CEO of the Barunga West Council Maree Wauchope said the decision comes after three years of discussions between the council and Legatus Group over concern that membership benefits don’t equal the ongoing costs.

Wauchope cited increases to membership rates to cover what she sees as a way to shore up poor financial planning as one reason the council finally decided to leave Legatus Group.

“The proposed increased membership rates influenced the debate in the chamber to really consider its membership, which ultimately led to a decision to provide notice to withdraw,” Wauchope said.

“Any increase in costs for the council has to be paid for by raising council rates. The Barunga West Council is trying to reduce its costs so it can keep any increase to rates next financial year to a minimum.”

The Legatus Group represents 15 councils ranging across the Central Local Government Region from the Adelaide Plains up to the Flinders Ranges and including the Yorke Peninsula, the most councils of any LGA group, and it is the only LGA group to have a name that doesn’t reflect its geographical position.

Currently, Legatus Group’s councils pay an annual membership rate of $12,479, but that figure is expected to rise by 10 per cent in 2023/24 according to Legatus’ long-term strategic plan.

“What was of concern for Barunga West councillors was that there didn’t seem to be a plan to get back to surplus other than raising membership fees, and there was still a constant annual operating deficit,” Wauchope said.

“The draft strategic plan also said one of its priorities was for Legatus to be a sustainable organisation. Barunga West Council couldn’t see what was sustainable about the plan or organisation.”

Wauchope said they were also concerned that the Legatus Group is no longer performing its primary function as an advocacy group and is duplicating the functions of other government bodies.

“Some of the duplication Barunga West Council has seen is around policy in waste management, tourism plans, local government events, research and advocacy, economic development and wastewater,” Wauchope said.

Legatus Group Chairman Rodney Reid said the council was entitled to make the decision to withdraw and that the announcement did not come as a shock.

“I’m not surprised that they’ve pulled out. Our charter at Legatus requires them to give 18-months notice of pulling out. That’s what they’ve done,” Reid said.

Despite the lengthy talks between Barunga West and Legatus, Reid said the announcement was still disappointing for the group’s other constituents.

“We do work across councils, trying to gain benefits for the region, for the council…we value the input of all of our councils,” he said.

Barunga West are not the only council to have voiced concern about the group’s proposed financial and strategic plans.

The Barossa Council also addressing the issue at their ordinary general meeting (OGM) on 18 April.

During the OGM the council recommended a review of Legatus’ financial plans and that the group reduce its activities to its primary purpose of advocacy.

The Barossa Council also requested that the group reverts to “a more recognised name that clearly articulates that the group is a local government group.”

According to the group’s website, the “purpose of the Legatus Group is to undertake the co-ordination, advocacy and representation of the constituent councils at a regional level. Through the increased facilitation and co-ordination of local government activities relating to economic and community development at a regional level, the object of improving benefits to the communities of the constituent councils is enabled.”

Wauchope said the Barunga West Council have made it clear to the Legatus Group they will reconsider withdrawing if it is able to satisfactorily address the issues and that she thinks the current chair, Wakefield Regional Council Mayor Rodney Reid, is able to do so.

“The Barunga West Council has full confidence in Mayor Rodney Reid in addressing these issues and if he is successful in reforming the regional subsidiary, council will reconsider its membership,” Wauchope said.

“If Legatus is unsuccessful in its reforms and Barunga West Council (BWC) does not rescind its decision to withdraw its membership, BWC will write to the Minister for Local Government in 2025 seeking his approval to cease to be a constituent council of Legatus.”

Reid said a Legatus charter review is set for later this year and he expects Barunga Council will be heavily involved in the process.

“We are going through reviews of our charter, our strategic plan. They are planned for this year, and certainly Barunga West will still be at the table when we do that, so we will hear from Barunga West through that process and we’ll see what happens from there,” Reid said.