Alocal councillor is attempting to save ratepayers from reimbursing $40,000 for a compulsory review.

At City Council’s March monthly meeting councillor Max Bruins said the Essential Services Commission of South Australia was running a compulsory scheme.

He said the scheme was to provide advice about the appropriateness of long-term financial plans.

According to Cr Bruins, the scheme was an unnecessary double-up of resources.

“This is a double-up of work council already undertakes with its own external auditors,” he said.

“This is doubling of resources the government are seeking the ratepayers across the state to pay for, in a time of high inflation and cost of living pressures.”

Cr Bruins put forward a motion that council request the commission does not seek reimbursement of costs from any council until a review has been undertaken.

His motion included requesting an immediate review of the scheme, to determine its necessity and effectiveness and its funding models.

Cr Bruins’ motion will have Mayor Lynette Martin write to Premier Peter Malinauskas, Local Government Minister Geoff Brock and the Local Government Association.

“This scheme needs to be thoroughly reviewed as to its need and efficacy and funding models reviewed before being rolled out to any further councils,” Cr Bruins said.

“Fees should be waived until such time this review is undertaken.”

Cr Bruins’ motion included council express its “extreme displeasure and frustration that ratepayers are expected to wear the cost and incur the added budget pressures of the recently introduced ESCOSA Advisory Scheme”.