2016-01-11 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               11 JANUARY 2016


REPORT
1.    Background

This report reviews the Noosa Council Community Jury Pilot Project process which consisted of
two consecutive Community Juries held in 2015. The Community Jury pilot was designed to assist
Council with its strategic goal of working in partnership with our community and support the value
of “As one with our community” (as identified in the Noosa Council Corporate Plan 2014-2019).

The first Jury deliberated upon the future management of Noosa’s organic waste and consisted of
six meetings held over six months. A final report including nine key recommendations was
presented to Council in August 2015.

The second Jury was about the future management of the Noosa River and consisted of five
meetings held over five months. A final report including 12 recommendations was presented to
Council in January 2016.

The members for each Jury were selected from the same 230 positive responses to 3,000
invitations sent out to residents who had been randomly selected from the State Electoral roll in
November 2014.

Each jury followed the newDemocracy Foundation (nDF) blueprint and was overseen by nDF at
every meeting. The first Jury’s meetings were overseen by the Executive Director of nDF and the
second Jury’s meetings were overseen by a Program Manager for nDF.

In addition, nDF recruited jurors; worked with the facilitator and Council officers to finalise run
sheets; facilitated all communications with jurors; assisted with obtaining speakers and research
data as the Jury requested and posted data on Your Say Noosa.

Council officers supplied the initial background document for each Jury; recruited the facilitator;
provided comprehensive research data, speaker contacts and other information upon request from
the Jury; arranged catering and the logistics for each meeting; worked with the facilitator and nDF
personnel to finalise run sheets prior to each meeting; attended each meeting; provided set up and
summary updates on Your Say Noosa and compiled media releases after each Jury meeting.

Both juries were facilitated by the same independent facilitator.

The report evaluates the newDemocracy style of Community Jury process as conducted during
the 12 month trial, compares both juries and focuses on lessons learned by Council from its
experience and from stakeholder feedback. In doing so, it attempts to weigh up benefits and costs
of the Community Jury Pilot to determine its future worth as a community engagement tool.

This report will have a more detailed focus on the second Jury which provided a new set of
learnings in addition to those acquired during the first Community Jury. The Council had already
received a report on the first Community Jury process.

2.    Community interest, community participation and media coverage.

Media coverage has been considerable for both Juries, reflecting a community interest that has
remained consistently high over the 12 month period. The community has been kept informed
about the process by Council through the media. More of the community has become involved in
the process as Council has become more familiar with the Community Jury process and the use
of Your Say Noosa. There was a higher level of community engagement in the second jury than
the first.



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