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

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Executive summary 5 Inadequate contract management. The council failed to establish proper contract management and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the planning responsibilities delegated to the contract planner (when acting as an employee of council) were performed appropriately and in compliance with planning legislation and council’s planning scheme. Planning decisions made by the planning contractor (as council employee) being almost entirely based on a narrow interpretation of the provisions of the council’s planning scheme and without consideration of the outcomes produced. We also found it difficult to comprehend how the council could terminate the services of the planning contractor for non-performance and then effectively re-appoint the same person 3 months later. A significant challenge for the council in the short term is to manage community concerns about the capability of council and the quality of its planning services. The questionable legality of around 330 permits issued without a development plan over the past 6 years has contributed to this situation and potentially exposed the council to financial risk. It is pleasing to note that over the last 18 months the council, largely through the efforts of its current chief executive officer, has made significant and positive changes to the way in which planning services are now delivered. These will improve the quality of future planning decisions. Recommendations 1. That the council: periodically review its planning files to ensure that the check list is properly completed and adequately supported consider establishing a pre-lodgement certification process. 2. That the council: develop appropriate guidelines to assist its planning officers to apply the material detriment assessments required by the Planning and Environment Act 1987 ensure its planning application assessments include detailed information of the notice requirements for each application regularly audit assessments to ensure notice requirements are consistently applied.
6 Executive summary 3. That the council: provide a copy of the planning application to relevant referral authorities, as required by the Planning and Environment Act 1987 notify referral authorities of its final decision in relation to the permit application, as required by the Planning and Environment Act 1987 include all requirements of referral authorities in permit conditions refer applications to other authorities likely to have an interest in the proposal (rather than relying on the conditions attached to planning permits to indicate to applicants that other legislative requirements need to be satisfied) discuss referral and notice requirements of the planning scheme with authorities to refine future requirements. 4. That the council: before it approves an application to change the use or to develop land within a designated heritage area, consider the potential impact of the proposal on the heritage values of the site and/or its setting and area. This is particularly so, where the zoning of properties (such as in Business Zone 1) removes the need to provide details of any proposal to owners and tenants of properties surrounding the site, making the proposal exempt from the normal objection and appeal requirements of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 develops a heritage policy, and considers developing a neighbourhood character overlay, and a design and development overlay for the Portland town centre. 5. That the council, work with local Aboriginal communities and AAV to: identify significant Aboriginal sites (through the planning scheme) establish controls to prevent these sites from inappropriate development. 6. Until such time as significant Aboriginal sites are identified and specific controls established to protect them, the council comply with the requirements currently existing in the planning scheme. 7. That the council complies with legislative requirements and considers the potential impact of any proposal on the environmental values of the site and surrounding area.
Page 1 and 2: PP No. 162, Session 2003-05 V I C T
Page 3 and 4: The Hon. Monica Gould MP The Hon. J
Page 5 and 6: Contents FOREWORD..................
Page 7 and 8: 1. Executive summary 1
Page 9: 4 Executive summary 1.2 Overall aud
Page 13 and 14: 8 Executive summary attempt to res
Page 15 and 16: 10 Executive summary RESPONSE provi
Page 17 and 18: 2.1 Victoria’s planning system Vi
Page 19 and 20: Reform of the planning system Victo
Page 21 and 22: 2.2.1 Council’s planning services
Page 23 and 24: 2.3.1 Conduct of the audit Victoria
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4. Did the council have appropriate
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5. Did the council effectively mana
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Appendix A. Performance improvement
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Appendix B. Contract for town plann
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FIGURE C1: AUDIT CASE STUDIES INDEX
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Community planning services in Glenelg Shire Council : 1998-2005 ...

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