Community Planning

Community Planning is a key component of district councils' expanding role. There is a legislative duty on government and its agencies to work together in developing and delivering the community planning process. Though there is much confusion regarding the definition and delivery of community planning, and it is not yet certain when it will come into effect, it is clear that involvement of the community in the decision making process is fundamental. Sustainable development works best when driven by people who are working together. Through community planning, councils will have the opportunity to sit around the table with community and voluntary groups, service providers, budget holders and citizens. Problems can be addressed in an inclusive and holistic manner, allowing for better coordination and use of resources. The Review of Public Administration states a requirement for a council "to consult all its constituents about issues that affect their lives and allow people to have a say in the way in which their areas are developed". A community plan will be published that will assess how well the council and others are delivering on commitments.

Decreasing the number of councils will mean that there is a substantially larger population within the boundary of each new council district. This, coupled with the expansion in responsibilities, means that the onus is on the local councils to ensure they utilise the community planning facility to ensure the effective provision of services for all citizens.