Agenda of Communications Panel Meeting

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

What is a “Conflict of Interests” - A conflict of interests can be of two types:

Pecuniary - an interest that a person has in a matter because of a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable financial gain or loss to the person or another person with whom the person is associated.

Non-pecuniary – a private or personal interest that a Council official has that does not amount to a pecuniary interest as defined in the Local Government Act (eg. A friendship, membership of an association, society or trade union or involvement or interest in an activity and may include an interest of a financial nature).

Remoteness – a person does not have a pecuniary interest in a matter if the interest is so remote or insignificant that it could not reasonably be regarded as likely to influence any decision the person might make in relation to a matter or if the interest is of a kind specified in Section 448 of the Local Government Act.

Who has a Pecuniary Interest? - a person has a pecuniary interest in a matter if the pecuniary interest is the interest of the person, or another person with whom the person is associated (see below).

Relatives, Partners - a person is taken to have a pecuniary interest in a matter if:

§ The person’s spouse or de facto partner or a relative of the person has a pecuniary interest in the matter, or

§ The person, or a nominee, partners or employer of the person, is a member of a company or other body that has a pecuniary interest in the matter.

N.B. “Relative”, in relation to a person means any of the following:

(a) the parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal descends or adopted child of the person or of the person’s spouse;

(b) the spouse or de facto partners of the person or of a person referred to in paragraph (a)

No Interest in the Matter - however, a person is not taken to have a pecuniary interest in a matter:

§ If the person is unaware of the relevant pecuniary interest of the spouse, de facto partner, relative or company or other body, or

§ Just because the person is a member of, or is employed by, the Council.

§ Just because the person is a member of, or a delegate of the Council to, a company or other body that has a pecuniary interest in the matter provided that the person has no beneficial interest in any shares of the company or body.

Disclosure and participation in meetings

§ A Councillor or a member of a Council Committee who has a pecuniary interest in any matter with which the Council is concerned and who is present at a meeting of the Council or Committee at which the matter is being considered must disclose the nature of the interest to the meeting as soon as practicable.

§ The Councillor or member must not be present at, or in sight of, the meeting of the Council or Committee:

(a) at any time during which the matter is being considered or discussed by the Council or Committee, or

(b) at any time during which the Council or Committee is voting on any question in relation to the matter.

No Knowledge - a person does not breach this Clause if the person did not know and could not reasonably be expected to have known that the matter under consideration at the meeting was a matter in which he or she had a pecuniary interest.

Participation in Meetings Despite Pecuniary Interest (S 452 Act)

A Councillor is not prevented from taking part in the consideration or discussion of, or from voting on, any of the matters/questions detailed in Section 452 of the Local Government Act.

Non-pecuniary Interests - Must be disclosed in meetings.

There are a broad range of options available for managing conflicts & the option chosen will depend on an assessment of the circumstances of the matter, the nature of the interest and the significance of the issue being dealt with. Non-pecuniary conflicts of interests must be dealt with in at least one of the following ways:

§ It may be appropriate that no action be taken where the potential for conflict is minimal. However, Councillors should consider providing an explanation of why they consider a conflict does not exist.

§ Limit involvement if practical (eg. Participate in discussion but not in decision making or vice-versa). Care needs to be taken when exercising this option.

§ Remove the source of the conflict (eg. Relinquishing or divesting the personal interest that creates the conflict)

§ Have no involvement by absenting yourself from and not taking part in any debate or voting on the issue as if the provisions in S451 of the Local Government Act apply (particularly if you have a significant non-pecuniary interest)

RECORDING OF VOTING ON PLANNING MATTERS

Clause 375A of the Local Government Act 1993 – Recording of voting on planning matters

(1) In this section, planning decision means a decision made in the exercise of a function of a council under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979:

(a) including a decision relating to a development application, an environmental planning instrument, a development control plan or a development contribution plan under that Act, but

(b) not including the making of an order under Division 2A of Part 6 of that Act.

(2) The general manager is required to keep a register containing, for each planning decision made at a meeting of the council or a council committee, the names of the councillors who supported the decision and the names of any councillors who opposed (or are taken to have opposed) the decision.

