Gunndedah Shire mayor Owen Hasler writes:
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I write in order to clarify Gunnedah Shire Council's position in relation to the proposed continuation of Resource Sharing with Liverpool Plains Shire Council as referred to in the article entitled "We still want to share" as published in the Thursday 1 September 2016 edition of the "NVI".
In the article Liverpool Plains Mayor, Andrew Hope, is quoted as saying that "neither Council was 'overly happy' with the proposals tabled in the initial report for shared resource strategy".
This claim is, in fact, incorrect as, after contributing our share of $15,000 in having consultants Morrison Low prepare the report entitled "Development of a Shared Services Model", Gunnedah Shire Council was quite happy to implement the recommendation of the consultants whereby the two (2) Councils would have shared resources based on contractual arrangements.
Such a system would have seen an approach based on delivering to agreed specifications by a shared pool of staff under the direction of a shared services committee.
Unfortunately, this will no longer proceed despite lengthy discussion by senior staff from both Councils and the preparation of the report by the consultants.
Furthermore, the article's claim that "it was also reported Liverpool Plains Council sought to remain with the current ad-hoc, periodic sharing position" will not happen as this was never meant to be the case as also stated in the consultant's recommendations where it stated:
"If the two councils cannot agree to formalise the arrangement beyond the current resource sharing approach then the best strategic decision would be that the councils NOT (my highlighting) continue with the existing resource sharing arrangement. The current approach was intended to be transitional and should not become the solution by default. The lack of certainty over resource provision is impacting both organisations and affecting the council’s planning, recruitment and organisational capabilities."
Gunnedah Shire Council believes the formalised, contractually based resource sharing model as recommended by the consultants, would have provided significant opportunities and advantages for both councils.
However, as Liverpool Plains Shire Council has opted out of that proposed arrangement Gunnedah Shire Council will now proceed to pursue staff recruitment based on the best interests of our council and our community.
We will not be continuing the "ad hoc, periodic sharing provision" as suggested by Councillor Hope as that arrangement was only ever meant to be an interim, transitional arrangement.
Liverpool Plains Shire Council will now have to cater for its' own destiny.
Thank you for this opportunity to clarify this matter.