From: Lee Vandervis <lee@vandervision.co.nz>
Date: Friday, 21 November 2025 at 5:24 PM
To: Sophie Barker <Sophie.Barker@dcc.govt.nz>
Cc: Cherry Lucas <cherry.lucas@dcc.govt.nz>
Subject: Re: Council Roles

Hi Sophie,

Thank you for reconsidering Chair and Portfolio roles and offering me these two.

I accept the Co-Chair with DM Lucas although I am concerned that this may leave the deputy ‘role’ open which could be problematic. This was one of my reasons for wanting to fill the  Chair position alone with DM Lucas filling the deputy ‘role’. 

Chair alone would be preferable as I do not see the point of a co-role, but given you may have oversight reasons for this beyond my understanding, I accept your co-role with DM Lucas but I would not accept the role with anyone else. 

I am happy to also accept the Portfolio Lead CCOs with DM Lucas as deputy particularly because my unique two decades’ experience of our CCO’s is relevant to their sub-optimal performance now, and because I have established a candid and positive relationship with the new external DCHL directors employed [unfortunately much later than the Larsen report suggested] giving some hope long-term for CCO performance.

Thank you for including the Larsen Report in a previous email to all Councillors as it was comprehensive, insightful and prophetic in my view.

I do hope all Councillors will read it despite and even because it was written so many years ago.

Will you make these Council Role changes above public soon? I assume they are confidential until you do. 

Kind regards,

Lee

From: Sophie Barker <Sophie.Barker@dcc.govt.nz>
Date: Friday, 21 November 2025 at 4:14 PM
To: Lee Vandervis <lee@vandervision.co.nz>
Subject: Council Roles

Hi Lee

I have considered the Chair and Portfolio roles.

Would you consider Co-Chair of Finance and Performance Committee with DM Lucas?

Plus a portfolio lead CCOs with DM Lucas as deputy.

Please also be advised the Finance and Performance Committee would be one of the committees that may have mana whenua representatives on as per the 2022 Relationship Agreement signed by Mayor Radich last triennium. I have attached the agreement.

Kā mihi

All the best

Sophie Barker
Mayor of Dunedin

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