However, Dr Pim Borren’s first report to councillors, presented at this week’s council meeting, also highlighted significant staffing challenges faced by the council as it grows.
Dr Borren said his first focus upon arrival at the council in June were the relationship difficulties between senior staff and councillors, as well as the working relationship between himself as chief executive and chairman Andrew Noone.
His report noted "improvements in both of these areas".
Dr Borren was brought in as interim chief executive at the council after the departure of former chief executive Sarah Gardner in May.
Subsequently, at the end of June retired High Court Judge Sir Graham Panckhurst issued a report that highlighted problems with transparency and communication at the council.
The relationship between the chief executive and the chairman and councillors was "unwell, if not broken", Sir Graham concluded at the time.
About a month later, in a separate investigation ordered by Environment Minister David Parker, Prof Peter Skelton found key staff at the council were having difficulty doing their jobs because of councillor conduct.
In interviews around the time of Mrs Gardner’s departure, staff told Prof Skelton that councillors were trying to trip up staff, delay decision-making and were unwilling to accept staff advice.
Dr Borren’s report to councillors said he had responded to the investigations with the view to learning from them and "looking forward rather than backward".
"While we could draw some conclusions from some of the commentary in each report, I think it is more constructive to reflect on the issues which have required them to be commissioned in the first place," Dr Borren said.
"A better more trusting and respectful relationship where we are all on one page, and acknowledge we all work together for one organisation, is the solution in preventing the need for these types of inquiries."
He then went on though to note that there were "growing pains" as the council increased its capacity.
The council was growing from 180 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff to 330 FTE.
Yet, Dr Borren said he was concerned a 15% staff turnover rate at the council through the last 12 months was too high.
It had made recruiting more staff even more challenging.
He said he was very keen to ensure the council maintained a positive staff culture and that people enjoyed working there.
A further priority for him was to change the public perception of the council, which was something councillors could help with, he said.
"Overall, I am happy with progress" Dr Borren said. "ORC has many very talented people.
"We need to ensure our communities get the opportunity to recognise that too.
"We are working hard on both clearer communications as well as publicising our many good news stories to counter some of the negative press."
