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

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Did the council have appropriate management arrangements for the delivery of its planning services? 87 4.3.3 Conclusion Since its adoption, the planning scheme has been subject to an independent panel review, a Best Value review and 2 internal reviews of the MSS. All identified a number of significant deficiencies with the scheme. In undertaking its own assessments of planning permit applications, the council has also identified some deficiencies. Many of the deficiencies that have been identified relate to the council’s strategic planning and policy documents not adequately addressing the impacts of development activities on environmental and heritage assets. As we showed in Part 3 of this report, many of the objections to council-issued planning permits relate to the impact of planning decisions on environmental and heritage assets. Despite a number of attempts by the council to address these deficiencies, they have largely remained unresolved. As shown by the council’s management of planning scheme amendments, the council did not pay sufficient attention to ensure legal requirements or due process, were complied with in amending the scheme. Had these deficiencies been addressed as part of the planning scheme review process, many of the problems currently faced by the council would not exist. Based on this evidence, we consider that the council’s strategic planning function has not been effectively managed. Recommendation 15. That: the council finalise its current review process and submit its second triennial review of its municipal strategic statement to the Minister for Planning for approval as soon as possible in future, the council more closely monitor and review the operation of the planning scheme and be more proactive in ensuring proposed necessary changes to the scheme are made.
88 Did the council have appropriate management arrangements for the delivery of its planning services? RESPONSE provided by Glenelg Shire Council Recommendation agreed. The review of the Municipal Strategic Strategy (MSS) has been completed. The report was adopted by council in February 2005. The Master Community Settlement Plan is to be undertaken as a priority. The MSS will then be redrafted. Drafting of statutory policies for incorporation into the local planning policy framework has been actioned. Council now has an in-house strategic planning unit to undertake regular reviews of its planning scheme. 4.4 Arrangements for the delivery of planning services The planning contractor provided planning services to the council from March 1998 to March 2005 37 . The value of the planning contractor’s most recent contract (5-year contract commencing January 2003), prior to its termination at the end of 2004, was $1.02 million, plus CPI adjustments. At the same time, the planning contractor was also employed by the council as a staff member for 5 hours per week. In this role (as council town planner), he had delegated authority to approve planning permits on behalf of the council. The Victorian Government Solicitor advised us that under the Act, this arrangement was not unlawful. He did consider it, however, to be unsatisfactory “because of a high potential to blur the two roles” 38 . For example, on any given day, the planning contractor was likely to undertake tasks related to both his role as provider of contracted planning services and council town planner. These could include: receiving, recording and maintaining planning applications deciding whether a person or persons might be affected by the grant of a planning permit assessing public submissions on proposed amendments to the planning scheme 37 The contract with the planning contractor was terminated by council in December 2004, effective from the end of March 2005. 38 Victorian Government Solicitor, Glenelg Shire Council – Administration of planning functions, 12 January 2005, p. 5.
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PP No. 162, Session 2003-05 V I C T
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The Hon. Monica Gould MP The Hon. J
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Contents FOREWORD..................
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1. Executive summary 1
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4 Executive summary 1.2 Overall aud
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6 Executive summary 3. That the cou
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8 Executive summary attempt to res
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10 Executive summary RESPONSE provi
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2.1 Victoria’s planning system Vi
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Reform of the planning system Victo
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2.2.1 Council’s planning services
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2.3.1 Conduct of the audit Victoria
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Did the council comply with key leg
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Page 125 and 126: FIGURE C1: AUDIT CASE STUDIES INDEX
Page 127: Availability of reports Copies of a
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Community planning services in Glenelg Shire Council : 1998-2005 ...

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