The City of Ballarat's much scrutinised approach to procurement will once again be under the spotlight as councillors consider a planned overhaul on Wednesday.
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Several changes are proposed for an annual review to the way officers manage the quotes and tenders for work overseen by the council.
It is the first review of procurement since a sharply critical Ombudsman's report was released in May. It highlighted a broad range of concerns about the way the organisation conducted its business.
The City of Ballarat's new interim chief executive Janet Dore, who was appointed to deal with the fallout of the report, promised to revise procurement policy and address the shortcomings described in the Ombudsman's investigation.
[It] exposed failures in Ballarat Council's procurement processes, including the management of conflicts of interest. It appears there is still more work to be done
- Ombudsman Deborah Glass
As well as so called "jobs for mates" allegations, the report outlined how works had allegedly been split in a major upgrade project at City Oval to avoid going to tender. It also focused on works carried out at Creswick Car Park when costs spiralled to $714,481 - well over three times the normal trigger point for a tender - without a process taking place.
Former director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo resigned shortly after the report was published.
Deborah Glass, the Victorian Ombudsman, also referenced an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission report on Operation Royston, which investigated how sports and recreation manager Lukas Carey had defrauded the council of $184,123.
"[It] exposed failures in Ballarat Council's procurement processes, including the management of conflicts of interest. It appears there is still more work to be done," the Ombudsman wrote.
This latest review has been shaped by a working group formed by Ms Dore. On the day of her appointment, Ms Dore said that revising the policy would be among her early priorities.
The proposed changes include a new formula to give more weighting to value for money when considering quotes and tenders.
There would also be new financial limits for using approved suppliers, greater detail on the criteria for considering "local content" (ie whether a supplier is based in the region), a suggested criteria for evaluating quotes and tenders, as well as a newly introduced element on sustainability.
There is no change to the trigger points for going out to tender. All services and goods worth more than $150,000 should go to tender, while all works worth more than $200,000 should also go through the same process.
Under state government law, the council has to review its procurement policy every year, but this year's changes are likely to be particularly closely studied.
The procurement policy is the most substantial item set to be discussed by councillors, who will once again be holding the council meeting online.
Other items include a discussion of dates for the city's public holiday, which is usually held in November during the Ballarat Show. That event has been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is also an item considering on heritage listing small parts of the old LaTrobe Street saleyards. Councillors voted by a majority to approve the heritage listing of the 1909 administration building, the bluestone-paved saleyards and ramps facing Latrobe St as well as the 1963 selling pavilion in November last year.
The item largely appears to be a procedural matter before the overlay is officially included in the city's planning scheme.
The meeting will be broadcast live at 7pm via the council's website.
OMBUDSMAN COVERAGE: TIMELINE
May 14 The report is tabled
- City of Ballarat ombudsman report: 'jobs for mates' allegations regarding Ballarat Council executives
- Ombudsman report into Ballarat council: councillors express disappointment
- Ombudsman report into City of Ballarat: Councillors told to scrutinise CEO behaviour
- City of Ballarat ombudsman report: The intriguing finer details
- Ombudsman's report into Ballarat Council: What next for council officers?
May 16
- ANALYSIS: Troubled waters at town hall
May 18, 2020: Resignation and sacking
Mayor Ben Taylor with interim CEO Janet Dore. Picture: Kate Healy.
May 19: Mayor talks about Justine Linley's sacking
May 21: Price fixing links of acting CEO confirmed
May 24: Fresh doubts published over recruitment processes/ Fall out continues over decision to terminate Justine Linley's CEO contract
May 28: Push for new interim CEO
June 10: New CEO announced
June 12: First day of new interim CEO, Janet Dore
June 18: Directors jobs to be re-advertised
June 29: Director of business services resigns
July 7: Director Cameron Cahill resigns
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