Community engagement background

October 2005
We adopted a community engagement policy and framework to demonstrate our commitment to providing quality community involvement and building relationships between Council and the community.

We spent a year researching new engagement and consultation options and speaking to the community about what matters to them and how they'd like to be engaged.

We surveyed more than 2,000 people and learnt planning (including development applications and zoning) as well as infrastructure (roads and traffic) were most important to the community.

Based on this feedback we presented a community engagement options report to Council in September 2006, as well as new policies to update the way we notify residents of development applications and compliance and civil works.

Council adopted the revised policies and the report which included a range of new ways you can have your say.

February 2007
We began implementing new options including regular kiosks, ward kiosks and community planning sessions.

April 2008
Changes in Council, in particular the appointment of three Administrators to undertake the role previously performed by the Lord Mayor and elected Councillors, as well as a shift from Neighbourhood Committees to Local Area Meetings, meant that some of the ways in which the community communicated with Council changed.

April 2008
On 23 April Council resolved to review its Community Engagement Framework, Policy and Options. We visited Local Area meetings, held two Community Forums and conducted a survey to let you have your say.  We asked you for feedback about:

• how you want to receive information from Council 
• how and when you want to be able to provide feedback to Council 
• how you would like to communicate with Council’s Administrators

July 2008
On 23 July we presented a Community Consultation Discussion Paper to Council. This paper has gone on public exhibition so you can give us feedback on what community consultation means to you and what you think about some new and improved consultation activities.

October 2008
At the Council meeting on 28 October 2008 Council adopted the Consultation Policy, Neighbourhood Forum Charter and Community Leaders’ Meeting Charter. Our Administrators resolved to meet with the Chairs of Neighbourhood Forums at regular intervals in order to modify some of the restrictions in the Neighbourhood Forum Charter. An external review of the effectiveness of this community consultation arrangement be undertaken in 12 months.