GLENN Inglis has the same vision for the region as a councillor as he did when he was general manager of Tamworth Regional Council.
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Cr Inglis is no stranger to the halls of Ray Walsh House and his name is probably familiar throughout the region.
The newly-elected councillor said that local government has consumed his entire working life, but next Tuesday will be the first time he will sit on the other side of the table as an elected representative.
Cr Inglis’ connection to local government in the region dates back to 1993 when he was appointed general manager of the former Parry Shire.
Now he will work with some familiar faces on TRC in Phil Betts and Russell Webb, former Parry councillors.
“The vision I had is the same I had when I was general manager,” Mr Inglis told The Leader.
“A favourite for me is long-term regional strategic planning and seeing Tamworth cement itself as the regional city of the North West. I believe in the power of regional economies, I have a big interest in that area and also financial management and sustainability.”
Cr Inglis was the first general manager of Tamworth Regional Council when it was amalgamated with Parry, Nundle, Barraba and Manilla shires in 2004.
Since resigning in 2010, Cr Inglis started his own business and was appointed to the Independent Local Government Review panel, which helped inform “many of the recent amendments to the Local Government Act”.
The new councillor ran on a group ticket with council stalwart James Treloar, who missed out on re-election. Cr Inglis said he was disappointed his running mate didn’t get in.
“I’m disappointed for Warren Woodley and James Treloar, with such long service and both former mayors. I would certainly think it would be important for council to think and recognise their service,” he said.
In recent years, Cr Inglis had become a council ‘gun for hire’ serving as an interim GM for Narrabri, Tenterfield, Armidale-Dumaresq and Uralla shires.
Despite this far-ranging experience he said councils should be cautious about copying ideas. “In local government you learn a lot but it doesn’t matter where you go, everywhere is different,” Cr Inglis said said. “People are quick to assume if it has worked elsewhere it’ll work here, but every community is different.”
Cr Inglis said there “won’t be a problem” between himself and current GM Paul Bennett.
“The best councils are the ones that operate as a team,” Cr Inglis said. “That’s the goal.”