Willoughby Council is developing a Community Engagement Strategy to help improve the way in which we inform and consult our community. We would greatly appreciate your comments by posting your thoughts below.
Public participation in local government is about building relationships with our local communities and involving, informing, consulting, and collaborating. The system is built on the principle that all members of the community have a right, and a responsibility, to contribute to their community’s future.
Some members of the community are already actively engaged with Council through participation in local committees and community groups. Others however may find it hard to participate in the Council process. Barriers to participation might include being short of time, having other commitments or simply not feeling confident that opinions will be heard and valued. Some people may not be willing to come to a public meeting on a week night, but they might be happy to share their views with their local Councillor, or contribute to an on-line discussion.
People also have varying preferences for how they receive information and communicate with Council. While some might read the paper to get information on local happenings while others might prefer to listen to the radio.