The Dunedin City Council has moved ahead with investigations into cutting out contractors and taking park and road maintenance back in-house.
He said his intention was to look primarily at green-space and vegetation maintenance but the report could include other services, like traffic management.
It was not a reflection on contractors’ delivery and they were not on notice, he said.
"This is actually just a mechanism looking at whether or not this could be delivered in another way and whether we get advantages or disadvantages from that delivery system."
Cr O’Malley also requested the report included investigation into contracting members of the rural community for some services.
Community boards had told council that locals could be contacted to do maintenance in rural areas, he said.
"You know that they will finish that last five metres even if the GIS says that they should stop right there."
"They will finish it and they will probably have a local understanding of where and when you do the mowing."
Cr Sophie Barker said the Christchurch City Council brought its parks maintenance in-house last year and found the change worked well.
"It was actually nice to see their councillors smile and say that actually they were getting a lot better customer service and a lot better feedback from their community."
Cr Kevin Gilbert said Christchurch’s positive experience was heartening.
"We’re not looking at reinventing wheels. We’re looking at, in some ways, learning from somebody who has already gone down this road."
Cr Carmen Houlahan said she supported the report but said the council would have to tread carefully, as peoples’ livelihoods were involved.
Cr Andrew Whiley said if implemented, contracting locals would support small, rural businesses.
"There are some good people in those communities that, if given the ability, can actually deliver."
The report will be delivered to the next infrastructure services committee meeting, which will be held after October’s local body elections.