(3) For the purpose of maintaining the register, a division is required to be called whenever a motion for a planning decision is put at a meeting of the council or a council committee.

(4) Each decision recorded in the register is to be described in the register or identified in a manner that enables the description to be obtained from another publicly available document, and is to include the information required by the regulations.

(5) This section extends to a meeting that is closed to the public.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - General Manager 4.1

Staff Reports - General Manager

Report No. 4.1 Communications Update - May/June 2018

Directorate: General Manager

Report Author: Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator

File No: I2018/1173

Theme: General Manager

General Manager

Summary:

This report provides the Panel members with an overview of the activities of the Media and Communications team in May-June 2018.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Communications Panel note this report.

Report

May-June 2018 Summary

Council fared fairly well in May-June with respect to news coverage with the majority of stories positive and reflecting the messages and content of our media releases. Aside from a couple of stories in the Echo regarding STPs and reports from Council meetings the sentiment has been generally positive. We received wide-spread coverage from a media release about an arrest warrant being issued for the owner of a menacing dog including a five-minute interview on ABC breakfast radio.

Media statements

During May-June Council provided statements on:

· Pay parking

· Spraying (x3)

· Skatepark editorial

· Brunswick Heads STP

· Mullum pool car park

· Pot hole damage

· South Byron STP

· Water reservoir

· Staff resignations

· Editorial – Byron Shire News

· Car parks in Byron Bay

· Parking – Old and Gold festival

Media releases

24 media releases were prepared in May-June:

· Damage to columbarium wall

· North Byron flood plan study

· Budget sessions

· It wasn’t coffee

· Budget

· Visitor Centre refurb – media alert

· Visitor Centre

· Transport asset plan

· Planning controls – Byron Bay

· Stronger Country Communities Fund

· Business littering fine

· Butler St contamination (not distributed)

· Bayshore Drive stub (not distributed)

· Byron Business Events Bureau

· Railway Park works

· Bringing Back the Bruns

· Reverse cycle vending machine

· Bangalow Bridges

· Bob Bellear sports fields

· Railway Square works

· Menacing dog arrest

· Yellow crazy ants

· Broken Hd roadworks

· Uluru Statement from the Heart

Social Media/Digital Communications

The statistics for May-June are:

May

· 1233 page views

· 115 page likes

· 35,214 people reached

· 124 new page followers

· 20,688 video views

· 18,029 post engagements

June

· 1228 page views

· 118 page likes

· 43,958 people reached

· 128 new page followers

· 30,664 video views

· 20,033 post engagements

Digital Engagement

Bang the table – Have your Say Byron Shire

(Waterlily Park, Bruns Library, Tennis facilities, Tourism Mgt Plan, Future Byron workshops, Our Plan 2018 & beyond, Byron Bay Skatepark, Byron Shire Tourism Mgt Plan)

May

· 2559 site visits

· 131 site registrations

· 128 active participants

June

· 2608 site visits

· 47 site registrations

· 47 active participants

Other projects

Other projects involving the COMMs team:

· Bayshore Drive roundabout

· Bangalow Bridges project

· Waterlily Park

· Community Engagement Policy

· Community Roundtable

· North Byron Flood Plan survey

· Transport Asset Mgt

· Submission for LGNSW Dougherty Award

· Byron Bay skatepark

· Pet campaign

· Heritage week

· PAMP and cycleways plan

· Byron Bypass EoI

· Rates insert for July

Website

· All Comms staff continue to be actively engaged in the website.

· Working on resolving some website issues particularly DA search functions etc.

Future focus

Other projects in the next several weeks include:

· Draft Revised Community Engagement Policy – feedback to be received from Community Roundtable

· Website troubleshooting

· Emergency comms project

· North Byron Flood Plan

· PAMP and cycleways plan

· Byron Bay skatepark

· Waterlily Park

· Butler St contamination

· Pet awareness campaign

· Heritage Week

· July rates insert

Financial Implications

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - General Manager 4.2

Report No. 4.2 SMS Communication

Directorate: General Manager

Report Author: Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator

File No: I2018/1174

Theme: General Manager

General Manager

Summary:

At the May meeting of the Communications Panel Cr Coorey asked for some investigation to be done into the use of SMS as a way of communicating/engaging with Byron Shire residents.

