2023-03-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   7 MARCH 2023




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                            7 MARCH 2023

              ATTACHMENT 2

                | ¢ yy    NOOSA                                                          Council Policy
                | @ |     COUNCIL                             COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
               Corporate Plan Reference:                  Theme 5: Excellence
                                                          Enhance opportunities for the community to engage
                                                          with the Council and ensure community engagement
                                                          best practice is embedded in Council operations
               Endorsed by Council:
               Policy Author:                             Community Engagement Advisor

              POLICY BACKGROUND

              This policy affirms Noosa Council’s commitment to community engagement as reflected in our
              Sustainability Principles “Good governance and policy is achieved through forward planning,
              effective, efficient and collaborative decision making, made in the interests of the community”.

              It provides a set of principles to guide community engagement practice that align with Council's
              Corporate Plan 2023-2028.

              POLICY SCOPE

              e  This policy applies to all facets of Council’s operations where community engagement is
                  undertaken.
              e   It defines the principles underpinning Council’s external engagement activities, whether it is
                  Councillors or staff members who are engaging with the community.
              e  This policy is focused on external engagement and does not include internal communication or
                 engagement between council officers, nor between Councillors and council officers.
              COUNCIL POLICY

              Noosa Council recognises that community engagement is a vital part of effective democracy. Quality
              engagement between Council and residents makes good business practice and it is critical to good
              governance. For this reason, Council is committed to engaging with the Noosa community.

              The benefits of effective engagement include:
              e   Council and the community working together to address local issues and collectively achieving
                  better outcomes.
              e  a higher level of community input into decisions made by Council.
              e  animproved level of community understanding about Council's processes and services.
              e   increased awareness across Council of community views and concerns.
              e¢ opportunities for Council to draw upon community expertise.
              e  the potential for time and cost savings due to better alignment between community needs and
                  Council decisions.
              e   increased social capital due to greater trust and knowledge acquired while working
                  collaboratively with the community,
              e  stronger relationships between councillors, council officers and residents, including stakeholder
                  groups.

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