31st May 2011
Alderman Matt Stevenson has this week written to councillors across Tasmania to encourage more cross collaboration between councils.
“Glenorchy Council’s rates revenue went up by around 15% last year and in-line with the councils’ endeavour at last years budget it could be well above CPI this year and for the foreseeable future if the council doesn’t find significant savings.
“As an Alderman at the Glenorchy City Council I need to ensure that ratepayers’ money is being spent in the most efficient manner possible to take the pressure off rate rises.
“Identifying ways in which councils can work together is one of those ways in which we can help to use ratepayers’ money more efficiently, not just for Glenorchy, but for all areas of the state.
“While some councils already work well together, I believe there is more to be done.
“I’ve proposed several motions for the next Glenorchy Council meeting including investigating options for joint tenders in electricity and telecommunications contracts, and better options for bulk purchases of plant, equipment and consumables.
“Sometimes political obstacles get in the way of looking at sensible proposals such as these, so hopefully writing directly to councillors across the state asking them to consider like proposals for their councils will help to overcome some of those obstacles.
Below is a copy of the content of the letter to councillors across Tasmania
Dear xxx
There are many examples of councils working together constructively to achieve a better outcome than each council otherwise would have achieved without a combined effort. In fact, you and your fellow councillors may already have been involved in driving your own constructive working relationship with other councils.
As an Alderman at the Glenorchy City Council I, like you, need to ensure that ratepayers’ money is being spent in the most efficient manner possible. And identifying ways in which councils can work together is one of those ways in which we all can help to use ratepayers’ money efficiently.
However rather than common sense being used, sometimes political obstacles can get in the way of a good idea.
Over the coming month, I will be proposing motions for my council to engage with other councils within the state, and over state lines, to work more collaboratively.
My initial areas of focus will be to propose that Glenorchy City Council identifies partner councils who are willing to research if group tenders for power and telecommunications are both possible and beneficial, and to become more pro-active in group bulk purchases for plant, equipment and consumables.
I am writing to you for two reasons. Firstly to encourage you to propose similar motions to your council if you your council is not already actively engaged in doing so. If your council is not already actively involved in collaboration of this nature, proposing similar motions would be a great signal to send to our communities to say that we will rise above some of the political barriers that may exist today in working better, together.
And secondly, if you have experience with your council either successfully or not so successfully engaging in collaboration, to invite you to share your experience with me, or other councillors and councils to help remove the barriers that have stopped more councils working together.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions to overcome the barriers that exist, or if you would like to work more closely in getting our councils to work together.
Yours Sincerely,
Matt Stevenson
