Councils to cooperate for greater efficiencies

March 3rd, 2012
[from TDC press release]

Tasman District Council has joined Nelson City Council and most of the other councils in the South Island to form the South Island Strategic Alliance, aiming to produce efficiencies and increased collaboration in public projects.

As a result of a meeting last month between all interested South Island councils, a small group made up of elected representatives and senior management from 12 councils and the Department of Internal Affairs has been formed.

This group will examine potential projects where there are real and achievable benefits, for example in roading, information technology and library services. and then allocate the project to a group of willing council CEOs for progression.

"Shared procurement is relatively easy and doesn’t require organisational structural changes," said Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne. "However, the successful delivery of shared services needs real commitment from governance and management and that is something I am confident these councils will deliver.

"Increasing expectations from our communities and central government has rightly directed Councils to look for cost savings and increased efficiencies in the way we deliver services. The members of the Alliance have committed their support to these goals and many are already working with each other to achieve them.

"Within this alliance we will have the ability to maintain the unique needs and aspirations of the communities we represent while having cheaper access to commonly used resources and providing improved levels of service. It can only be a win-win for ratepayers," concluded Mayor Kempthorne.

South Island Strategic Alliance will build on the links many of the Councils have with central government initiatives already in both shared services and joint procurement further strengthening those relationships and creating greater opportunities for savings.

Comment by Shirley Frater:
[Posted 5 March 2011]

Why the expense and power platforms for amalgamation if councils have joined the SISA? Amalgamation is not needed.

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