REST justification to provide services provided by FENZ
Robert Stanford made this Official Information request to Palmerston North City Council
The request was successful.
From: Robert Stanford
Dear Palmerston North City Council,
For the past 24 months:
1. Please provide a breakdown of expenses relating to the Rescue Emergency Support Team (REST).
2. Please provide business case or other similar means of justification to spend public funds on REST for purchases (goods or services) over $2,500+GST.
3. Please provide documentation that documents PNCC as a PCBU under Health & Safety has consulted over its responsibilities with Fire & Emergency New Zealand (as per https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...) for REST activities.
4. Please provide any documentation held that evaluates or reviews REST providing swiftwater rescue services when this function is now assumed by Fire & Emergency New Zealand.
5. Any health and safety incident reports involving REST.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Stanford
Palmerston North City Council
Thank you for your email. We will respond as soon as possible.
Please do not reply to this email as it is an auto generated response.
Customer Services
Palmerston North City Council
06 356 8199
From: LGOIMA Requests
Palmerston North City Council
Kia ora Robert
We have received your official information request
We received your request on 14/11/2023 for PNCC REST information.
We will do our best to respond to your request as soon as possible and no
later than 12/12/2023. If we aren’t able to respond to your request within
this 20 working day period, we will let you know.
We are working on your request
We are currently gathering any information we hold that relates to your
request. If we need to clarify anything, we'll get in touch with you.
On some occasions we need to charge for the cost of labour and materials
involved in making information available, or for making information
available urgently. If a charge is required, we will let you know before
your request is processed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by emailing
[1][email address]. Your reference number is LGOIMA 985420
Ngā mihi
Kate Scrase
Legal Advisor
Kaitohutohu ā-Ture
Official Information Team
Legal Services
Palmerston North City Council
[2][IMG] Te Marae o Hine − 32 The Square
Private Bag 11034, Palmerston North 4442
06 356 8199
[3]pncc.govt.nz
From: [4][FOI #24744 email]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 10:35 AM
To: [5][Palmerston North City Council request email]
Subject: Official Information request - REST justification to provide
services provided by FENZ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Palmerston North City Council,
For the past 24 months:
1. Please provide a breakdown of expenses relating to the Rescue Emergency
Support Team (REST).
2. Please provide business case or other similar means of justification to
spend public funds on REST for purchases (goods or services) over
$2,500+GST.
3. Please provide documentation that documents PNCC as a PCBU under Health
& Safety has consulted over its responsibilities with Fire & Emergency New
Zealand (as per
[6]https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...)
for REST activities.
4. Please provide any documentation held that evaluates or reviews REST
providing swiftwater rescue services when this function is now assumed by
Fire & Emergency New Zealand.
5. Any health and safety incident reports involving REST.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Stanford
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #24744 email]
Is [8][Palmerston North City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Palmerston North City Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[9]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
3. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #24744 email]
5. mailto:[Palmerston North City Council request email]
6. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...
7. mailto:[FOI #24744 email]
8. mailto:[Palmerston North City Council request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
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From: LGOIMA Requests
Palmerston North City Council
Kia ora Robert,
I refer to your official information request dated 14 November 2023 for
Rescue Emergency Support Team (REST) relating to this Council.
Extension
The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 requires
that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20
working days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it
will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are therefore writing
to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision, to Friday
15 December 2023. However, if we are able provide the information prior to
this date we will do so.
This extension is necessary because we need to consult with a staff member
who is not available within the time limit.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Kate Scrase
Legal Advisor
Kaitohutohu ā-Ture
Official Information Team
Legal Services
Palmerston North City Council
[2][IMG] Te Marae o Hine − 32 The Square
Private Bag 11034, Palmerston North 4442
06 356 8199
[3]pncc.govt.nz
From: [4][FOI #24744 email]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 10:35 AM
To: [5][Palmerston North City Council request email]
Subject: Official Information request - REST justification to provide
services provided by FENZ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Palmerston North City Council,
For the past 24 months:
1. Please provide a breakdown of expenses relating to the Rescue Emergency
Support Team (REST).
2. Please provide business case or other similar means of justification to
spend public funds on REST for purchases (goods or services) over
$2,500+GST.
3. Please provide documentation that documents PNCC as a PCBU under Health
& Safety has consulted over its responsibilities with Fire & Emergency New
Zealand (as per
[6]https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...)
for REST activities.
4. Please provide any documentation held that evaluates or reviews REST
providing swiftwater rescue services when this function is now assumed by
Fire & Emergency New Zealand.
5. Any health and safety incident reports involving REST.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Stanford
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #24744 email]
Is [8][Palmerston North City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Palmerston North City Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[9]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
3. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #24744 email]
5. mailto:[Palmerston North City Council request email]
6. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...
7. mailto:[FOI #24744 email]
8. mailto:[Palmerston North City Council request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
From: LGOIMA Requests
Palmerston North City Council
Kia ora Robert,
I refer to your official information request dated 14 November 2023 for
various information in relation to our Rescue Emergency Support Team
(REST).
Our response
Q1. Please provide a breakdown of expenses relating to the Rescue
Emergency Support Team (REST).
