Significance and engagement policy

For certain policies and strategies, the law guides how Council should engage with the community. Other times, Council gets to choose.

This policy is designed to help the Council be a good listener when engaging with the public. Find out about the Council’s community engagement process.

The significance of a matter also guides Council’s approach to consultation, including how it may be undertaken and how to best include persons likely to be affected by, or interested in, the decision or matter. The more significant a matter is from the perspective of those who may be affected, the more likely Council will need to consult with them on their views.

This policy shows how the Council will:

involve people throughout its decision-making process
give people the time and information they need to have their say
ensure that the Council and people are listening to each other and feel listened to
genuinely consider and value people’s ideas
give people information about the decisions it has made and the reasons for these.

Council documents that are currently out for consultation and information about making a submission are listed on the Have your Say page on the Council website.

Visit our Have Your Say page

Council also has a Governance and active citizenship plan that shows how it will engage residents and organisations in its decision-making and elections.