Vote Ombudsmen - Finance and Government Administration Sector - Estimates 2016/2017

Overview of the Vote#

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is responsible for appropriations in Vote Ombudsmen in 2016/17 totalling $15.129 million (GST exclusive). This comprises:

• $13.712 million annual appropriation for the Office of the Ombudsmen
• $668,000 permanent legislative authority of Ombudsmen remuneration, and
• $749,000 permanent legislative authority for capital expenditure.

The whole of the Vote is committed to the investigation, resolution of complaints and the provision of advice relating to central and local government administrative actions, and monitoring compliance with international conventions.

Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-4.

Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections#

Annual and Permanent Appropriations#

Capital Injection Authorisations#

Supporting Information#

Part 1 - Vote as a Whole#

1.1 - New Policy Initiatives

1.2 - Trends in the Vote#

Summary of Financial Activity#

Note - where restructuring of the vote has occurred then, to the extent practicable, prior years information has been restated as if the restructuring had occurred before the beginning of the period covered. In this instance Total Appropriations for the Budgeted and Estimated Actual year may not equal Total Appropriations in the Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections.

Adjustments to the Summary of Financial Activity Table Due to Vote Restructuring#

There have been no restructuring adjustments to prior year information in the Summary of Financial Activity table.

1.3 - Analysis of Significant Trends#

Analysis of Significant Trends#

The bulk of the movement in departmental appropriations in Vote Ombudsmen, which are detailed in the Summary of Financial Activity table above, are largely driven by movements in departmental output expenses required to maintain an efficient, effective and professional Ombudsman function. Details of significant movements within each appropriation are shown below.

Departmental Output Expenses

The baseline movements amounting to approximately $6.196 million during the period detailed in the Summary of Financial Activity are due to:

• Parliament approved as part of the 2011/12 Estimates additional temporary capability funding until 2013/14 to assist management of the office workload including work arising from the Christchurch earthquakes. Funding was also approved to enable New Zealand to host the 2012 world conference of the International Ombudsman Institute and obtain specialist accommodation advice.
• Supplementary funding was approved for the period 2011/12 to 2013/14 to meet additional depreciation associated with the Christchurch earthquakes.
• As part of Estimates 2012/13 temporary capability funding that was to end in 2013/14 was approved on an ongoing basis. Additional funding was also approved to assist the office address remuneration pressures.
• Supplementary funding was approved for the period 2012/13 for recruitment costs for a new Ombudsman.
• Parliament approved as part of the 2013/14 Estimates a baseline increase to meet the cost of increased rents in Auckland and Christchurch and additional investigating staff and related costs.
• Parliament approved as part of the 2014/15 Estimates a baseline increase to meet the additional operating costs associated with the capital injection for infrastructure and relocation.
• As part of the 2015/16 Estimates Parliament approved a baseline increase for proactive advice, training and guidance, additional staff to assist with inspection and monitoring under the Crimes of Tortures Act 1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, additional resources for capability, and security of the office's staff and information.
• Supplementary funding was approved for the period 2015/16 for recruitment costs for a new Chief Ombudsman, accommodation, and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) systems and capability.
• As part of the 2016/17 Estimates Parliament approved a baseline increase over three years to clear the aged investigations and on going budgets for Official Information Act (OIA) compliance investigations, ICT systems and capability, Auckland office rent increase and address remuneration anomalies.

Departmental Other Expenses

Movements in Departmental Other Expenses are wholly attributable to:

• Determinations issued by the Remuneration Authority relating to Ombudsmen remuneration and to decisions by Parliament regarding the number of Ombudsmen appointed at any one time. There are presently two permanent Ombudsmen.

Capital Expenditure

Movements in the provision for capital expenditure follow:

• The 2011/12 Estimates provided for an increased capital provision to $165,000 to reflect updated capital expenditure intentions.
• The 2013/14 Estimates provided for an increased capital provision to $200,000 to reflect updated capital expenditure intentions.
• The 2014/15 Estimates provided for an increased capital provision by $1.487 million to $1.687 million for this year only for infrastructure and relocation costs.
• The 2015/16 Estimates provided for an increased capital provision by $260,000 to $460,000 for this year only for security and costs associated with the increase in capability
• The 2016/17 Estimates provides for an increased capital provision by $549,000 to $749,000 to reflect the capital needs for additional staff and to upgrade the Office's ICT capability to make the best use of the capital funding provided in the 2014/15 budget.

Part 2 - Details of Departmental Appropriations#

2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses#

Investigation and Resolution of Complaints About Government Administration (M78)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve investigation, review and inspection of the administrative conduct of state sector agencies, and provision of advice and guidance in order to ensure people are treated fairly in New Zealand.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Annual Report to be presented in the House.

Current and Past Policy Initiatives

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in this appropriation for 2016/17 is due to:

• $925,000 to clear aged investigations
• $564,000 to increase the proactive compliance investigations under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and the local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA)
• $684,000 to improve ICT systems and capability
• $341,000 to address anomalies in staff remuneration
• $20,000 to fund the increased rental costs in Auckland.

2.2 - Departmental Other Expenses#

Remuneration of Ombudsmen PLA (M78)#

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve provision of remuneration payment to the Ombudsmen as determined by the Remuneration Authority.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

The Chief Ombudsman leads the performance of the Office. The performance of the Office's activities, including the above payment, is reflected in the information for departmental output appropriations.

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for the Office will be reported in the Annual Report that is to be presented to the House.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The decrease in appropriation is due to a new determination for Ombudsmen remuneration by the Remuneration Authority.

Note - the Chief Ombudsman was appointed in December 2015.

2.3 - Departmental Capital Expenditure and Capital Injections#

Office of the Ombudsman - Capital Expenditure PLA (M78)#

Scope of Appropriation

Capital Expenditure

What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the provision of assets for the use of the Office of the Ombudsman.

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Annual Report to be tabled in the House.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

For 2016/17 there is a one off increase in capital of $549,000 to $749,000 in this appropriation. There was an increase of $260,000 to $460,000 in the previous year. This new capital in 2016/17 is due to:

• $88,000 to enable the Office to clear the backlog of aged investigations while progressing its normal work
• $50,000 to establish a unit to conduct and report on Official Information Act compliance investigations
• $411,000 for the improvement of the office's Information, Communication and Technology systems and capability.

Capital Injections and Movements in Departmental Net Assets

Office of the Ombudsman