‘Little Brexit’: Local Government Association questions validity of Marion Council’s exit

THE Local Government Association has cast doubt on whether Marion Council’s move to leave the organisation was valid.

Salisbury councillor Brad Vermeer has been vocal against remaining with the LGA.

• Marion Council votes to leave LGA
• Salisbury Council to vote on staying with LGA

THE Local Government Association has cast doubt on whether Marion Council’s move to leave the organisation was valid.

LGA chief executive Matt Pinnegar today said that he had advised Marion Council that it would continue to be treated as a member of the association until the validity of its motion was confirmed.

He asked if councillors knew the “funding impacts of the decision and the impact of services across all councils” when they were not given the usual five days’ notice of a motion.

Marion voted 6-5 to leave the association on Tuesday because of what it said was poor value for money for its $93,000 annual fee.

“We understand it was the intent of the elected members to leave, but the LGA must exercise due diligence given the funding impacts of the decision and the impact of services across all councils,” Mr Pinnegar said.

“These rules are in place to provide transparency and confidence in the community that elected representatives are making decisions which are based on facts and the best interest of ratepayers.”

LGA chief executive Matt Pinnegar.

Some councillors at Tuesday’s meeting also questioned whether the motion was valid, but Mayor Kris Hanna confirmed it was.

He said councillors knew Cr Bruce Hull would raise it more than 24 hours before the meeting, and the council had discussed leaving the LGA and its implications many times over the past 12 months.

“It’s up to the chair of the meeting as to whether a motion without notice is accepted,” Mr Hanna said.

“The LGA and staff have had extensive opportunities to provide us with information about the benefits of the LGA and consequences of leaving the LGA so members have abundant material.”

If the LGA took Marion to court to force it to stay, this would be proof enough it was wasting councils’ money, Mr Hanna said.