Quit advocacy group bid slam

However critics of the withdrawal plan warned it could ultimately cost more than it saves.
At their final meeting for 2020, Labor councillors failed to rescind a move by Mayor Steve Christou to give the required six months’ notice to resign from the advocacy and resource sharing body which also includes the City of Parramatta, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Liverpool city councils.
While acknowledging the important role WSROC provided “to some western Sydney councils”, Councillor Christou said membership had provided “minimal benefit to Cumberland”.
Instead he raised the possibility of joining forces with the Fairfield Council and City of Parramatta Council to form “a powerful advocacy body of three super councils”.
However Cr George Campbell, who has previously served as Cumberland’s representative on the WSROC board, said the direct value to the council in the 2019/20 financial year was $696,947, more than seven times the membership fee.
“An incredible return on investment,” he said.
“The question is not whether we can afford membership, it is whether we can afford to forego the financial and other benefits of membership.”
He said membership also had other indirect or intangible benefits including advocacy at a state level, professional development and support to council staff.
Describing Cumberland as a “valuable partner” in a number of initiatives, WSROC chief executive officer Charles Casuscelli said he and WSROC president Barry Calvert were “continuing discussions” with Cumberland.
“Other alliances have come and gone but WSROC continues to represent Western Sydney like no other,” he said.
“We are the collective voice of local government in Western Sydney and our agenda is driven by no-one other than local government. In this, we are unique.”