The Charter and draft Policy have been prepared taking into account the following principles contained in Section 50(2) of the Local Government Act 1999, these are

This charter has been prepared taking into account the following principles contained in Section 50(2) of the Local Government Act 1999—

(a) members of the community should have reasonable, timely, meaningful and ongoing opportunities to gain access to information about proposed decisions, activities and processes of councils and to participate in relevant processes

(b) information about issues should be in plain language, readily accessible and in a form that facilitates community participation
(c) participation methods should seek to foster and encourage constructive dialogue, discussion and debate in relation to proposed decisions, activities and processes of councils

(d) participation methods should be appropriate having regard to the significance and likely impact of proposed decisions, activities and processes

(e) insofar as is reasonable, communities should be provided with information about how community views have been taken into account and reasons for decisions or actions of councils.

The different categories of engagement included in the Charter are

• Significant, annual business plan and rating policy: decisions related to a council’s adoption of its annual business plan or proposed changes to the basis of its council rates.
• Significant – decisions that a council makes that have a significant impact on most or all ratepayers and residents, or the wider community or area.
• Standard – decisions that a council makes that benefit from community input across the council area.
• Local – decisions that impact an identifiable smaller group of residents/ratepayers or a local area.
• Inform – matters where councils provide information to a community impacted by a decision.

Where community engagement is legislatively required, engagement activities will, at minimum, satisfy the requirements prescribed by the Charter. There are 19 matters referenced in the Charter, these are listed with the corresponding Charter category

Categorisation of legislative matters

• Significant – Annual business plan and rating policy

• Adopting an Annual Business Plan - section 123(3)(b)
• Changes to basis of rating, declaring differential rates, imposing a separate rate, service rate or service charge, or changing the basis on which land is valued for the purpose of rating - section 151(5)(e)

• Significant
  • Representation reviews - section 12(7)
  • Development and review of Strategic Management Plans - section 122(6)
  • Changes to use of differential rating - section 156(4a)(b)
  • Revocation of classification of land as community land - sections 194(2)(b)
  • Community Land Management Plans - adoption - section 197(1)
  • Community Land Management Plans – significant amendments - section 198(3)
  • Alienation of community land by lease or license - section 202(2)

• Standard
  • Opening hours and place of principal office - substantial changes - section 45(3)
  • Community Engagement Policy - section 50A(6)(b)
  • Council behavioural support policies - section 75F(6)
  • Access to meetings and documents - section 92(5)
  • Power to make orders - section 259(2)(b)

• Local
  • Proposed permit or authorisation for alteration or use of a road for business purposes when there are works and traffic impeded for more than 48 hours (with a detour in place) or where no detour will be available - section 223(1)
  • Proposed planting of vegetation on a road – significant impact - section 232(b)

• Inform
  • Opening hours and place of principal office – minor changes - section 45(3)
  • Proposed permit or authorisation for alteration or use of a road for business purposes when there are works and traffic impeded for less than 48 hours and the Council ensures that a detour is in place - section 223(1)
  • Election information - section 13A (2) of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999

Where Council elects to engage in discretionary community engagement, the determination of appropriate activities is guided by our Communications and Engagement Framework.

Discretionary activities community engagements topics that include, but are not limited to, masterplans, local infrastructure, new and upgraded playgrounds, strategies and plans, policies, services, programs and more.