Goff has lifted Auckland Council satisfaction 3% – to 20%!

Radio NZ reports:

Only 20 percent of Aucklanders have confidence and trust in their council, although this is up slightly on a year ago.

The result of council’s first survey on public perceptions, fuelled criticism of it in the mayoral election campaign last year.

Only 19 percent were then satisfied with its performance, and only 17 percent trusted the council to make the right decision.

“When less than one in five have confidence in Council, that’s a fail,” said then-mayoral candidate Phil Goff.

So Goff has lifted it from 17% to 20%. What does one call that then?

A new report on organisational risks within the council said both measures had risen to 20 percent, well short of the 2019 goal of 50 percent.

At this rate they will make 50% in 2034!

A recent value-for-money assessment of the council group’s Communications and Engagement work found plenty of room for cost-cutting and improvement.

It recommended an immediate 5 percent cut to the group’s $46.5 million spend, and repeating in each of the following two years. Councillors held back on that one.

They couldn’t even cut 5% from their PR budget!

“Diminished (communications and engagement) budget available to spend in FY18 will impact delivery across the work programme,” the report said.

“This represents a significant risk to Trust and Confidence.”

No, no, no. You don’t build trust and confidence by spending more on PR. You do it by spending less, and acting differently.