Governance Structure
Councils can create committees, which have the authority to consider all matters coming within their scope as detailed in their Terms of Reference. The Council reviewed its committee structure at the 30 November 2022 meeting following the triennial election.
To assist in the efficient running of business, the Council resolved to retain the five committees for the 2022-2025 triennium;
- Code of Conduct Panel
- Grants Committee
- Hearings Committee
- Risk and Assurance Committee (formerly Audit and Risk Committee)
- Ruapehu District Māori Council
Council also has one joint standing committee with other councils.
The Committee structure supports the separation of Council’s regulatory functions from its non-regulatory functions, while improving Council’s decision-making processes using committees with enhanced delegations and responsibilities.
Code of Conduct Panel
| Membership | His/Her Worship the Mayor (Chair) Deputy Mayor Ruapehu District Council Chief Executive Independent Appointee from Simpson Grierson |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | As and when required |
| Responsibilities | The purpose of the Code of Conduct
Panel is to:
(a) determine whether a breach has occurred, (b) determine the seriousness of the breach, and (c) determine actions that a local authority should take in response to the breach. |
Grants Committee
| Membership | Full Council |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | The committee shall meet ONCE (1) per year |
| Purpose | The purpose of the Grants Committee is to determine successful grant applications in accordance with Council’s Grants Policy. |
| Responsibilities | To administer funds made available to support Council’s Grants Policy. |
| Delegations | To approve Grants to the amounts available in the fund and authorise staff the make payment. |
Hearings Committee
| Membership | His/Her
Worship the Mayor (Chair)
Deputy Mayor Two Elected Members |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | As and when required |
| Purpose | The purpose of the Hearings Committee is to deliver the functions of Council acting as a regulatory consent authority. |
| Responsibilities | To hear and make decisions on applications to Council as the regulatory authority. |
| Delegations | The
Hearings Committee shall have delegated authority under the following
legislation:
(a) Resource Management Act 1991 (b) Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016 (c) Litter Act 1979 (d) Dog Control Act 1996 (e) Joint Hearings: Horizons Regional Council and Ruapehu District Council (f) Hearing Commissioners pursuant to Section 34(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991 |
Risk and Assurance Committee
| Membership | Chair (Independent) His/Her Worship the Mayor Deputy Mayor Two Elected Members |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | The committee shall meet FOUR (4) times per year |
| Purpose | To ensure that Council has appropriate
financial, risk management and internal control systems in place that provide
Council with:
Effective management of potential opportunities and adverse effects An overview of the financial performance of the organisation; and Reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of Council's financial and non-financial reporting. |
| Responsibilities | (a) Risk management and the system of internal controls. (b) Reporting – financial and non-financial. (c) To maintain an effective relationship with the external auditor. (d) To appoint or engage any internal auditor. (e) To promote, monitor and review compliance with Council’s legal and other obligations. (f) To ensure there is good communication between Council, Committees and Management. To prepare and implement programmes of work relevant to the purpose of the Committee. |
| Delegations | 1 To approve: (a) audit engagement letters and letters of undertaking for external and any internal audits; (b) the appointment of any internal auditor within budgetary constraints; and (c) risk management and internal audit programmes. 2 To recommend to Council: (a) adoption, or non-adoption of completed financial and non-financial performance statements; (b) governance policies associated with Council's financial, accounting, risk management, compliance and ethics programmes and internal control functions; and (c) accounting treatments, changes in generally accepted accounting practice, and new accounting and reporting requirements. 3 To conduct and monitor special investigations in accordance with Council policy, including engaging expert assistance, legal advisors or external auditors, and, where appropriate, recommend action(s) to Council. The Chair of the Risk and Assurance Committee shall have delegated authority: (a) To appoint an independent investigator to investigate an allegation of fraud pursuant to Council’s fraud policy. If possible, this appointment is to be made in consultation with the Chief Executive; and (b) To approve the letter of engagement for a member co-opted to the Risk and Assurance Committee for the duration of the Committee’s consideration of a special topic or topics. |
Ruapehu District Māori Council
| Membership | Three mandated representatives from Tuwharetoa iwi Three mandated representatives from Maniapoto iwi One mandated representative from Tamahaki Council of Hapū One mandated representative from Ngāti Hinewai and Uenuku Hapū One mandated representative from Ngāti Uenuku Hapū His/Her Worship the Mayor Two Elected Members |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | As and when required |
| Purpose | The purpose of the Ruapehu District Māori Council is to help encourage greater participation by Ruapehu Māori in local government decision-making. |
| Delegations | (a) Represent to Council on all governance issues relating to the statutory functions, powers and duties within its terms of reference. (b) Recommend how Council should develop Māori capacity to contribute to its decision-making processes. (c) Review and determine how the steps that Council will take to develop Māori capacity to contribute to its decision-making processes should be described, planned and monitored in the draft and final Ten Year Plan. (d) Formally receive iwi/hapū management plans. (e) Recommend the establishment of working parties as the need arises. To promote, monitor and review compliance with Council’s legal and other obligations. |
Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Standing Committee
| Membership | Representatives from: Ruapehu District Council Horizons Regional Council Whanganui District Council Palmerston North City Council Tararua District Council Horowhenua District Council, and Manawatū District Council |
|---|---|
| Meeting Frequency | As and when required |
| Purpose | To set the strategic direction of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group (CDEMG) and monitor progress towards meeting these strategic objectives. |
| Delegations | (a) To agree to the work programme of the CDEMG. (b) To establish (if necessary) a hearings committee. (c) To appoint persons with the delegated authority to declare local or group emergencies. |
