Mike Theelen's performance discussion behind closed doors

A closed door workshop is being held today to allow the mayor and two councillors to discuss feedback provided by other councillors on the performance of Queenstown Lakes District Council's chief executive Mike Theelen.

The council has opted to exclude members of the public and media from the workshop as well as withhold reading material related to it, citing privacy and commercial sensitivity reasons as allowed for under local government legislation.

The workshop will be held in the mayor's office at council HQ on Gorge Road, with a follow up workshop for all councillors expected to follow next week.

An agenda summary describes the initial workshop as being a 'briefing' on councillor feedback submitted to the Chief Executive Performance Review Committee.

Crux understands councillors were invited to provide feedback related to Mr Theelen's performance ahead of his annual performance review scheduled for August.

A stated "desired outcome" of today's workshop is to "provide input into how to manage feedback effectively".

The feedback as well as the chief executive's KPIs and position description are included as attachments to today's workshop agenda, but these are not publicly available.

Crux has questioned the council as to why the KPIs and position description are considered 'commercially sensitive', and a response from a council spokesperson provides little explanation.

"Mr Theelen’s senior role does not remove or erode the right to privacy," the spokesperson says.

"In their committee and all other roles, councillors must abide by the employment law.

"KPIs are set annually by council resolution following a process of discussion and consideration via council workshops, the Chief Executive Performance Review Committee, and finally a council decision.

"It is for commercially sensitive reasons that we do not disclose the full details of the KPIs.

"Broadly, chief executive KPIs covers a broad range of themes including capital expenditure programmes, climate change and biodiversity, community engagement, financial management, health and safety, organisational culture and engagement, as well as long term plan KPIs." 

Mayor Glyn Lewers and councillors Lyal Cocks and Lisa Guy are tasked with reviewing Mr Theelen's performance, and that review will be brought back to the full council for action.

Mr Theelen started at the council as chief executive in February 2016 and was reappointed for a further five years in November 2020, effective from February 2021.

Last year following his performance review Mr Theelen received an eight percent pay rise that took his salary to $415,000.

At the time, Mayor Glyn Lewers said it reflected his “strong leadership through a time of great uncertainty for local government".

Main image (Supplied/QLDC): Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Mike Theelen.