Council’s Head of Risk and Resilience advises the following for the past
24 months:
+----------------------------------------------------------+
| Expenses |2022 |2023 |
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Consumables |$ 1,153.45 | $ 4,778.23 |
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Safety Wear |$ 5,047.21 | $ 61,522.85 |
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Equipment |$ 5,905.72 | $ 17,416.67 |
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Printing |$ 2,936.62 | $ 433.40|
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Advertising |$ 100.00 | |
|-----------------------+---------------+------------------|
|Software |$ 1,111.95 | $ 1,303.01 |
+----------------------------------------------------------+
We note, the increase in spending in 2023 reflects the requirements to
meet minimum national standards for NZRT accreditation. Our NZRT4 team
benefited from training costs funded through the National Emergency
Management Agency - Civil Defence Emergency Management Training Fund.
Q2. Please provide business case or other similar means of justification
to spend public funds on REST for purchases (goods or services) over
$2,500+GST.
Council, as a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, is required under
section 17(1)(b) of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 to
‘take all steps necessary on an ongoing basis to maintain and provide, or
to arrange the provision of, or to otherwise make available suitably
trained and competent personnel, including volunteers, and an appropriate
organisational structure for those personnel, for effective civil defence
emergency management in its area.’ In addition, we must ‘take all steps
necessary on an ongoing basis to maintain and provide, or to arrange the
provision of, or otherwise to make available material, services,
information, and any other resources for effective civil defence emergency
management in its area’ (section 17(1)(c)).
Further, Council’s Head of Risk and Resilience advises that the National
Disaster Resilience Strategy on page 42 sets out the Cities and districts
responsibilities, this is available on line:
[1]National-Disaster-Resilience-Strategy-10-April-2019.pdf
(civildefence.govt.nz)
Other relevant documentation include:
o [2]Manawatu-Wanganui-CDEM-Group-Plan-2016-2021.pdf (horizons.govt.nz)
see regional hazards pages 30 and 31; response functions on page 56.
o [3]10-year-plan-2021-31.pdf (pncc.govt.nz) – see page 84 of the Safer
Communities section of the PNCC 10 Year Plan.
Q3. Please provide documentation that documents PNCC as a PCBU under
Health & Safety has consulted over its responsibilities with Fire &
Emergency New Zealand (as per
https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...)
for REST activities.
Council’s Head of Risk and Resilience advises that the following documents
show consultation with Fire and Emergency NZ for REST activities:
o CEG minutes (25 Oct 2022) endorsing REST strands for national
accreditation. (A copy is attached – starting on page 67.)
o REST NZRT accreditation agenda (16-18 June 2023) listing 2 FENZ USAR
reps on accreditation team. (A copy is attached – starting on page
74.)
o NZRT National Operating Guidelines section 5.2 CEG approval and
section 5.5-5.10 Legislation & H&S. (A copy is attached – starting on
page 1.)
Q4. Please provide any documentation held that evaluates or reviews REST
providing swift water rescue services when this function is now assumed by
Fire & Emergency New Zealand.
There is currently no FENZ Specialist Water Response Team in Palmerston
North or the wider Manawatu region. The FENZ National Advisor for Water in
this [4]article is an NZRT accreditor who supports NZRTs having water
response capabilities to support other emergency services.
In accordance with section 12(4) of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act
2017 – the requirement on FENZ to perform swift water functions does not
limit or affect the responsibilities of any other organisation in relation
to this function. Also the requirement is on FENZ only to the extent that
FENZ has the capability and capacity to do so (see section 12(1)).
A copy of our Rescue Emergency Support Teams NZRT accreditation report is
attached – see page 74.
Q5. Any health and safety incident reports involving REST.
Council’s Head of Risk and Resilience provides a copy of all reports as
outlined on page 83 of the attached bundle of documents.
Decision to withhold some information requested
We have made redactions in the document released to you. The section
relied on to withhold the information is noted in the attached document
and refers to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987 (LGOIMA).
Privacy – employee cell phone numbers, names of individuals
We have withheld the personal contact information and names of individuals
in accordance with section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA. Section 7(2)(a) of
the LGOIMA provides that there is a good reason for withholding official
information when the withholding of information is necessary to protect
the privacy of natural persons. The release of this information would
disclose the personal information of identifiable individuals and contact
information that is not publicly available. We have considered the public
interest in releasing the information when making this decision however we
do not consider this outweighs the privacy interest in withholding it.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[5]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Kate Scrase
Legal Advisor
Kaitohutohu ā-Ture
Official Information Team
Legal Services
Palmerston North City Council
[6][IMG] Te Marae o Hine − 32 The Square
Private Bag 11034, Palmerston North 4442
06 356 8199
[7]pncc.govt.nz
From: [8][FOI #24744 email]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 10:35 AM
To: [9][Palmerston North City Council request email]
Subject: Official Information request - REST justification to provide
services provided by FENZ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Palmerston North City Council,
For the past 24 months:
1. Please provide a breakdown of expenses relating to the Rescue Emergency
Support Team (REST).
2. Please provide business case or other similar means of justification to
spend public funds on REST for purchases (goods or services) over
$2,500+GST.
3. Please provide documentation that documents PNCC as a PCBU under Health
& Safety has consulted over its responsibilities with Fire & Emergency New
Zealand (as per
[10]https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/ne...)
for REST activities.
4. Please provide any documentation held that evaluates or reviews REST
providing swiftwater rescue services when this function is now assumed by
Fire & Emergency New Zealand.
5. Any health and safety incident reports involving REST.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Stanford
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[11][FOI #24744 email]
Is [12][Palmerston North City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Palmerston North City Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[13]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[14]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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Visible links
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5. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
6. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
7. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/
8. mailto:[FOI #24744 email]
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