A MOTION requesting the abolition of mandatory audit panels for councils will be tabled at today's Meander Valley Council meeting at Westbury.
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The motion includes requesting support from the Local Government Association of Tasmania to convince Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein to reverse the panel requirement.
Meander Valley Mayor Craig Perkins forwarded the proposal and said most councils already had a system in place to oversee audit panel functions.
The council has budgeted $15,000 to operate an audit panel for the 2014-15 financial year.
In his motion author comments, Meander Valley general manager Greg Preece said some general managers had concerns about panels overextending their brief.
"The intent of Mayor Perkins's motion is to give councils the option of having an audit panel, unless there is a concern identified by the Auditor-General regarding the operation of a particular council," Mr Preece said.
". . . to impose a mandatory requirement on all councils is an added financial cost and unnecessary use of resources, with no substantial benefits.
"For small councils, such as Flinders, King Island and West Coast, these costs are substantial in relation to the overall budget."
The Westbury meeting will begin at 1.30pm today.
