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This class of outputs involves:
The department assists the Prime Minister in overseeing and leading the government as a whole. In addition, it supports the Cabinet decision-making process. As a central agency, the department has a clear role to play in promoting the effective policy co-ordination across the public service. Ministers need to have complete trust in the quality of the advice and support the department offers on the proper conduct of government business within accepted conventions and practices
Output Class D1 Financial Performance
| 30.06.03 Actual $000 |
30.06.04 Actual $000 |
30.06.04 Main Estimates $000 |
30.06.04 Supplementary Estimates1 $000 |
|
| 7,445 - 7,034 234 |
Revenue - Crown Revenue - Other Expenditure Surplus |
9,275 2 8,569 708 |
6,315 - 6,315 - |
9,275 - 9,275 - |
1. The financial performance of the Foreshore and Seabed Project is included
above, and is also separately disclosed below.
Key Tasks
Providing good information and effective advice that enables the Prime
Minister to lead and manage the public-policy business of the government;
and ensuring that the Prime Minister and other key clients show a high level
of satisfaction with the advice and co ordination services provided.
Achievements
Foreign Affairs, Defence and International Trade
The Policy Advisory Group continued to be involved in a wide range
of multilateral and regional issues. These activities were particularly centred
on New Zealand’s participation in UN-mandated activities in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, as well as
on supporting the Prime Minister in her continuing role as Chair of the Pacific
Islands Forum. A sustained contribution was also made to a wide range of defence-related
issues in the areas of acquisitions, overseas deployments, and organisational
development.
In terms of international trade policy, the Group contribution has especially
focused on enhancing regional trade linkages (for example, with China, Thailand,
Chile, and Singapore), advancing the agenda of the proposed trans-Tasman Single
Economic Market, and developing and pursuing New Zealand’s objectives in the
World Trade Organisation’s Doha development round. Support was also given
to the Prime Minister’s overseas work programme, which included visits to
Australia, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, France, and Norway.
Central Government/Local Government Issues
The Group was fully involved in the interdepartmental processes to
strengthen the relationship between central and local government. This included
co-coordinating the Local Government Forum held in July and working with the
Department of Internal Affairs on how to build capacity and capability in
the public service to engage more effectively with local government.
Other Issues
During the period January to June 2004, the Group was involved in a range
of issues including the co-ordination and delivery of policy advice on the
review of the Resource Management Act, marine farming, the Samoa and Pacific
Access Quota, the “Working for Families” package and the implementation of
the primary health organisations. The Group also worked jointly with the State
Services Commission and Treasury in assisting Te Puni Kokiri on how to strengthen
its policy and regional activities through organisational change.
Feedback from the Prime Minister is provided to the Chief Executive and
the Director of the Policy Advisory Group on a regular weekly basis, as well
as on an ad hoc basis, and is acted on. Feedback is received from other ministers
and chief executives on the quality and timeliness of the advice and co ordination
services provided.
The Prime Minister and other key clients have informed the department of their satisfaction with the advice and co-ordination services provided.
Key Task
Providing impartial secretariat services to the Executive Council, Cabinet
and Cabinet committees including: preparing agendas; checking that submissions
meet the requirements set by Cabinet; preparing summary cover sheets for submissions;
recording decisions; and distributing submissions and minutes.
Achievement
Cabinet Office provided secretariat services to 221 Cabinet and Cabinet committee
meetings and 38 Executive Council meetings over the year. This compares with
174 and 34 respectively in 2002/03.
The Prime Minister, the chairs of Cabinet committees, and ministers’ offices
were consulted as required on the compilation of the agendas and acceptance
of submissions for meetings. (See Appendix II for
the business statistics for Executive Council, Cabinet, and Cabinet committees).
There were 2,265 summary cover sheets prepared for submissions to Cabinet
and Cabinet committees during the past year. This compares with 1,790 in 2002/03.
Eighty-four per cent of submissions were received in the Cabinet Office by
the Cabinet deadlines for lodging papers. Seventy-nine per cent of submissions
were distributed to ministers’ offices within the Cabinet Office’s performance
targets for the delivery of papers (that is, two days before the meeting).
The comparative figures for 2002/03 were 85 per cent and 83 per cent.
There were 2,578 Cabinet and Cabinet committee minutes recorded over the
year, compared with 2,108 in 2002/03. All Cabinet committee minutes are issued
within two or three days of the meeting, before the next meeting of Cabinet.
Ninety-three per cent of all Cabinet minutes were issued within three days
of the Cabinet meeting – compared with 97 per cent in 2002/03.
Ninety-nine per cent of all Cabinet and Cabinet committee minutes did not
require amendment by the Cabinet Office (this excludes amendments to committee
minutes made by Cabinet). This percentage compares with 98 per cent in 2002/03.
Key Task
Providing advice on policies, processes and procedures relating to Cabinet,
Cabinet committees and the Executive Council; administering and maintaining
the conventions, policies and guidelines in the Cabinet Manual, the Step by
Step Guide and related Cabinet Office circulars; and providing policy and
procedural advice and information on these matters to ministers’ offices and
departments.
Achievement
Revisions were made to the online versions of the Step by Step Guide to
Cabinet and Cabinet Committee Processes (including a major updating on
departmental consultation requirements), the Directory of Ministerial Portfolios,
and the Schedule of Delegations. The most recent Register of Minister’s Interests
and Assets was also published on the Cabinet Office’s website.