I am currently still compiling information about the usefulness and cost of SMS as an effective engagement tool. With the Community Engagement Policy close to being finalised it is a good time to ask the community how they want us to communicate with them. The survey will include a section on SMS notification which will give a guide as to the appetite for the introduction of this type of tool.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. That the Communications Panel note this report.

2. That the results of the communications survey be shared with the Communications Panel at the next meeting.

Report

Only Lismore is currently using SMS messages as a way of communicating with residents and this is only in times of emergency. The Communications Manager has reported it is quite expensive (around 6 cents/text). Ballina, Lismore, and Richmond Valley Councils are not looking at implementing SMS as a method of general communication. I have not yet had a response from Tweed.

SMS communication is one of a range of ways to communicate with our community and I would like to get an indication as to how people want us to talk to them, in particular – do they want Council to invest in SMS technology and would it be effective. This could be done as part of a survey to find out how people want us to talk to them and how often.

A further report on the outcomes of the survey will be provided at the next Communications Panel meeting.

Financial Implications

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Corporate and Community Services 4.3

Staff Reports - Corporate and Community Services

Report No. 4.3 Consideration for Live Broadcasts of Council Meetings

Directorate: Corporate and Community Services

Report Author: Colin Baker, Business Systems and Technology Coordinator

File No: I2018/1130

Theme: Corporate Management

Corporate Services

Summary:

In December 2017, the Office of Local Government released a draft new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW. One element of this draft is the mandatory broadcasting of council and select committee meetings. Page 21 of the draft states;

“All meetings of the council and committees of the council are to be webcast.”

In order to meet this requirement, council will need to invest in additional audio visual technology. Specifically, for the council chambers to support this service, an estimated capital funding of $60,000 ex GST will be required. Ongoing costs for the service would be minimal due to council utilising an existing Microsoft’s Skype for Business license.

The provision of a real time subtitling service to support the broadcast function is not included in this cost estimate. The government’s accessibility guidelines do however state real time captioning is a requirement when providing live broadcasts. At present this service is only possible by using skilled professionals to caption meetings in real time.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the report

Report

Council recently introduced Skype for Business as a replacement solution for all phones in the admin and depot offices. The license for this application includes support for live meeting broadcasts of up to 10,000 participants. It is proposed to utilise this application to support the live broadcast of council meetings and select committee meetings once the new Model Code of Meeting Practice is fully adopted by council.

Council’s meeting rooms are currently being fitted out with Skype for Business conference phones and single video camera. This technology will be able to support basic live meeting broadcasts and will be active from July 2018.

The chambers meeting room has more complex audio visual technology. The existing equipment is to be upgraded in July 2018. This work will support a future implementation of live meeting broadcasts. Additional capital funding will be required for the provision of multiple (4) cameras with integration into the existing room technology. The cameras will be manually controlled rather than automatically able to detect which person is speaking.

Live streaming is data intensive. The proposed solution will stream a single video feed to an externally hosted Microsoft Skype for Business server which the general public then communicate with. This hosted service is able to support up to 10,000 participants in a single meeting. The service will be compatible with an average home user internet service such as an ADSL type internet service.

Financial Implications

The expenditure listed below is not included in council’s proposed budget for the 18-19 financial year. Cost estimates have been supplied by the existing support vendor for the council chambers room technology.

Capital expenditure

Admin office meeting rooms; single fixed camera $ 0 (July 2018)

Chambers room; 4 cameras, control panel & integration $57,000 (estimate)

Professional services to configure Skype for Business $ 3,000

Total Capital cost $60,000 ex. GST

Ongoing operational expenditure

Skype for Business Live Broadcast $ 0

(Included in council’s existing Microsoft licence)

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

Live broadcasting of council meetings will require a change to council’s code of meeting practice.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy 4.4

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report No. 4.4 Communication Plan for public exhibition of Draft Bangalow Village Plan

Directorate: Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report Author: Fiona Sinclair, Planner

File No: I2018/1069

Theme: Ecology

Planning Policy and Natural Environment

Summary:

This report seeks the Communications Panel’s endorsement of the proposed Communication Plan for public exhibition of the Draft Bangalow Village Plan, Attachment 1.

