2017-04-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   11 APRIL 2017




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  11 APRIL 2017

  COUNCIL POLICY - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  PRINCIPLES

  Council has a commitment to community engagement that is governed by the principles described
  below:

   1.   Inclusiveness - Council encourages involvement from a wide cross-section of the community,
        respecting diversity of opinion, using engagement processes that are accessible and inclusive.
  2.    Transparency — Quality engagement involves trust which can be fostered through
        transparency.  The engagement processes and the levels of community influence will be
        clearly articulated. Council will reflect back to the community how they have influenced its
        decisions.

  3.    Clarity — Council will communicate clearly and simply, using words and behaviour that
        successfully convey meaning while avoiding unnecessary jargon.
  4.    Appropriateness - Council will choose the most appropriate processes from its engagement
        toolkit that best suit the audiences affected, and time the consultation to optimise the
        opportunity for engagement, wherever possible.
  5. — Skilling - Council will ensure staff members have appropriate training and resources to
        undertake the communication and genuine engagement activities required of them, particularly
        in planning engagements, stakeholder analysis and engagement techniques.
  6.    Accountability - Council undertakes community engagement to enhance its decision- making,
        however Council accepts that it is ultimately responsible and thus accountable for the decisions
        it makes.
  7.    Consistent Messaging - It is important that there is a general consistency in the messages
        that are being expressed by Council officers and Councillors.
  8.    Well Planned - Engagements will be well planned in order to be effective, practical and suitably
        resourced. All major Council projects will include a community engagement plan.
  9.    Understanding our Community — Recognising when an issue or project will have an impact
        on stakeholders and engaging appropriately.
  ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

  Council recognises the full spectrum of community engagement from informing, consulting, involving
  and collaborating, to empowering.
  Council uses different community engagement techniques and communication methods depending
  on the issue or project, its goals, its particular circumstance and the affected audiences it seeks to
  engage.
  STATUTORY COMPLIANCE

  The Queensland Local Government Act 2009 outlines the in principle need for local government to
  engage with the community and to encourage and assist participation, in particular, principle (c)
  Section 4 “democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement”.

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