Seven Cabinet Office circulars were prepared and issued in 2003/04 on a range
of issues, including the fees framework for members of statutory and other
bodies appointed by The Crown, advice on the presentation of material for
Cabinet committee consideration, the development of the Statutes Amendment
Bill 2004, Cabinet committee membership, and an invitation to ministers to
submit proposals for Law Commission projects for 2004/05.
Three briefings on Cabinet procedures were also provided to new staff in
ministers’ offices. The Office provided 12 briefing seminars to departments
and interdepartmental groups on Cabinet decision-making processes and procedures.
Key Task
Providing advice to the Prime Minister and Governor-General on constitutional
policy and procedural issues.
Advice and support was provided to the Prime Minister and the Governor-General on a range of constitutional and procedural issues.
Key Task
Co-ordinating the policy and administrative aspects of the legislation programme,
as directed by the Cabinet Legislation Committee.
Achievement
Advice and support was provided to the Leader of the House and the Cabinet
Legislation Committee on the management of the government’s legislation programme
for 2003 and the preparation and management of the legislation programme for
2004. The Office also continued to provide advice and support to the Leader
of the House on the Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interest) Bill.
Key Task
Providing advice on the policy aspects of the New Zealand Royal Honours system,
support for the compilation of Honours lists, and administration of the Honours
system.
Achievement
Policy continued to be developed and ongoing advice given on operational service
medals, as well as on new regulations for the New Zealand Memorial Cross,
various military and emergency-services long-service awards, and the Polar/Antarctic
medal.
Regulations were finalised for medallic recognition of military and other
service in East Timor and in Thailand 1962-71. Regulations to recognise similar
service in the Solomon Islands and Iraq have been finalised.
The Honours Secretariat of the Cabinet Office advised and assisted the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee on the compilation of the New Year Honours List 2004 (189 recipients) and The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2004 (189 recipients). Investiture ceremonies were held at Government House in July/August 2003 and in March/April 2004.
Key Task
Maintaining the records of Cabinet and providing related information services.
Achievement
The Cabinet Office maintains records of all Cabinet and Cabinet committee
meetings, administers the convention on access to documents of previous administrations,
and provides advice to ministers’ offices on the storage and disposal of Cabinet
papers.
Key Task
Providing integrated advice on domestic and external security, defence
operations, intelligence and counter-terrorism preparedness; providing advice
on the operational effectiveness of the emergency management system at a national
level; and providing advice to the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence
and Security.
Achievement
Twelve meetings of ODESC1 (Intelligence),
six of ODESC (Preparedness), seven of ODESC (Flooding), and two others were
held. Watch Groups on people-smuggling, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and
Iraq were held throughout the year.
Key Task
Providing a system of intelligence collection and assessment activity
that reflects policy priorities, national requirements and available resources;
and that also ensures a co coordinated and harmonised outcome.
Achievement
Three meetings of the Foreign Intelligence Requirements Committee and 49 meetings
of the Current Intelligence Requirements Groups were held. The Prime Minister
and other key clients were satisfied with the advice and co ordination services
provided.
Advice was provided to the Prime Minister on a range of domestic and external
security issues. The Prime Minister was satisfied with the quality of this
advice and with the support provided for the Intelligence and Security Committee
of Parliament.
Negotiating Terms and Conditions for Government Agencies’ Advertising and Publicity
Key Task
Negotiating annual volume-incentive media agreements that are advantageous
to government departments and agencies.
Achievement
Negotiations with media for the year ended 30 June 2004 were completed by
the end of July 2003. Details of agreements with media for 2004/05 were communicated
to government agencies in August 2004.
Key Task
Providing good information and effective advice to enable the Prime Minister
to lead and manage the Foreshore and Seabed Policy Framework; and also ensuring
that the Prime Minister and other key clients show a high level of satisfaction
with the advice and co ordination services provided.
Achievement
DPMC played an important co-ordinating role in the development of the foreshore
and seabed policy proposals in the latter half of 2003. This work aimed to
provide a system for recognising the rights and interests of different groups
in the foreshore and seabed, as well as practical initiatives to enhance the
relationships of whanau, hapu and iwi with local government. The role
of DPMC was to ensure a whole-of-government approach to the many strands of
this complex issue. A key area of work was supporting ministers throughout
an extensive public-consultation process that included consultation hui, and
various meetings with Maori interests, local government and other
interested groups.
In December 2003, as part of determining its policy framework on the foreshore
and seabed, the government approved the establishment of a unit within DPMC.
The role of the Foreshore and Seabed Group was twofold:
The Group has:
Following the introduction of the Bill into the House in April 2004, the
Foreshore and Seabed Group has supported the processes of the Select Committee
that is considering the Bill. This included providing advice, preparing briefings,
and analysing submissions. DPMC was appointed as an adviser to the Select
Committee.
Alongside the work on policy and legislation, a second work stream has concentrated
on improving the effectiveness of existing legislative provisions for Maori
involvement in local-government decision making that affects the costal-marine
area. The aim of this work has been to improve the working practice, processes
for consultation and participation, and relationships between local authorities
and Maori.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have indicated their satisfaction
with the establishment and subsequent work of the Foreshore and Seabed Group.
Foreshore and Seabed Group Financial Performance
| 30.06.03 Actual $000 |
30.06.04 Actual $000 |
30.06.04 Main Estimates $000 |
30.06.04 Supplementary Estimates $000 |
|
| - - - |
Revenue - Crown Expenditure Surplus |
2,827 2,293 5342 |
- - - |
2,827 2,827 - |
2. Actual personnel costs were lower than budgeted because fewer staff were
engaged than originally anticipated. Other operating costs such as Crown Law
Office advice, office accommodation fit-out and other overheads were also
lower than budgeted.