A report on the draft Bangalow Village Plan will be presented to the 2 August 2018 Council Meeting, seeking endorsement for public exhibition for 6 weeks, through August to September 2018.

During the public exhibition period it is intended to also run a parallel community engagement process to determine community needs in regards to use of the Council owned land at the Bangalow Sportsfields.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. That the Communication Panel endorse the Communication Plan for public exhibition of the Draft Bangalow Village Plan (Attachment 1 - E2018/51757).

2. That the Communication Panel note that a separate community engagement process to determine community needs in regards to use of the Council owned land at the Bangalow Sportfields will be conducted concurrently with the public exhibition of the Draft Bangalow Village Plan.

Attachments:

1 Attachment 1 Communication Plan , E2018/52827 , page 14⇩

2 Attachment 2 - Special disclosure of precuniary interest, E2012/2815 , page 21⇩

Report

The Draft Bangalow Village Plan sets out an aspirational vision and strategic framework to guide future growth and change in the urban area of Bangalow over the next 10 to 15 years, with a particular focus on the village centre. The plan is the culmination of a 2 year engagement process with the Bangalow Guidance Group comprised of 19 representatives from various interest groups in Bangalow and 3 Councillors.

The Village Plan is intended to guide sustainable development of the Bangalow urban area into the future. The plan is needed as the current growth management strategy for Bangalow ‘The Bangalow Settlement Strategy 2003’ is now 13 years old and many of the visions and actions it identifies have already been realised.

The public exhibition process is intended to inform the broader community about the key issues and ideas for change that have been identified and developed by Council and the Guidance Group, and to attain the community’s feedback on these.

Financial Implications

It is anticipated that approximately $5,500 will be required to carry out the proposed public exhibition process. $32,000 has been allocated in the 2018/19 budget to finalise and commence implementation of the Bangalow Village Plan.

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

The Communication Plan is consistent with Council’s past practice of public consultation for local growth management strategies.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy 4.4 - Attachment 2

Local Government (General) Regulation 2005

Schedule 3A Form of special disclosure of pecuniary interest

(Clause 195A)

Section 451 of the Local Government Act 1993

Form of Special Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

1 The particulars of this form are to be written in block letters or typed.

2 If any space is insufficient in this form for all the particulars required to complete it, an appendix is to be attached for that purpose which is properly identified and signed by you.

Important information

This information is being collected for the purpose of making a special disclosure of pecuniary interests under sections 451 (4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1993. The special disclosure must relate to a pecuniary interest that arises only because of an interest of the councillor in the councillor’s principal place of residence or an interest of another person (whose interests are relevant under section 443 of the Act) in that person’s principal place of residence. You must not make a special disclosure that you know or ought reasonably to know is false or misleading in a material particular. Complaints made about contraventions of these requirements may be referred by the Director-General to the Local Government Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

This form must be completed by you before the commencement of the council or council committee meeting in respect of which the special disclosure is being made. The completed form must be tabled at the meeting. Everyone is entitled to inspect it. The special disclosure must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Special disclosure of pecuniary interests

by ____________________________________________________________________________________

[full name of councillor]

in the matter of __________________________________________________________________________

[insert name of environmental planning instrument]

which is to be considered at a meeting of the

______________________________________________________________________________________

[name of council or council committee (as the case requires)]

Report No. __________ to be held on the _________________ day of ________________________ 201

Pecuniary interest

Address of land in which councillor or an associated person, company or body has a proprietary interest (the identified land)¹

Relationship of identified land to councillor

[Tick or cross one box.]

Councillor has interest in the land (e.g. is owner or has other interest arising out of a mortgage, lease, trust, option or contract, or otherwise).

Associated person of councillor has interest in the land.

Associated company or body of councillor has interest in the land.

Matter giving rise to pecuniary interest

Nature of land that is subject to a change

in zone/planning control by proposed

LEP (the subject land)²

[Tick or cross one box]

The identified land.

Land that adjoins or is adjacent to or is in proximity to the identified land.

