Jess Talks - June 2023

Written by Jessica Jones, Executive Director Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

The team are getting out and about to talk and listen to councils to understand where we need to focus our efforts. For one, my recent trip down to Canberra for ALGA was very insightful about understanding councils’ needs to support their communities. It is very clear that a couple of the key issues facing councils are disaster management and housing. This is not new to us but what we need to consider is the funding that is in the pipeline and how this impacts the supply market for materials and resources, especially given the amount of infrastructure across the state and the current drain on resources. This is consistent not only in Queensland but more broadly across the Nation.

Considering this, what role does Local Buy play?

Largely our role is to enable councils to get the most out of allocated funding through the use of appropriate arrangements to help speed up the approach to market in delivering infrastructure. Using Local Buy arrangements reduces tendering and contract risk, and helps councils achieve value for money with the spending of project funds.

We have a number of key Arrangements that are either currently in place or in the process of being built. For example, the Building and Construction contracts that are currently being developed will be critical in terms of the timing of the release of social housing funding. Unlike some of the other states many councils in Queensland deliver social housing to their communities.

Another item to highlight is the release of the latest QAO Report. It is no surprise that procurement featured heavily in this report. However, what is important to note is that Local Buy’s investment in our Procurement Technology and Data Analytics Program (previously known as Nex Gen) for Queensland councils goes a long way in supporting councils to address a number of the findings in the report. Over the coming months, we will talk a bit more about this.

Speaking of our Procurement Technology and Data Analytics Program, we welcome South Burnett Regional Council as number 64 to come on board. In collaboration with council, last week we ran a Local Buy Procurement Workshop for the council (elected and executive) to improve the understanding of Local Buy, why we were originally established (take a look at Michelle McFadyens article, an excellent reminder and provides some great context on Local Buy), procurement risk and the role of Local Buy, how we can support local suppliers in ‘doing business with council’ and the investment Local Buy is making in every council from a technology and data standpoint.

If you need support to help your council understand Local Buy, we are more than happy to come out and run a workshop. This is a core part of our council education and awareness program that our Senior Engagement Managers, Tina and Jeremy, will be focused on delivering for our member councils.

I look forward to the coming weeks with lots of engagement happening across the state. I will be travelling this week with the LGAQ President and CEO to meet with member councils in Far North Queensland, Tina will be out in the South West, Jeremy is busily planning some northern region engagement and Bush Council Convention is just around the corner.

I look forward to catching up with you!

Jess