Strategic Consulting

Local Government Sector

Alan Bickers had a distinguished career of some 25-years in local government culminating in his period as Chief Executive of Tauranga District Council (1987-1995) when he was described as “the best CEO in local government”. His period of service with that Council was notable for dramatic growth of the District’s population and economy which was supported by a range of large infrastructural projects, and innovative service delivery and funding methods that became a model for other local authorities.

From 1976–1985 Alan worked with the Palmerston North City Council and was City Engineer from 1980 to1985. During his period with that Council, he was involved with a pioneering urban growth study in which he had specific responsibility for infrastructural services planning. He was also responsible for the design and construction of a wide range of recreation and sporting facilities and the upgrading of the runway and aprons at the City’s airport.

In 2000 Alan was appointed by the Minister of Local Government as a Member of the Rodney District Council Review Authority, whose report led to the replacement of that Council with a commissioner.

Alan’s extensive list of local government clients includes regional councils and territorial authorities, council-controlled organisations, Local Government New Zealand, the Auditor-General, the Department of Internal Affairs and the Local Government Commission.

Alan has considerable experience with governance of council-controlled organisations and is currently a Director of Manukau Building Consultants Ltd (Chair), Manukau Water Ltd and Lakes Environmental Ltd. He provides governance training for local authorities and community boards.

Alan’s experience as a Professional Engineer combined with his management skills have resulted in considerable demand for his specialised services in this sector.

Notable consulting assignments conducted by Alan in recent years have included:

Review of Water Services delivery (Dunedin City Council)
Development of Water Supply Strategy (Thames Coromandel District Council)
Review of Asset Management Practice (Matamata Piako District Council)
Review of “best practice” for Engineering Services (Tauranga City Council)
Organisational Structure & Establishment Review for Drainage Department (Qatar Public Works Authority)
Coromandel Eastern Seaboard Wastewater Project Contract - Engineer to the Contract (Thames Coromandel District Council)
Establishment of Design Services Business Unit (Rotorua District Council)
Service Delivery – Roading, Drainage, Water Supply, Refuse Disposal & Parks (Thames Coromandel District Council)
Contractual Review – Professional Engineering Services (Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Engineering Services Capability Review (Hurunui District Council)
Review of Roading Funding (Waitomo District Council)
Review of Engineering Management (Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Review of Building & Resource Consent Processes (Manukau City Council)
Taranaki Roading Cluster – Facilitation (New Plymouth District Council)
Review of Resource Consent Engineering Services (Western Bay of Plenty District Council)
Inquiry into Roading Construction Standards and Practices (Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Analysis of Cost drivers – Watercare Services Ltd (Auckland Local Network Operators)
Utilities Operations and Maintenance Strategy (Thames Coromandel District Council)
Policy development for Rural Roads (Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Review of Resource Consent Processes (Western Bay of Plenty District Council)
Standards Development – Strategic Planning (Local Government New Zealand)
Waste Management Shared Services Governance (Masterton District Council)
Community Monitoring Programme for Streams (Auckland Regional Council)
Study of Development Industry Perceptions (SmartGrowth BOP)
Land Transport Strategy and Roading Policy Development (Thames Coromandel District Council)
Operational Review of Engineering Functions (Wairoa District Council)
Policy for Infrastructure Development (Western Bay of Plenty District Council)
Strategic Planning for Engineering Services (Hamilton City Council)
Review of Reporting Practice and Systems (Wellington City Council)
Capability Study for Response to Local Government Act 2002 (Horizons Regional Council)
Governance Review of Aotea Centre (Auckland City Council)
Establishment of Local Government Industry Training Organisation (Local Government New Zealand)
Divestment of Engineering & Technical Services Units (Napier City & Gisborne District Councils)
Hawkes Bay Local Government Reorganisation Study (Hawkes Bay Regional Council)
Organisational Reviews (Nelson City, Gisborne District, Whakatane District, Manukau City, Waitomo District Councils and others)
Establishment of Local Authority Trading Enterprises (Napier City, Tauranga City and Far North District Councils
Establishment of business unit model (Brisbane City Council)
Drafting of NZ Standard Handbook 9213:2003 “Guide to Local Government Service Delivery Options” (Standards NZ & Local Government NZ)