Current zone/planning control

[Insert name of current planning instrument and identify relevant zone/planning control applying to the subject land]

Proposed change of zone/planning control

[Insert name of proposed LEP and identify proposed change of zone/planning control applying to the subject land]

Effect of proposed change of zone/planning control on councillor

[Insert one of the following:

“Appreciable financial gain” or

“Appreciable financial loss”]

[If more than one pecuniary interest is to be declared, reprint the above box and fill in for each additional interest.]

_____________________________

Councillor’s signature

_____________________________

Date

(This form is to be retained by the Council’s general manager and included in full in the minutes of the meeting.)

1 Section 443 (1) of the Local Government Act 1993 provides that you may have a pecuniary interest in a matter because of the pecuniary interest of your spouse or your de facto partner or your relative 4 or because your business partner or employer has a pecuniary interest. You may also have a pecuniary interest in a matter because you, your nominee, your business partner or your employer is a member of a company or other body that has a pecuniary interest in the matter.

Section 442 of the Local Government Act 1993 provides that a "pecuniary interest" is an interest that a person has in a matter because of a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable financial gain or loss to the person. A person does not have a pecuniary interest in a matter if the interest is so remote or insignificant that it could not reasonably be regarded as likely to influence any decision the person might make in relation to the matter or if the interest is of a kind specified in section 448 of that Act (for example, an interest as an elector or as a ratepayer or person liable to pay a charge).

2 A pecuniary interest may arise by way of a change of permissible use of land adjoining, adjacent to or in proximity to land in which a councillor or a person, company or body referred to in section 443 (1) (b) or (c) of the Local Government Act 1993 has a proprietary interest-see section 448 (g) (ii) of the Local Government Act 1993 .

3 "Relative" is defined by the Local Government Act 1993 as meaning your, your spouse’s or your de facto partner’s parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal descendant or adopted child and the spouse or de facto partner of any of those persons.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy 4.5

Report No. 4.5 Draft Communication Plan for the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

Directorate: Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report Author: Clare Manning, Biodiversity Officer

File No: I2018/1088

Theme: Ecology

Planning Policy and Natural Environment

Summary:

This report tables the draft Communications and Engagement Plan (Plan) for the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for consideration by the Panel:

The Executive Team considered and supported the Plan at their 20 June 2018 meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Communications Panel endorse the draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Communications & Engagement Plan (Attachment 1 E2018/48384).

Attachments:

1 Biodiversity Conservation Strategy- Communications Plan 2018-19, E2018/53596 , page 26 ⇩

Report

Council’s 2018-19 Operational Plan lists the continued review of the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy as a key activity (EN 1.1.3).

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2004 (Strategy) provided a framework and guidance to Council and the community in managing Byron’s biodiversity. The Strategy identified the values of the Shire, the threats that are impacting on those values and provided a detailed plan of action with a wide range of actions intended to eliminate threatening processes and protect and restore habitat.

In response to major changes in legislation and regional plans and strategies including but not limited to the Biosecurity Act 2015, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, Regional Weed & Pest Animal Strategies, Council staff have completed 2-years of consultation with the State Government and reviewed a collection of complex and extensive mapping. This includes but not limited too a complete full review of High Environmental Vegetation mapping and Bush Fire Prone Vegetation mapping, the Rural Land Use Strategy, Environmental Zones and Byron Shire Flying-fox Camp Management Plan. Collectively, these achievements will guide and inform a review of the Strategy.

A revised Strategy will aim to highlight what Council should do in the next 10-years, what hurdles Council might face, and what Council may need to do to continue to protect and restore Byron’s biodiversity that will be shaped by population growth, consumption patterns and climate change.

The revised Strategy will aim to serve as a roadmap for Council’s stewardship of our local environment. To guide our planning decisions and policy making in all those areas that has the ability to influence or impact on the environment.

The Communications and Engagement plan (Attachment 1) is necessary to ensure, that through engagement, Council will get a robust and well considered Strategy that’s had community buy-in and thus a greater level of acceptance from key stakeholders.

