The Purpose

  • Provide an overview of the Advisory Group Review
  • Explain the steps of the review
  • Explain the two options for Advisory Groups moving forward
  • Provide members the opportunity to provide feedback
  • Are transparent with about the review
  • Inform you on the options
  • Provide you with suitable and purposeful opportunities to be able to engage with the City in the future

  • Requirement for evaluation

    The Local Government Act (2020) requires local government to have Community Engagement Principles. Evaluation is one of the City’s Community Engagement Principles, and states that:

    “Community Engagement is evaluated to assess whether the objectives and outcomes have been achieved and for improvement purposes.”

  • Initial Review

    An initial review was conducted on Advisory Groups. It was found that a large portion of Advisory Groups were not functioning efficiently or meeting the definition or terms of an Advisory Group

  • Current Review

    All City Advisory Groups will be a part of this review process. Your group is not the only one. The same process will be followed to review all groups

  • Fair, accessible and inclusive engagement

    The City's community engagement policy and principles require us to conduct transparent, accessible and inclusive community engagement.

  • Cost to the City and the community

    With pressure on the City's resourcing and budget, reviewing what is the most cost effective, inclusive and purposeful way we engage with the community needs to be considered. On average an Advisory Group costs the City $15,000 per year, with some groups being well above this rate. These costs are continually increasing.

The Process

If your group remains an Advisory Group, we will support you to meet the following conditions:

  • Terms of Reference or relevant document that includes
    • clearly defined purpose of the groups role, and understanding of limitations for informing or decision making capacity
    • clearly defined scope, deliverables and how the group will operate
    • established group tenure or term of members
  • Conduct ongoing review and evaluation of the groups performance and effectiveness
  • Adhering to the scope and purpose of the Terms of Reference
  • Achieving agreed deliverables
  • Community members registered on Better Impact
  • Group fulfil the obligations outlined in the agreed document i.e.., appropriate representation of the community members affected by the scope of the group, attendance/quorum, disclosure of conflicts of interest
  • Meet guidelines for the appointment of new members, Chair, Co-Chair, Deputy Chair

The City acknowledge and value the commitment, knowledge and expertise of the community members who have participated in Advisory Groups.

If it is decided that an Advisory Group should cease, we will continue to provide you with a range of ways to still be able to provide input and participate in community engagement opportunities.

Depending on the community feedback the City requires, and the best way to gather it, engagement may also occur through, but not limited to:

  • Let's Talk
  • Forums and workshops
  • Listening posts
  • Project specific in person sessions
  • Community engagement panels
  • Pathways requests
  • City social media platforms

Staying connected and informed could occur through:

  • Networking forums and meetings
  • Stakeholder events, workshops
  • Sharing of information through established contacts, newsletters etc.