Integrated Planning and Reporting Manual - Division of Local ...

2. THE COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN
The diagram following shows the main stages of the engagement process:
Stage One
Preparing information
Stage Two
Developing the Draft
Community Strategic
Plan
Stage Three
Reviewing the Draft
Community Strategic
Plan, Resourcing
Strategy & Delivery
Program
Stage Four
Reviewing the
Community Strategic
Plan at the end of each
Council term
Target discussions with
particular groups, State
agencies etc to help
prepare discussion
papers or ‘State of the
Shire’ information, that
will inform the
Community Strategic
Plan.
These discussions may
also identify relevant
regional strategies or
plans from other
agencies and groups.
Council may also seek to
obtain feedback from
particular stakeholders
on the effectiveness of
previous plans or
strategies.
A series of engagement
activities based on the
discussion papers/
reports prepared in Stage
One.
This will be the most
resource intensive stage,
involving a range of
activities for different
groups, at different times.
Discussions on levels of
service and possible
resourcing levels will be
held at this stage.
The aim is to prepare a
Draft Community
Strategic Plan.
This is the stage where
the community will refine
the Community Strategic
Plan and consider
Council’s response to the
Community Strategic
Plan via the Delivery
Program.
Council will need to plan
for broad-range
information sessions to
ensure as many
community members as
possible are aware of the
draft Community
Strategic Plan and the
Delivery Program.
Use of targetted
discussions or focus
groups may also be
appropriate.
When there is a review of
the Community Strategic
Plan, the community gets
an opportunity to review
Council’s performance in
achieving the objectives
in the Community
Strategic Plan, and
provide feedback on their
appropriateness.
It also provides an
opportunity for the
community to identify
new issues to be
included as the plan is
rolled forward.
There is no standard format for the Community Engagement Strategy. It is up to each council to
decide how the Strategy will be developed and implemented.
When developing the Strategy, Council should consider the various reasons why community
members may wish to be involved in the planning process. For example:
some people will have ‘place-based’ interests – they are concerned for the future of their
particular town, village or suburb
some will share a common interest, such as a business group, or a sporting organisation
others will share common needs, for example people who need child care or public transport
some will be motivated by negative experiences with Council or community organisations
and will want to address specific issues
some will be motivated by philosophical commitments, for example, to sustainability or good
governance.
Council should consider all these motivations when identifying stakeholders and determining how
and when they may best be engaged in the planning process.
Planning & Reporting Manual Page 39 of 115