The changes will see fewer managers reporting to the council's general manager of strategy and development, Kate Styles, to allow her to focus on planning issues as a priority in a "busy" time, council chief executive Jim Harland said yesterday.
Mrs Styles' portfolio covered seven council departments, including direct management of city development staff - in the absence of a manager - as well as oversight of resource consents, transportation planning, policy, economic development, marketing and communications and the Dunedin Centre.
Under the changes, Dunedin Centre manager Svend Tolsen and Marketing Communications Agency manager Debra Simes - who previously reported directly to Mrs Styles - would instead report to Economic Development Unit manager Peter Harris, who would in turn report to her.
Contacted yesterday, Mrs Styles said the changes were temporary, but would allow her more time to focus on city development and plan-ning issues at a time when "an awful lot" was under consideration.
Those projects ranged from planned capital projects like the $188 million stadium and $45.4 million town hall development to plan changes and the preparation of a draft urban design strategy, which took "a lot of time and energy", she said.
Mr Harland said the interim changes would allow Mrs Styles "more time to provide leadership to the planning group" within the council.
"She's got a very large portfolio and to provide that direct input would be very difficult while providing leadership in all of those areas," he said.
The changes were a joint decision made following discussions last year, and there were no changes to Mrs Styles' contract, Mr Harland said.
Recruitment efforts were continuing for the post of city development manager, and it was hoped an appointment could be confirmed in the next two months, he said.
