Christchurch City Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale resigns

Monday, 20 November 2023

Christchurch City Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale has resigned from her position, months before a decision was due to be made over whether to renew her contract.

Christchurch City Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale has resigned, 11 months before her contract is due to end.

The council announced at midday today that Baxendale tendered her resignation two weeks ago, on November 6.

That was accepted by councillors last Wednesday during an unexpected closed-doors meeting, which lasted for almost two hours.

Baxendale was due to return from annual leave today, but has extended that until November 30, when her resignation takes effect, the council said in a statement.

She was at home on Monday, but did not respond when The Press approached her for comment.

Baxendale pictured not long after she started in October 2019.

In the council’s statement, Baxendale said she was leaving before her contract expired for personal reasons and felt it was timely to do so now because she had decided not to reapply for a further five-year contract at the council.

Pressure has been mounting on Baxendale for some time, as she grappled with low staff morale, poor resident satisfaction and high staff turnover.

A staff survey released earlier this year highlighted “very low” morale and a lack of confidence in the executive leadership team, which Baxendale leads.

Nearly 500 staff left the organisation last year – more than double the number of departures in 2020.

Baxendale started work at the council in October 2019 and her contract was due to end in October next year.

The council had until April to decide whether to ask her to stay for another two years or go to the market for a new chief executive.

Baxendale said on Monday, the council was developing its long-term plan for the next 10 years and it was appropriate for a new manager to lead the organisation through its development and implementation.

“I leave feeling extremely proud of what we have achieved at the council over the past four years during what has been a very challenging time.

Baxendale’s last day is on November 30. She is on annual leave until then.

“At all times I have been very mindful of my responsibility to councillors, staff and residents of our wonderful city.

“My emphasis has always been on delivering services to our residents, while at the same time ensuring prudent financial management.

She said she had enjoyed working for both the council and the city.

“I would like to thank the very dedicated staff I have worked alongside for their support and their commitment to residents.”

Mayor Phil Mauger said Baxendale had overseen “significant decisions” for Christchurch and shepherded the council through challenges including the Covid pandemic and lockdown, the development of Te Kaha and improving the council’s credit rating with Standard and Poors.

“Dawn’s leadership helped us get through these tough times and seize the opportunities.

“I want to note my personal thanks for her service, integrity and hard work during her time here in Christchurch. We wish her and her husband Scott and family all the very best for the next chapter.”

Mauger said the council discussed the next steps in the recruitment of a new chief executive in the meeting it accepted Baxendale’s resignation. Senior council executive Mary Richardson has been appointed interim chief executive.

Mayor Phil Mauger says Dawn Baxendale has overseen significant decisions for the city.

During Baxendale’s tenure, resident satisfaction hit a 15-year low.

In May, a survey found just 43% of people were satisfied with the council’s performance. The result was up just one percentage point on last year’s 42% – the lowest in 15 years.

In 2019, the year Baxendale started, resident satisfaction was 62%.

Figures released in April showed that 492 staff left in 2022, representing 20% of the 2451 permanent staff on the payroll.

It was the second year in a row more than 400 staff have left. In 2021, 414 left, up from 224 the year before.

A number of Baxendale’s senior leaders have added to that tally this year.

Three waters boss Helen Beaumont and Jane Davis, the general manager of infrastructure, planning and regulatory services, both mysteriously went on leave for several months, before eventually resigning in July.

In March, the council’s head of people and culture, Jane O’Toole, and chief information officer and head of digital, Symon McHerron, resigned to take up roles in different organisations.

Earlier this month, two other senior council leaders also went on leave.

Chief financial officer Leah Scales is on sick leave and is due back on December 6. She went on sick leave just two days after Baxendale went on annual leave.

Peter Keegan, the head of human resources, is also on leave. He has only been in the role a few months.

Baxendale came to the city council after 16 months as chief executive of Birmingham City Council in the United Kingdom.

At the time, Baxendale said the Christchurch role was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and it had been a “dream” for her family to live in New Zealand.