delivered the lowest rates rise in the country at 2.2 percent, but we also recorded an operating surplus of $1.972 million,” Langford said.
He credited a six-point affordability plan developed during his tenure, which focused on cutting overheads and lifting efficiency while increasing investment in core infrastructure.
“Over the last three years, the council has increased spending on roads, footpaths, water, wastewater and stormwater by 37 percent,” he said.
“We’ve managed to do that while reducing management costs and ensuring staff resources are focused on frontline roles.”
Overall staff numbers have been trimmed, but more people are now in positions that deal directly with the community.
Langford said those changes, coupled with a renewed emphasis on organisational culture, had contributed to record levels of public satisfaction.
“Community satisfaction with council staff is the highest it has been in a decade, and staff engagement has increased year on year,” he said.
Langford is returning to the United Kingdom later this year to take up a senior leadership position with Nottinghamshire County Council.
One of the most significant shifts under Langford’s leadership has been in generating non-rates revenue.
The appointment of a commercial manager saw the council’s property portfolio more than double its returns in the past year, bringing in an extra $1.08m.
Recent lease agreements are expected to boost that by a further $240,000.
“Every bit of non-rates revenue we can bring in lowers the amount we need to collect from ratepayers to keep the district running,” Langford said.
“Our property assets will be a key success factor in keeping future rates increases affordable.”
He said the focus on balancing affordability with investment would be embedded in a refreshed organisational strategy, due to be finalised soon.
“Whanganui District Council is in a stronger position than it was three years ago and I have every confidence that the organisation will keep delivering for our community in the years ahead.”
Langford used his final report to thank council staff and contractors for their commitment.
“Delivering these results has not been a solo effort,” he said. “I extend my heartfelt thanks for the dedication they bring to their work every day.”
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