Uralla Shire Council was presented with the New England Joint Organisation (NEJO) draft Operational Plan for 2018/19 at its monthly meeting on Tuesday afternoon and invited, along with all members of the organisation, to provide feedback by Friday, October 12. NEJO president Cr Michael Pearce said although the organisation was up and running, it was still in the establishment stages and lacked a permanent executive officer. "Five thousand dollars per council will be the set up cost for this year, 2018/19," Cr Pearce said. "As the JO progresses, obviously the membership fee will grow and the reason for that is at the moment the Inverell Shire Council general manager, Paul Henry, is our acting executive officer until just after Christmas. "So we'll be looking during the next couple of meetings to establish a permanent executive officer." Once the organisation engaged a permanent executive officer and began to undertake regionally relevant projects, it was expected membership costs would increase to a similar level to those paid to NAMOI JO – about $30,000 per annum. Cr Pearce said all the member councils would benefit from the organisation. ALSO READ: "It's all about governance, being tooled up with legislation, and its all about advocacy. Having seven councils advocating to government for further funding and opportunities down the track,” he said. Cr Pearce described the NEJO as still a baby when compared to NAMOI. "They've been an entity for a number of years now, but they're going along smoothly. "And once it's established, the New England JO will be every bit as good."
Uralla Shire Council Mayor Michael Pearce said every member council would benefit from the New England JO.
Uralla Shire Council was presented with the New England Joint Organisation (NEJO) draft Operational Plan for 2018/19 at its monthly meeting on Tuesday afternoon and invited, along with all members of the organisation, to provide feedback by Friday, October 12.
NEJO president Cr Michael Pearce said although the organisation was up and running, it was still in the establishment stages and lacked a permanent executive officer.
"Five thousand dollars per council will be the set up cost for this year, 2018/19," Cr Pearce said.
"As the JO progresses, obviously the membership fee will grow and the reason for that is at the moment the Inverell Shire Council general manager, Paul Henry, is our acting executive officer until just after Christmas.
It is something the government wants to see.
Cr Michael Pearce
"So we'll be looking during the next couple of meetings to establish a permanent executive officer."
Once the organisation engaged a permanent executive officer and began to undertake regionally relevant projects, it was expected membership costs would increase to a similar level to those paid to NAMOI JO – about $30,000 per annum.
Cr Pearce said all the member councils would benefit from the organisation.
"It's all about governance, being tooled up with legislation, and its all about advocacy. Having seven councils advocating to government for further funding and opportunities down the track,” he said.
Cr Pearce described the NEJO as still a baby when compared to NAMOI.
"They've been an entity for a number of years now, but they're going along smoothly.
"And once it's established, the New England JO will be every bit as good."
