Elements and Performance Criteria
- Establish networks and communication channels with key areas
- Council departments are consulted regularly to keep abreast of emerging community needs and services.
- Council departments are provided with opportunities to contribute to community development initiatives.
- Mechanisms for open and ongoing consultation and feedback from constituents and internal council staff are established and maintained.
- Links with businesses, interest and user groups and other appropriate partners within the municipality are established and developed to ensure services are planned and implemented in an integrated way.
- Determine existing and emerging community needs
- Research and community consultation are undertaken to determine current and future community needs.
- Mechanisms for open and ongoing consultation and feedback from constituents and internal council staff are established and maintained.
- Ongoing engagement of constituents and other community members is encouraged, in order to determine emerging community directions.
- Existing and future needs of the community are identified and evaluated to use in forecasting future requirements in services and facilities.
- Council capacity to provide resources that meet community needs is evaluated.
- Develop community development strategies
- Goals and objectives of community development initiatives are identified.
- Community development strategies are developed in consultation with council, department heads, community groups and stakeholders.
- Council plans and strategies for community development are communicated appropriately to ensure integration within the corporate policy agenda, department operational business plans and budgets.
- Policies are formulated to support the development of optimal community development projects.
- Funding requirements to support strategies are calculated and applied for through appropriate channels.
- External funding opportunities are identified and pursued.
- Key performance indicators (KPIs), operating standards and goals for community development are determined and monitored.
- Implement community development strategies
- Development strategies are maximised by pursuing best practice in all stages of implementation.
- Reporting mechanisms are established to ensure ongoing tracking and accountability for projects are achieved.
- Financial resources and funding for community development projects are negotiated and coordinated in a timely and efficient manner to ensure full implementation of strategies.
- Service agreements and contracts relating to personnel, are negotiated and arranged in compliance with equal employment opportunity (EEO) and other relevant employment legislative requirements.
- Use of allocated financial resources is managed and monitored to ensure strategies are implemented within budgetary constraints.
- Ongoing review and monitoring of community development projects are conducted to ensure goals and best practice objectives are met and opportunities for improvement are identified.
- Projects and services are designed and delivered to ensure appropriate access by all relevant members of the community.
- Effective marketing strategy is developed or requested in order to promote community development strategies to the community.