The high level milestones for delivery of the Strategy are:

· Identify and involve all the key stakeholders from the beginning of the planning process

· Define the current trends and issues – the actual (not perceived) problems; what is affected; the extent of the problem and impacts

· Develop a clear and concise vision statement and strategic objectives

· Develop clear strategic outcomes, key actions, performance measures and reporting to cover a period of 10-years

The key messages of the Communications and Engagement Plan are:

· Council understands that conservation of the natural environment in Byron Shire is important to people that live here

· The recent enactment of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, amendment of the Local Land Services Act 2013 and release of supporting regulations have significantly changed the regulatory and policy framework

· Council welcomes all community members who have information or views about biodiversity conservation, to participate

· The recent release of the Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy also presents significant changes to how biodiversity conservation will be funded, particularly on private land

Financial Implications

Delivery of the Communication and Engagement Plans will be met by the projects respective budgets via the Environment Levy. Council have allocated $20,000 to continue to prepare the Strategy.

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

N/A

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Organisation Development 4.6

Staff Reports - Organisation Development

Report No. 4.6 Community Satisfaction Survey 2018

Directorate: Organisation Development

Report Author: Shannon McKelvey, Manager Organisation Development

File No: I2018/1156

Theme: General Manager

General Manager

Summary:

Council conducts community satisfaction surveys every 2 years. Evidence from the survey is used for many important purposes detailed below. This year, staff are proposing to introduce a new Young Community Members cohort (between ages 12 – 17). While this will involve additional work, it will provide a different opportunity for young people to become involved and be heard.

Version 1 of the Communications and Engagement Plan for this project is attached. However, this project is at initiation stage and the Plan may need to be adjusted once the service provider has been appointed. In the meantime, the attached first version of the Plan shows the proposed key messages and steps for the Panel’s consideration.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Panel note the Community Satisfaction Survey 2018 Communications and Engagement Plan.

Attachments:

1 Community Satisfaction Survey 2018 - Communications and Engagement Plan, E2018/52150 , page 40 ⇩

Report

The Community Satisfaction Survey is an independent ‘opt out’ survey conducted with a sample that is geographically and demographically weighted to match to census data. We use a scientifically robust methodology to conduct the survey because we rely on the data as evidence for a range of uses including supporting grant fund applications, developing programs and co-designing services. Of course, the data is also used for monitoring and measuring performance and identifying opportunities for improvement. Some of the data from the survey helps Council complete its End of Term reporting and it now supports the Wellbeing Framework.

Traditionally, the survey (for legal and cost reasons) has been limited to people aged 18 years and over. Staff intend this time to either include a young people cohort (between the age of 12 – 18). The request for quote has included this as an ‘optional extra’ to test whether the budget will stretch to include this additional age group in the independent survey.

If it can be, great and staff will be clear to promote this additional in the communications about the survey. If not, staff will develop and promote a separate survey process for young people. This will be done conjunction with high schools to match the questionnaire, timing and process to schools and students’ needs.

The market is also being tested for the methodology of the 2018 survey. Just because it has always been done by telephone (using landlines and mobiles), does not mean that it has to be the same this time. While being open to new methodologies, the procurement process does still require potential service providers to address how their proposed methodology will maximise reach, eg having regard to vulnerable sections of our community and the decreasing use of landline technology.

At this stage, it is anticipated that the procurement stage will be completed in late July, the survey being conducted in August/September with the report on results workshopped with Councillors in October. This could change depending on the outcome of the procurement process.

Attached is version 1 of the Communications and Engagement Plan. It has been prepared based on the above anticipated project timetable but will be updated if that timetable changes. However, the attached Version shows the key message and key actions in the communications and engagement. It is unlikely that those message or actions will change significantly.

Some of the key challenges for this project will be managing ‘consultation fatigue’ and distinguishing this survey from other recent engagement. So clear and consistent messaging around why Council is doing this survey, why it is important and how the information is used, will be important. The other important message will be the introduction for the first time of the Young Persons age cohort into the survey.

Historically, the conduct of the survey has not attracted a great deal of media attention, although the results can be of media interest. The results will be workshopped with Councillors prior to any publication and the Communications and Engagement Plan from that point forward can be reviewed at that workshop.

Financial Implications

All communications actions are proposed to be done with existing staff resources. There is no budget allocation for communications for this project.

Statutory and Policy Compliance Implications

Nil.

Venue	Conference Room, Station Street, Mullumbimby
Date	Thursday, 28 June 2018
Time	9.00am