3.4.1 Purchasing

3.4.1.1  Local Government access to Queensland Purchasing and Sales for motor vehicle purchase should be maintained.

3.4.1.2  Local Governments' access to Queensland Purchasing and Sales Contracts should be extended to cover other items such as fuel, petroleum products and computers.

3.4.1.3 Legislated thresholds for requiring quotations or tenders before entering into a purchasing contract should be increased from $15,000 and $150,000 respectively, to $30,000 and $300,000 for small councils and $50,000 and $500,000 for large councils. Further, the inclusion (or otherwise) of GST within the thresholds should be clarified.

3.4.1.4 Thresholds should be reviewed every 5 years in the light of increases in the LGAQ’s Council Cost Index to ensure they remain relevant to operational efficiency of Councils.

3.4.2 Electronic Trading

3.4.2.1 The LGAQ will encourage Local Governments to develop electronic trading capabilities.

3.4.3 Electronic Data

3.4.3.1  Local Government as owners of electronic data will resolve to retain, pass on or sell this data on an individual Council basis.

3.4.4 Street Lighting

3.4.4.1  Charges levied by Electricity Authorities for the installation and operation of street lighting should be based on the actual costs of providing the service rather than on normal commercial tariffs.

3.4.4.2  Local Government should seek partnerships with electricity authorities to promote the use of environmentally friendly equipment and practices in line with ecologically sustainable objectives.