Integrated Planning and Reporting

As part of the NSW Government's commitment to a strong and sustainable local government system, a new planning and reporting framework for NSW local government has been introduced.

These reforms replace the former Management Plan and Social Plan with an integrated framework. It also includes a new requirement to prepare a long-term Community Strategic Plan and Resourcing Strategy.

 The specific aims of the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework are to:

  •  improve integration of various statutory planning and reporting processes undertaken by councils as required by the Local Government Act 1993, the Department's Guidelines and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
  • strengthen councils' strategic focus
  • streamline reporting processes
  • ensure that the Local Government Act 1993 and the Integrated Planning and Reporting Guidelines support a strategic and integrated approach to planning and reporting by local councils.

The new framework opens the way for councils and their communities to have important discussions about funding priorities, service levels and preserving local identity and to plan in partnership for a more sustainable future.

The Community Strategic Plan is the highest level plan that a council will prepare. The purpose of the plan is to identify the community's main priorities and aspirations for the future and to plan strategies for achieving these goals. In doing this, the planning process will consider the issues and pressures that may affect the community and the level of resources that will realistically be available to achieve its aims and aspirations. While a council has a custodial role in initiating, preparing and maintaining the Community Strategic Plan on behalf of the local government area, it is not wholly responsible for its implementation. Other partners, such as State agencies and community groups may also be engaged in delivering the long-term objectives of the plan.

The General Managers 6 month progress report (as of 10 February 2017) on Community Strategic Plan activity.

The General Managers 6 month progress report (as of December 2018) on Community Strategic Plan activity.

The General Managers 6 month progress report (as of February 2019) On the Community Strategic Plan activity 

The General Managers 6 month progress report (as of February 2020) on the Community Strategic Plan activity

The General Manager 6 month progress report (as of February 2021) on the Community Strategic Plan activity

The Resourcing Strategy consists of three components:

The Resourcing Strategy is the point where Council assists the community by sorting out who is responsible for what, in terms of the issues identified in the Community Strategic Plan. Some issues will clearly be the responsibility of Council, some will be the responsibility of other levels of government and some will rely on input from community groups or individuals.

The Delivery Program and Operational Plan is the point where the community's strategic goals are systematically translated into actions. These are the principal activities to be undertaken by the Council to implement the strategies established by the Community Strategic Plan within the resources available under the Resourcing Strategy.  

Supporting the Delivery Program is an annual Operational Plan. It spells out the details of the Program - the individual projects and activities that will be undertaken each year to achieve the commitments made in the Delivery Program.

The Annual Report is one of the key points of accountability between a council and its community. It is not a report to the Division of Local Government or the NSW Government, it is a report to the community.

The annual report focuses on Council's implementation of the Delivery Program and Operational Plan because these are the plans that are wholly the council's responsibility.

As a result of the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, Council have developed a Disability Inclusion Action Plan to help remove barriers and enable people with a disability to participate fully in their communities. Councils vision is for an inclusive, respectful and diverse community where all residents and visitors enjoy a safe and friendly environment. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan was developed through a community consultation and research process.