Community Strengthening
All publications in this section are available online only.
Measuring Up : linking planning and performance
The new guide MEASURING UP: linking planning & performance provides guidance to councils on how to integrate their accountability framework through key documents required under the Local Government Act. The paper focuses on the links between performance reporting and strategic planning - especially the relationship between a Council Plan and other documents and reports.
This guide was developed in conjunction with the LGPro Corporate Planners Network and Municipal Association of Victoria. LGV would like to acknowledge the valuable resource materials sourced from the Victorian Auditor-General's Office and LGPro. Measuring Up: linking planning and performance April 2009 (PDF 522 kb) or (Word 1509 kb)
Local Government and Community Planning
Local Government Victoria undertook a project to capture the experience of Victorian local governments in community planning. The Local Government and Community Planning project is aimed at sharing the knowledge and understanding of community planning within the local government sector and among other interested stakeholders; enhancing the evidence base for community planning as an effective and efficient way of increasing civic participation, and evaluating the nature of local government involvement.
Ararat, Casey, Golden Plains, Hume, Loddon, Mitchell, Surf Coast, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges were selected from the 30 expressions of interest received to participate in the project. These nine councils undertook in September and October 2007 a review of their community planning efforts utilising a self-reporting tool that was developed. The nine individual reviews are below.
The reviews have informed the development of a research report entitled Planning Together: lessons from the local government community planning in Victoria (PDF 266 kb).
The reviews identified benefits to both councils and communities. Benefits to councils included a stronger understanding of important community issues, better strategic decision-making, providing a powerful lobbying tool for council, and enabling partnerships with key stakeholders. Community benefits included better connected communities, enhanced feelings of empowerment, belonging and well-being, increased community capacity, new avenues to articulate local needs to resource-holders and authorities.
The issues highlighted in the report will inform current and future work to advance community planning in local government. The Department of Planning and Community Development through LGV will continue to work with the local government peak bodies in a range of areas, in particular developing useful tools, building the evidence base, strengthening the mandate for local government leadership, and improving the interface between State and local governments.
Casey City Council Report (PDF 215kb)
Hume City Council Report (PDF 176kb)
Loddon Shire Council Report (PDF 1.9mb)
Mitchell Shire Council Report (PDF 338kb) and References (PDF 34kb)
Surf Coast Shire Council Report (PDF 1.3mb)
Wyndham City Council Report (PDF 298kb)
Yarra Ranges Shire Council Report pages 1-11 (PDF 1.3mb), pages 12-18 (PDF 1.6mb), pages 19-33 (PDF 1.7mb) and pages 34-44 (PDF 1.9mb)
Golden Plains Shire Council Golden Plains Experience (PDF 425kb), 1.1a (PDF 543kb), 1.1b (PDF 341kb), 1.2a (PDF 49kb), 1.2b (PDF 331kb), 1.2c (PDF 394kb), 1.2d (PDF 378kb), 1.4 (PDF 493kb), 1.5 (PDF 158kb), 1.6 (PDF 637kb), 1.7 (PDF 537kb), 2.1.2 (PDF 85kb), 2.2.1a (PDF 42kb), 2.2.1b (PDF 38kb), 2.2.2 (PDF 872kb), 2.2.6 (PDF 605kb), 3.0 (PDF 177kb), 3.1 (PDF 1.2mb), 3.5 (PDF 139kb), 3.10 (PDF 40kb), 3.15 (PDF 1.7mb), 4.33 (PDF 43kb), 6.1 (PDF 163kb), 6.5 (PDF 44kb), 9.4 (PDF 1mb)