The State Government has announced the Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package.
Integrated planning and reporting gives local governments a framework for establishing local priorities and to link this information to operational functions.
Three major parties are involved in the development of an integrated plan: the local government administration, the Council and the community. Each party has a unique role and responsibilities for effective and sustainable integrated planning and reporting, with the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996 requiring each local government to adopt a Strategic Community Plan and a Corporate Business Plan.
A successful integrated planning and reporting process will deliver the following outcomes:
The Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework and Guidelines have been developed as part of the State Government's Local Government Reform Program. They reflect a nationally consistent approach to integrated planning as expressed by the Council of Australian Governments' Local Government Planning Ministers' Council.
The framework:
The framework and guidelines provide a process to:
All local governments are currently required to produce a plan for the future under S5.56 (1) of the Local Government Act 1995. Regulations have been made under S5.56(2) of the Act to briefly outline the minimum requirements to achieve this.
The minimum requirement to meet the intent of the plan for the future is the development of a Strategic Community Plan and a Corporate Business Plan.
Outlining community long term (10+ years) vision, values, aspirations and priorities, with reference to other local government plans, information and resourcing capabilities.
Internal business planning tool that translates council priorities into operations within the resources available.
Informing Strategies (particularly financial, asset management and workforce) inform the local government of how capable it is to deliver the services and assets required by the community.
Information is a strategic resource that underpins the key functions and decision making processes of a local government.
The department and Western Australian Treasury Corporation have partnered to release long term financial planning tools for local governments.