We have a new policy that will help prioritise and guide future reviews of our services.
We deliver more than 100 services, designed to meet a wide and evolving range of community needs and priorities.
The Service Review Policy recognises that all services should be regularly reviewed to check that they are:
- Being provided in an equitable manner;
- Accessible to the people they're intended for;
- Providing good value to the community; and
- Can be delivered in a way that allows Council to remain financially sustainable.
The policy features nine principles that we'll consider when carrying out service reviews in future:
Strategic alignment
Services must respond to the priorities of the community set out in the Council Plan and the Community Vision.
Current and future needs
Services must address the current priorities of the community and balance the need to plan for future needs.
Equity and access
Equity and access to services is provided, recognising that the capacity to pay can impact both.
Financial sustainability
Reducing the level of rate subsidy for the cost of delivering services is important for the long-term financial sustainability of Council.
Alternative providers
Council may transition service delivery to another provider where there is a viable, equivalent alternative service provider for its community, including partnering with others to enhance or deliver services more efficiently.
Evidence-based decision making
Evidence informs decisions about services so the facts are known before acting, including consideration of customer feedback about services.
Community engagement
Consultation about service reviews will take place with service users and others impacted.
Transparency
The service review process is open and transparent unless it is not appropriate to do so.
Compliance
Services are compliant with relevant legislation and the legal obligations of funding providers.
The policy also provides a method for prioritising which services will be reviewed.
Mayor Libby Stapleton said service review processes give us a chance to consider the costs, quality, efficiency and effectiveness of our services.
"Reviewing services regularly is good practice and something we've committed through our Council Plan to doing," Mayor Stapleton said.
"Through this policy we've now got a sound base for deciding which services to review and when, and what principles and factors we should consider when those reviews are carried out.
"Fundamentally we want to deliver services that have the greatest impact in meeting the needs of the community, and provide the maximum value to ratepayers."
A draft of the policy was open for online feedback during November, receiving 11 responses.
The final policy is available on the Council Policies webpage.
The policy aligns with our new Council Plan 2025-29 and its strategic direction of 'High Performing Council,' which includes the following priority: 'Service reviews and a culture of continuous improvement utilised to achieve cost efficiencies and deliver services that meet community expectations.'
The policy will also help ensure the Council meets its legislated requirements for service delivery under the Local Government Act 2020.
