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 1

               _¢ A       NOOSA                                                         Council Policy
               @      |   COUNCIL                            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

               Corporate Plan Reference:                 Theme 5: Excellence as-a-CGouncit
                                                         Enhance opportunities for the community to engage
                                                         with the Council and ensure community engagement
                                                         best practice is embedded in Council
                                                         operationsCemmaateagagementbestprectecis-

               Endorsed by Council:
               Policy Author:                            Community Engagement Advisor

        |     POLICY BACKGRUNDBACKGROUND
              This policy affirms Noosa Council’s commitment to community engagement as reflected ia-Neosa
                                                                                                       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 20234¢-202832.
              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
                 Ceouncillors or staff members who are engaging with the community.
              e  This policy is focussedfocused on external engagement, and does not include internal
                 communication or engagement between council officers, nor between Ceouncillors 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
        |     goveramentgovernance. 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  ahigher level of community owrership-input intoef 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 including the sharing of aspirations, ~and:
              e  stronger relationships between councillors, council officers and residents, including stakeholder
                 groups.

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