Rate peg. The decision by the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to fix the allowable rate increase for councils for 2017/2018 at 1.5% has raised concerns it falls well short of rises in expenditure faced by councils which are estimated to be double the proposed rate increase.

In light of the small increase available to Bourke Shire Council and the increased call for additional services and the cost of providing its existing services, council will be carefully monitoring its current levels of expenditure.

Council’s management team will be looking for increases in efficiencies and economies to ensure it is able to continue to provide its current level of services. The continued pressure on council’s budget is also being felt by all NSW councils as we continue to be asked to do more with less.

Award presented. The council hosted the board meeting of the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils (OROC) at which a presentation was made to Stewart McLeod, the retiring director of technical services at Dubbo Regional Council, for his dedicated service to the Lower Macquarie Water Utilities Alliance (LMWUA).

Stewart was largely responsible for bringing the LMWUA from a fledgling organisation to being an organisation which has become highly regarded within all tiers of government and often cited as an example of how significant outcomes can be achieved through collaboration of a number of councils working together for the benefit of all concerned.

OROC meeting. The OROC meeting was also its annual general meeting.  Warren Mayor Rex Wilson was elected chairman and Gilgandra Mayor Doug Batten was elected Deputy Chairman.

The meeting had a very full agenda with speakers including Kevin Pugh from NSW Treasury talking on the introduction of the Emergency Services Property Levy (ESPL) which will see the funding for NSW emergency services taken from a levy on insurance policies and included on rate notices. This will have a considerable impact on local government in terms of land classification and other preliminary work and with the administrative burden in levying and collection.