New regional structure for local government planners proposed

9 October 2012

With an increasing focus on regional planning outlined in the Green Paper, now is the time to restructure local government planners into Centres of Excellence for Regional Planning (CERP), says the Urban Taskforce.

 

˜In its submission to the Local Government Review Panel, the Urban Taskforce has recommended against amalgamation of councils in favor of establishing Shared Service Centres, says the Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. ˜We believe the cultural change and the necessary efficiencies can be achieved in this way while still keeping the local in Local Government

 

˜A key component of the Shared Service Centre approach we have proposed for 8 or 10 councils to establish a Centre of Excellence for Regional Planning. This would mean pooling all planners from the 8 councils into one location to provide services to each council, to the Joint Regional Planning Panel and to the Regional Planning Board.

 

The actual number of councils should align with the regional combination of councils established by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to develop Regional Growth Plans and Sub regional Delivery Plans.  It would seem sensible to restructure the Regional Organization on Councils (ROCs) to also relate to the same grouping of councils.

 

The new Centre of Excellence for Regional Planning (CERP) may well rent space from an existing council but will be established along business lines within the Shared Service Centre, which has a board of General Managers of the 8 Councils.

 

Planning issues would be handled as follows:

 

SMALLER PROJECTS TO BE DETERMINED BY COUNCILS INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT PANEL

An applicant would go the customer service counter in their local council to make a submission or for advice. Trained customer service staff would provide general advice. If the applicant wants a meeting with a planner (a pre DA meeting), that can be arranged at a later date through the CERP at the local council meeting room. The local council lodges the application with the CERP and sets the time requirement and dates for the assessment by council’s independent assessment panel. The applicant will be notified of the scheduled time and date of the panel meeting to be held at the local council.

 

 LARGER PROJECTS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE JOINT REGIONAL PLANNING PANEL

An applicant would go to the CERP to make a submission or to ask for advice. The specific staff servicing the JRPP would be able to arrange a pre DA meeting and if necessary a meeting with the JRPP. The JRPP planners then would arrange for community input, if required, and prepare the report to the JRPP. The report would include expert comments on design issues from a design adviser if required. The determination by the JRPP occurs either at a meeting at the local council or at the RCPE meeting rooms.

 

 PREPARING SUBREGIONAL DELIVERY PLANS

These plans are prepared under the direction of a Regional Planning Board. The planning staff to produce these plans should be a combination of strategic planners from the CERP and strategic planners from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Ideally a regional team would be established on behalf of the regional councils. With a bigger pool of planners the CERP will be able to provide strong leadership in strategic planning.

 

CULTURAL CHANGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLANNERS

The establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Regional Planning combining all planners from 8 (or so) councils will change the culture of local government planners. Firstly they will not be overly influenced by local politics in a particular council, secondly they will be part of a bigger pool of planners who can share experiences and develop expertise in specific areas. The CERP would also develop a relationship with State Government Regional Teams particularly for strategic planning. Specialists roles can also be developed like a design advisor.

 

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