In a first for Western Australia, several councils are working together to collectively purchase new business systems. The Council Core Business Systems – Group Procurement Project brings a new level of collaboration to IT purchases. Assisted by the peak body for Local Government, the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), the aim of the project is to buy a new corporate IT system for the Bayswater, Bunbury, Gosnells and Cambridge Councils.
The group procurement project is designed to encourage better buying practices. The councils will develop a common use and select a best practice Local Government administration system. The four councils involved recognised that their current business systems were not meeting their ongoing needs and that they would be seeking to upgrade or replace their systems within the next two years.
WALGA’s Linking Councils and Communities Program was used to provide a natural point of contact, centralised administration and technical expertise for the project.
Western Australian Local Government Association President, Councillor Clive Robartson, said he commended the participating councils on their initiative. This project has already attracted the attention of both the Local Government sector and industry.
“There are broader benefits for the Local Government sector through the potential engagement of a preferred supplier for Local Government, and the development of best practices specification and models,” he said. “On the basis of the sources of the implementation, the successful vendor will be well positioned to offer a best practice Local Government specific product across the sector.”
For more details contact WALGA Corporate Communications Manager, Maggie Johns, on 0419 831 576.
