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

Did the council effectively manage its outsourced planning services? 115
5.4 Evaluation and succession planning
This third phase of the contract management lifecycle is about transition.
Processes are needed to ensure a smooth transition from the existing
contract to a new contract – whether it is with the same service provider, a
new service provider or is provided in-house. This ensures minimal
disruption to the council’s operations.
The contract succession phase (which may commence before the contract is
completed), also involves a review of the successes and failures that
occurred over time in the contract arrangements.
This process involves:
evaluating the outputs and outcomes of the contracted activity against
tender requirements
assessing the effectiveness of the contract in achieving government
objectives for the activity
assessing effectiveness through feedback from clients and other
stakeholders
considering how to manage the possible transition to another provider
considering new approaches at the completion of the current
implementation period of the contract.
The contract with the council provided for the planning contractor to assist
with the transfer of the delivery of council planning services to his
successor, should the need arise.
As indicated previously, the planning contractor’s contractual performance
and effectiveness in achieving planning outcomes was not monitored by
the council. The council entered into a second contract with the planning
contractor in 2003 without any real evaluation of the contractor’s
performance or re-assessment of the way in which council planning
services could be delivered.
5.4.1 Conclusion
At the end of the planning contractor’s contract, a re-assessment of council
planning services was not undertaken to determine the most appropriate
arrangements for the delivery of future planning services.