2022-07-12 - S&O Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Governance Framework Report

CONSULTATION & ENGAGEMENT

Effective communication and engagement are crucial to responsible decision-
making in Council. Council embraces consultation as a two -way process that
creates opportunities for the community to participate in matters that interest
and affect it and ensures transparency and accountability in Council’s decision -
making. At its core, communication and engagement supports and encourages
the community to participate in civic life.

Community engagement and consultation

There are different ways for the community to have input into Council decisions,
including through community engagement reference groups, community
consultations, legislatively required consultations and public forums. Equally
important, the community can directly engage with Council through our
meeting processes in four different ways:
 • Petitions
 • Deputations
 • Presentations, and
 • Public question time.

The benefits of effective engagement include:
 • Council and the community working together to address local issues and
   collectively achieving better outcomes.
 • A higher level of community ownership of decisions made by Council.
 • An improved level of community understanding about Council’s processes
   and services.
 • Increased awareness across Council of community views and concerns.
 • Opportunities for Council to draw upon community expertise.
 • The potential for time and cost savings due to better alignment between
   community needs and Council decisions.
 • Increased social capital due to greater trust and knowledge acquired while
   working collaboratively with the community, including the sharing of
   aspirations.
 • Stronger relationships between Councillors, Council officers and residents,
   including stakeholder groups.

Council has adopted the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
Framework which is recognised as a world leader in the engagement of
communities. In conjunction, Council has a Community Engagement Policy
(under review) that outlines Council’s commitment to community engagement
governed by key principles of:
 • Inclusiveness,
 • Transparency,
 • Clarity,
 • Appropriateness,
 • Accountability,
 • Consistent and planned messaging, and,
 • Understanding our community.