New LGA Board Member | GAROC elections | LGA Procurement | Key dates No Images? Click here Vol 4: Issue 1 - Monday 7 January 2019 Greetings to you all, and Happy New Year. 2019 promises to be a year of great opportunity for local government. All sides of politics are in agreement that local government reform should be on the agenda, and it is a real opportunity for the LGA and its member councils to help deliver meaningful and long-lasting changes for their communities. We will have a Federal election, which will mean that the LGA will work to help lobby for greater distributions to councils which deliver real, on-ground resources and infrastructure for their communities. I am keen to make sure the LGA is meeting the needs of all its members, so if you have questions or suggestions - especially if you are a new council member - don’t hesitate to get in touch. LGA President Sam Telfer New LGA Board MemberI’m pleased to advise that SAROC has appointed Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin to fill a casual vacancy on the LGA Board. Clare was elected as a councillor for the Whyalla City Council in 2014, and then as Mayor last November. Her first meeting as an LGA Board member will be at the end of this month. I’m excited to work with Clare and the rest of the Board this year as we look at opportunities to further improve the efficiency and transparency of our sector, and the value the LGA delivers to its members. GAROC electionsAs a result of last November’s council elections, there are currently two vacant positions on the Greater Adelaide Regional Organisation of Councils (GAROC). The LGA will write to all metropolitan councils this week asking for nominations for to fill these positions, with nominations closing on 22 February. If more than two nominations are received, we will run an election, with ballot papers to be distributed to GAROC councils in March. LGA ProcurementSouth Australian councils collectively spend around $2 billion every year, which provides us with an opportunity to benefit from economies of scale and get the best deal possible on goods and services. LGA Procurement was established to support councils through bulk purchasing and contract administration, and now delivers annual savings to the LGA’s members of around $27 million. One of the most significant tenders LGA Procurement manages on behalf of members is for the supply of electricity. The current LGA Procurement electricity contract includes 64 of the State’s 68 councils, and provides each of these councils with an average saving of round $140,000 per year. In fact, councils on this deal will see price reductions of 9-18% in 2019 compared to 2018, with the cost of electricity lower in real terms than what they paid two years ago. Some regional councils have contracted LGA Procurement to manage all of their procurement activities, and in 2018 LGA Procurement partnered with Kingston District Council to procure and deliver a dredger from the Netherlands. For more information about LGA Procurement visit their website or call 8224 2000. 7 February: Elected Member Leadership Program (for councillors) (LG House, Adelaide) 11-12 April: Council Best Practice Showcase and LGA Ordinary General Meeting (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) 14-16 August: LGA Roads and Works Conference (Renmark) 30-31 October: LGA Conference and Annual General Meeting (Adelaide Oval) For further information or to submit All SA council members are automatically subscribed to receive this e-newsletter. To unsubscribe please click the link below. |