Shoalhaven local suppliers keep existing purchasing policy after deferral bid fails

Councillors voted 11-2 to retain the Local Preference Policy unchanged, with its effectiveness and financial impact due for reassessment in four years.

Council: Shoalhaven City Council

Meeting: 27/10/2026

Recorded status: approved


BRIEF

Unconfirmed minutes record that Shoalhaven City Council will retain its Local Preference Policy without change after councillors rejected a five-to-eight proposal to defer consideration until after a Councillor Workshop. The final recorded vote was 11-2, and the policy’s effectiveness and financial impact are to be reassessed in four years. The minutes do not detail its tender criteria.


KEY FACTS

- The unconfirmed minutes record that Council resolved under MIN26.401 to endorse the Local Preference Policy without change.

- A proposed deferral for consideration after a Councillor Workshop was lost, with five votes for and eight against.

- The policy’s effectiveness and financial impact are to be reassessed in four years.

- The final resolution was recorded as carried with 11 councillors voting for it and two against.

- The minutes do not specify the policy’s detailed tender criteria or any interim review measures.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The resolution retains the current policy but does not set an interim review date or reproduce the criteria used to assess suppliers.

- The record supports continuity of the policy, but it does not establish how local preference affects any individual tender or whether a local supplier receives an automatic advantage.

- The confirmation line is dated after the supplied source-check date, so this account treats the minutes as unconfirmed.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- What criteria will Council use to assess the policy's effectiveness and financial impact in four years?

- How is local preference applied in supplier assessment or tender scoring under the existing policy?

- Will Council publish procurement or local-supplier outcomes before the four-year reassessment?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Council is to reassess the Local Preference Policy's effectiveness and financial impact in four years, under the resolution recorded in the unconfirmed minutes.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The proposal to defer consideration of the Local Preference Policy until after a Councillor Workshop was lost by five votes to eight.
"Endorse the Local Preference Policy without change. 2. The effectiveness and the financial impact of the Local Preference Policy to be reassessed by Council in four (4) years. MOTION (Clr Kemp / Clr Casmiri) That this policy be deferred for consideration following a Councillor Workshop. FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Casmiri and Clr Kemp AGAINST: Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Clancy and Clr Steele LOST (FORESHADOWED) RESOLVED (Clr Tribe / Clr Krikstolaitis) MIN26.401 That Council: 1." (CL26.274)

Council resolved under MIN26.401 to endorse the Local Preference Policy without change and reassess its effectiveness and financial impact in four years.
"FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Casmiri and Clr Kemp AGAINST: Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Clancy and Clr Steele LOST (FORESHADOWED) RESOLVED (Clr Tribe / Clr Krikstolaitis) MIN26.401 That Council: 1. Endorse the Local Preference Policy without change. 2. The effectiveness and the financial impact of the Local Preference Policy to be reassessed by Council in four (4) years. FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Clancy and Clr Steele AGAINST: Clr Casmiri and Clr Kemp CARRIED Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 27 October 2026 Page 15 Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson ........................................................................." (MIN26.401)

The resolution was recorded as carried with 11 councillors voting for it and Clr Casmiri and Clr Kemp voting against.
"Endorse the Local Preference Policy without change. 2. The effectiveness and the financial impact of the Local Preference Policy to be reassessed by Council in four (4) years. FOR: Mayor White, Clr Wilkins, Clr Killian, Clr Boyd, Clr Tribe, Clr Krikstolaitis, Clr Norris, Clr Dunn, Clr Proudfoot, Clr Clancy and Clr Steele AGAINST: Clr Casmiri and Clr Kemp CARRIED Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 27 October 2026 Page 15 Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson ........................................................................." (MIN26.401)

The supplied minutes identify the meeting date as 27 October 2026 and carry a confirmation line dated 24 November 2026.
"Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 24 November 2026 – Chairperson ......................................................................... Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING Meeting Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 Location: Council Chambers, City Administrative Building, Bridge Road, Nowra Time: 5:30 PM The following members were present: Mayor Patricia White - Chairperson Clr Peter Wilkins (Remotely) Clr Debbie Killian (Remotely) – joined at 5:35pm Clr Gillian Boyd Clr Jemma Tribe Clr Ben Krikstolaitis Clr Matthew Norris Clr Karlee Dunn Clr Bob Proudfoot Clr Luciano Casmiri Clr Selena Clancy Clr Brett Steele Clr Denise Kemp (Remotely) A" (Document opening and confirmation line)


SOURCES

https://shoalhaven.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/CL_20261027_MIN_18348.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/shoalhaven-infocouncil-ordinary-meeting-27-10-2026-27-10-2026-minutes-shoalhaven-local-suppliers-keep-existing-purchasing-policy-after-defe-6a44633f2c/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.