WALGA

COVID-19 Local Government Regulation Amendments

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries distributed a LG Alert regarding further Regulatory amendments to support Local Governments in responding to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. These amendments are expected to be gazetted on Thursday, 9 April and be effective from Friday, 10 April including:

Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations – Removes, during a State of Emergency, the public notice requirements for; re-purposing financial reserves, borrowing money and changing the use of borrowed money, where the funds are used for emergency response purposes.

Note however, that the amendments do not remove obligations under s.6.11(2) and 6.20(2) and (3) for decisions to be made by an absolute majority Council resolution.

Local Government (Functions and General) Regulations – Tender threshold increases to $250,000. Also, public tenders will not be required during a State of Emergency for the supply of goods or services associated with the emergency nor for a 12 month (only) renewal or extension of an existing contract that would otherwise expire within three months.

We have reviewed the WALGA Purchasing Policy template (available to Governance and/or Procurement subscribers) to address these amendments and have updated the ‘Local Buy’ policy principles to align with Premier McGowan and Minister Templeman’s request for Local Government goods and services expenditure to be invested toward economic support of local businesses.

For more information about the amended Functions and General and Financial Management Regulations, email Manager Governance, James McGovern or call 9213 2093.