Community Outcomes Processes

• What are community outcomes procesess?
• Purpose of community outcomes processes
• Who is involved
• The steps in community outcomes processes
• Timeframes

• What are community outcomes processes?

Community outcomes processes are co-ordinated by local authorities throughout New Zealand, under the Local Government Act 2002.

Local authorities decide how they undertake community outcomes processes in their area. The process must encourage public participation in identifying community outcomes. Local authorities are required to consult with their communities about their outcomes at least every six years.

• Purpose of community outcomes processes

• Who is involved?

Local authorities have a central role in co-ordinating community outcomes processes in their area, under the Local Government Act 2002.

The Local Government Act 2002 does not explicitly require central government to participate in community outcomes processes. Section 91 of the Act does state that community outcomes are intended to inform and guide the activities of groups working in the community. The intention of the Act is that government agencies in particular will contribute to community outcomes processes where appropriate, and work with local authorities and other groups to achieve community outcomes.

• The steps in community outcomes processes

• Identifying other organisations

  Local authorities must identify other organisations capable of influencing the community outcomes process. If possible, local authorities must secure the agreement of these organisations to participate in the process.

• Consultation

  Through conversations led by their local authority, the community can discuss and identify the things local people think are important for their future. Through these conversations, community outcomes are identified.

  	Community outcomes belong to the local community and can be changed only through consultation with the community.

  Some of the ways local authorities consulted with their communities to identify current community outcomes included:

  	public meetings workshops hui surveys research open days	questionnaires interactive displays focus groups media releases newsletters and papers road shows

By consulting in different and innovative ways, local authorities reach a diverse range of people in their communities. The more robust the consultation process, the more useful community outcomes are for decision-making.

Community outcomes consultation takes place at least every six years.

Section 82 of the Local Government Act 2002 sets out the principles of consultation. Local authorities must follow these principles when consulting with their community.

Local authorities must also have specific policies in place to consult with Māori.

• Prioritising outcomes

  The consultation process gives communities the chance to prioritise their outcomes, to further guide the plans and actions of organisations in the community.

• Identifying community outcomes

  Local authorities must identify the community outcomes in their long-term council community plans (LTCCP).

  Including the community outcomes in the LTCCP encourages:

  • a clear understanding of what the community wants for their future well-being
  • an understanding of how the activities of local authorities and other organisations contribute to these goals
  • accountability of local authorities to their communities.

• Monitoring and reporting

  Under section 92 of the Local Government Act 2002, local authorities have a responsibility to monitor the progress that the community is making on its community outcomes. The results must be reported back to the community at least every three years. Local authorities decide for themselves the processes used to monitor and report on community outcomes.

  Monitoring and reporting enables an evaluation of existing strategies and plans, and the identification of emerging trends. This helps improve plans, activities and future decision making.

  Resources for monitoring and reporting.

• Working to achieve community outcomes

  Organisations can use the results of community outcomes processes to guide their work in the community.

  Many of the activities of organisations such as local authorities, central government agencies and community groups contribute to community outcomes in some way. This may be through providing services, funding, support, amenities or other resources.

  In most cases no single agency will be able to achieve community outcomes by itself. Organisations need to work together and with local people to progress community well-being.

  Community outcomes processes provide the opportunity for organisations to find ways to work together and achieve common goals for their community.

  Local authorities are required to show how their activities contribute to community outcomes in their long-term council community plan. They must also show which other organisations they are working with to achieve community outcomes.

  Read more about working together to achieve community outcomes.

• Timeframes

Read more about local authority planning and planning cycles.