2023-03-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 7 MARCH 2023


5.   REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE



1    REVISED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLICY 2023

Author           Community Engagement Advisor, Caroline Osborne
                 Office of the CEO

Index            ECM/38.11 & 69.08

Attachments      1. Revised Community Engagement Policy 2014 (marked up version)
                 2. Revised Community Engagement Policy 2023 (clean version)


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Noosa Council has completed a review and update of the organisation’s commitment and
approach to community engagement, in consultation with Councillors, the Executive Leadership
Team and key staff.

Council’s public facing commitment to the community on our approach to community
engagement is outlined in the Community Engagement Policy. The Community Engagement
Policy has been revised following the finalisation of the Community Engagement Framework
and Practice Guidelines document to reflect contemporary engagement practices in a local
government context.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Community Engagement Advisor to the Services &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 7 March 2023 and adopt the updated Community
Engagement Policy provided at Attachment 2 to the Report.

REPORT
Background

The Community Engagement Policy was last reviewed in 2017.

The purpose of the policy is to improve our strategic and operational planning, and service
delivery by identifying priorities, needs and aspirations of our communities through engagement.

This policy provides council with a framework to guide a consistent, transparent and effective
approach to community engagement.

Due to the extent of organisational change that has occurred since 2017, it is important that
council’s operational processes and commitment to the community is revised in line with
contemporary best practice in stakeholder and community engagement.

The key changes made to the policy are:
•    Updating references to the Corporate Plan 2023 – 2028.
•    Incorporating reference to the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
     approach to community engagement.
•    Refining the principles that guide council’s approach to community engagement. The
     principles were revised in collaboration with councillors.
•    Incorporating reference to council’s Human Rights Policy.

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