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

    COUNCIL POLICY —- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
    ENGAGEMENT APPROACH
    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 level of influence the community
    have on decision-making.
   Council's community engagement approach is underpinned by the International Association of Public
    Participation (IAP2) and outlined in our Community Engagement Framework and Practice
   Guidelines. These documents are designed as internal documents to guide staff on how Council
    plan, design and manage community engagement.
    PRINCIPLES
    Council has a commitment to community engagement that is governed by the principles outlined in
    the Community Engagement Framework, described below:
    1.   Inclusive - Council encourages involvement from a wide cross-section of the community,
         respecting diversity of opinion, using engagement processes that are accessible and inclusive.
    2.   Transparent — 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 Council decisions.
    3.   Appropriate - Council will choose the most appropnate processes that best suit the audiences
        affected, and time the consultation to optimise the opportunity for engagement, wherever
         possible.
    4.   Accountable - 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.
    5.   Timely — Council will enable reasonable opportunity for community to contribute to
         engagement processes by well-timed engagement schedules and durations.
    6.   Well resourced - Council will ensure staff members have appropriate skill sets, training and
         resources in order to plan and implement meaningful and effective engagement.
    7.   Informative — Council will provide the information necessary to enable meaningful
         engagement including the reporting of engagement outcomes.
    8.   Understanding our changing community — Recognising when an issue or project will have
         an impact on stakeholders and engaging appropnately.
    STATUTORY COMPLIANCE
   The Queensland Local Goverment Act 2009 outlines the in principle need for local government to
    engage with the community and to encourage and assist participation, in particular, principle 2(c)
    Section 4 “democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement”.

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