Filling in the gaps in Christchurch - by Fiona A

Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL) is an investment arm of Christchurch City Council. Chief Executive Tim Boyd started there in March, but this month he’s been replaced by an interim Chief Executive Paul Silk.

Steven Walton from Stuff has written several articles and we don’t need to go into the reasons Mr Boyd’s time as Chief Executive was cut short because that’s already well covered. Let’s just say he’s been a naughty boy.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/129937499/we-are-unable-to-talk-questions-remain-over-wanted-council-company-boss?rm=a

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/129979753/chief-executives-trail-of-horror-includes-fraud-debts-and-drinkdriving?rm=a

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129986439/council-company-boss-wanted-on-drinkdriving-charge-is-reportedly-in-fiji

The latest is that Mr Boyd’s resignation is not effective until 6 December. That means his $350,000 plus salary is still being paid until that date, in fact two Chief Executive salaries are being paid at the same time for three months - ouch! Communications from Council management seem ambiguous but there’s a good reason for that. Mayoral candidate David Meates told Stuff:

“The more that things are kept behind closed doors, the more likely it is that people will fill in gaps, which is not that helpful for organisations.”

We hope Mr Meates doesn’t mind if Leighton Associates fills in the gaps.

There was a mediation, and Mr Boyd agreed to resign on the condition that he would be paid until 6 December but would not be requred to fork for the last three months. CCHL almost certainly paid Mr Boyd’s legal fees as part of the settlement, because it can claim those fees as a tax deductible expense.

As part of the settlement Tim Boyd agreed not to bring a personal grievance claim in the Employment Relations Authority.

The Record of Settlement was then uploaded to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment by clicking on the link highlighted in yellow. A mediator then called both parties on the phone numbers provided on the document to make sure they understood that the settlement is final, binding and enforceable.

One of the clauses in the contract required its very existence to be kept confidential by the small number of people who know about it because the word “mediation” is not mentioned in any of the Stuff articles.

We are 95% sure that’s what happened. If anyone can prove us wrong please contact us on leightonassociatesnz@gmail.com.

This should not be taken as a criticism of how CCHL’s employment relationship problem was handled.