2014-09-16 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                16 September 2014


How does a community jury work?
1.    Council identifies an appropriate topic and the level of authority it wishes to give to the
      jury.
2.    An independent body (e.g. nDF or a University) co-ordinate the project and issue
      3,000 invitations at random within the community, inviting participation.
3.    From positive responses, a random electronic draw is conducted with stratification
      applied to ensure demographic match to census profile by age bracket, gender, suburb
      and ratepayer status. Surrogate indicators are used to ensure spread of income &
      educational background.
4.    24 citizens are then selected at random to form the community jury (some reserves are
      also selected).
5.    Participants are asked to commit to meet once per month for a period of no more than
      1 year (most likely approx. 6 months).
6.    Those that agree to participate are sent a comprehensive schedule, including
      confidentiality items and an explanatory kit. The pre-reading is required prior to final
      acceptance so that participants understand what the commitment entails before the
      panel is finalised.
7.    The jury will obtain information and expert advice on the issue they have been
      assigned from two sources, Council and the community. The process is effectively
      complemented by traditional engagement techniques (surveys, on line platforms,
      forums, interviews, existing advisory committees etc.). There is opportunity for other
      community groups, organisations or individuals to submit their view and provide input.
8.    Upon considering all the information the jury determines its position on the issue they
      have been assigned to resolve.

Community jury extent of authority
To go to the IAP2 level of “empower” requires the decision making power to be placed in the
hands of the public and for Council to devolve some of its power however the final legal
decision is made by Council. In devolving power, Council can stipulate criteria that can be
placed around the authority given to make decisions, for example, a 80% supermajority vote
could be required for a final decision with any minority positions detailed in any report; and a
unanimous decision could assume that the decision will be implemented.
The research evidence in support of community juries is compelling and demonstrates that
trusted outcomes can be achieved when a diverse and representative group of citizens,
randomly selected, come together to deliberate an issue and that this approach increases
community support for Council because Council has directly involved the community in the
decision-making process.
In light of the former Noosa Council’s track record in engagement, this methodology is seen
to be appropriate to implement an initial project.

Initial project
There is substantial lead time required to select the jury members. It is proposed that the
selection process would commence in November with the aim for the selected participants to
be known by the end of December 2014.
A number of possible topics have been identified as being suitable for this engagement
technique. The preferred topic/s and the criteria for the jury authority will be established in
the intervening period. A project plan will be developed in consideration of the requirements
of the project and in consideration of Council’s community engagement policy direction.



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