After an electric month of workshops, our final deliberative engagement session wrapped up last month, leaving us with a robust set of draft principles to underpin future service planning and review.

Council identified in its 2023/24 Budget the need for a deliberative engagement process to develop guiding principles for service planning and review.

Throughout February, we ran an exciting deliberative engagement process with a fantastic group of people representing the Yarra community.

In a series of workshops, led by independent facilitators, the group developed a draft set of guiding principles that will help inform and guide Council’s future planning and review of community services.

These community-supported Service Planning and Review Principles are vital as our rapidly growing community evolves and we plan for the future. The principles will help ensure all services are relevant, financially sustainable and can meet future community needs.

Yarra City Council Mayor, Cr Edward Crossland said, “I want to thank everyone who participated in this process on behalf of my fellow Councillors for helping shape the future of Yarra’s community services. Your input will have a big impact for a long time to come – ensuring community is at the heart of decision making on the services we provide and how we provide them.”

Council’s CEO, Sue Wilkinson reflected on the process, “Being in a room with such a passionate group of diverse community members working on better outcomes for Yarra is what community engagement is all about.”

A report seeking Council adoption of the draft principles will be considered at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 9 April 2024 at 6.30pm at Richmond Town Hall.