The objects of the bill are:

1. to increase to $250,000 the value of a contract at or above which a council is required to invite tenders and to provide for other exceptions from the tendering requirement;

2. to extend by a further 12 months the period for which the Minister for Local Government may maintain the existing rate path for amalgamated councils;

3. to extend the cut-off dates for councils to decide to enter into arrangements with the Electoral Commissioner to administer the 2020 ordinary council elections, and to enter into the arrangements, to 1 October 2019 and 1 January 2020, respectively;

4. to enable the delegation of regulatory functions of councils to other councils, their committees and employees, and to committees of boards of joint organisations;

5. to enable regulations to be made to exempt councils from requirements relating to public notice of fees or determination of fees according to pricing methodologies where the fees relate to specified commercial activities;

6. to enable regulations to be made to establish a scheme for mutual recognition by councils of approvals and for appeals from decisions about the approvals;