Council has flagged the changes following recent concern and a review of the purchase of Councils LitterBoss vacuum sweeper.

Chief Executive Officer Mr Rex Mooney has confirmed the Council Officers did not breach Council’s procurement policy in purchasing the new piece of equipment, but acknowledged there appears to be a contrary public view that this was not the case.

As a result of the NT Government making changes to take away liquor products last October, Council has received increasing numbers of complaints from cyclists and pedestrians regarding broken glass on paths and streets. The new sweeper has been successful in helping to address this hazard.

Aldermen reluctantly accepted that Council Officers had not breached the Purchasing Policy, but believed that all future purchases of this size should be open for publicly advertised quotes locally, and a 10% preference be given to local suppliers, which was not previously available.

“Council feels very strongly about supporting local businesses, and we know that businesses will provide their most competitive prices when submitting quotes,” said Mayor Fran Kilgariff.

“Aldermen have proposed changes to Council’s Procurement Policy that will require Council Officers to advertise for three written quotes from local suppliers, where possible, for the purchase of items less than $55,000 including GST,” said Mayor Fran Kilgariff.

“This will be discussed at the Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Monday 26 March, 2007,” said Mayor Fran Kilgariff.

Any purchase above $55,000 will require Council to follow its Tender process that also provides a favourable price weighting for local suppliers.

For further information contact:

Mayor Fran Kilgariff (08) 8950 0525 or 0419 376 060

ASTC Chief Executive Officer Rex Mooney (08) 8950 0525 or 0427 161 956

ASTC Media Officer Fionn Muster (08) 8950 0546 or 0417 884 449