Community planning services in Glenelg Shire Council : 1998-2005 ...

104 Did the council effectively manage its outsourced planning services?
5.2 Setting up of the contractual arrangement
To assess whether council had set up appropriate procedures to manage its
outsourced planning function, we reviewed:
the contract manager and planning contractor’s skills and experience
the council’s and the planning contractor’s roles and responsibilities in
providing planning services
contractual arrangements.
We did not review the rationale for outsourcing the planning services or
the tender process used to engage the planning contractor.
5.2.1 Skills and experience
In undertaking their duties, planners have to manage the competing
interests of those applying for planning permits and those in the
community. Planners must provide an impartial and professional service to
both parties 47 . Councils rely on their town planner’s skills, experience and
knowledge for professional planning advice.
Qualifications
The contract between the council and the planning contractor required him
to be:
suitably qualified
able to demonstrate experience in administering the relevant acts, codes
and regulations
eligible for admission to an appropriate professional
association/institute.
The planning contractor did not have formal town planning qualifications.
He did, however, have extensive experience in local government (37 years)
and town planning (28 years), and was also a member of several relevant
industry associations.
In recent advertisements for statutory planners, the council has stated that
a tertiary qualification in town planning or associated field is mandatory.
47 Municipal Association of Victoria 2002, Planning in Victoria, A Councillors’ Guide, Municipal
Association of Victoria, Melbourne, p. 14.