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Integrated planning framework

In June 2006, after five year’s research and community consultations, Randwick Council adopted a visionary 20 year Randwick City Plan, which has these outcomes:

• leadership in sustainability
• a vibrant and diverse community
• an informed and engaged community
• excellence in urban design and development
• excellence in recreation and lifestyle opportunities
• a liveable city
• heritage that is protected and celebrated
• a strong local economy
• a healthy environment.

Three additional internally focused outcomes are:

• excellence in staff management
• excellence in information and knowledge management
• excellence in customer service.

An integrated planning model enables the vision and outcomes to be implemented through Council’s activities and budgets.

All planning activities including work plans, operational plans, Cultural Plan, Social Plan, Equity and Diversity Plan, Long Term Financial Plan, State of the Environment Plan and Management Plan, are or will be integrated and directly related to the outcomes of the Randwick City Plan.

The 2006–2009 Management Plan was the first one based on the City Plan and it was restructured to include and reflect the City Plan outcomes.

For each of the outcomes there are a range of indicators, measures and milestones that are monitored to measure achievement of these outcomes.

All reporting will have a similar focus to the City Plan’s outcomes and will be reported through a broad, “State of Our City” report that will consolidate three previous sets of reporting – the Annual Report, State of the Environment Report, and Social Plan – and provide feedback on Council’s achievements against the City Plan.

While a recent independent inquiry into the financial sustainability of Local Government found Councils across New South Wales were lacking when it comes to long term strategic and financial planning, Randwick Council is at the forefront of Local Government management because it has a number of extensive plans which were implemented in 2005–06. These include:

• 30 year long term Financial Plan
• 20 year City Plan
• 10 year Information
• Technology Strategy
• Plant Replacement Strategy
• Domestic Waste Strategy
• Property Development Strategy.

By taking this innovative approach Randwick Council is ensuring that its business planning, actions and reporting align with environmental priorities and community needs and aspirations.