REPORT TO BASIN VILLAGES FORUM 20th FEBRUARY, 2012 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLICY

A number of reports were provided for the Forum meetings last year as the Policy Draft progressed through a series of workshops of the Council sub-committee.
That process was completed and the CEP Draft presented by the Community reps. to the Reserves and Policy Committee, who subsequently voted [8-1] to accept the CEP Draft. This moved on to full Council where it was accepted, unanimously.
The CEP Draft was later placed on Public Exhibition [November] on the Council website with an invitation for submissions. A relatively small number were received from staff and community groups and individuals.
The sub-committee met last Friday to consider the submissions and recommendations prepared by the General Manager arising out of the submissions.
Community submissions were overwhelmingly in support of the CEP Draft. Staff submissions raised a number of matters, which staff were uncomfortable about.
Normally the report on submissions is prepared by staff and goes directly to the Council Committee without any further community input or consideration, as with the Foreshore Reserves Policy last Tuesday at Ulladulla.
In a sense then it was quite opportune and in line with better practice community engagement that the community reps. had a chance to have a direct input on preparing the recommendation to Council Committee. This was valuable because there were a number of comments and recommendations arising out of the report prepared for the General Manager, which were quite contrary to community input and position.
The major items suggested for change in this sense and the outcome were:

The other major change actually suggested and agreed to by both staff and community was for SCC to develop a Guidelines and Support Document to supplement the CEP to support staff implementation.
This CEP now goes to Council Policy and Reserves Committee as the recommended document and then on to full Council for final ratification. The community reps. expect that this will be accepted and become SCC Policy.
Chris Grounds


REPORT on DRAFT COMMUNTY ENGAGEMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AUGUST 15 2011 CEP REPORT 15.8.2011
Community Engagement Policy Development report 16th July 2011 CEP FORUM REPORT II
Community Engagement Strategy Report CES REPORT