THE George Town Council has widened its net and will indicate an interest in exploring resource-sharing opportunities with nearby councils.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council voted last week to write to Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein outlining the organisation's intention to undertake a benchmarking exercise alongside the West Tamar, Northern Midlands and Meander Valley councils.
The council will also indicate its willingness to explore options of feasibility studies for voluntary amalgamation, shared services models or standalone councils with neighbouring councils including Dorset, Flinders Island and Launceston City Council subject to several conditions, including state government funding and the agreement of those councils.
Benchmarking could include financial management, asset management, demographics and service and staff delivery efficiency ratios.
The motion was unanimously approved .
Mayor Bridget Archer said the council recognised the benchmarking exercise was important.
She said the West Tamar, Northern Midlands and Meander Valley councils had joined with George Town to hire a consultant to work with each organisation's general manager in initiating the benchmarking.
"Independent benchmarking gives us a reference point ... the council is quite keen to engage proactively and independently rather than being driven down a particular path," Cr Archer said.
"We're taking that broader approach and standing back and saying we're going to take it one step at a time and that probably has been better received.
"We will take a step back, do an analysis and get a better idea of where the efficiencies are - we already are (resource-sharing) to a degree so I'm sure some other opportunities will be identified."
A request from Launceston City Council to meet with Cr Archer and George Town general manager John Martin had not progressed since George Town indicated its interest, Cr Archer said.