Published Friday, 20 June, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
New award for local government community reporting
The Queensland Government is on the lookout for councils that are leading the way with how they communicate important issues with their communities.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said councils had 10 days left to submit their nominations for the inaugural Minister’s Best Practice Award for Community Reporting.
“We are now entering a new era in local government – one that is focused on integrity, accountability and transparency for the benefit of all Queensland communities,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring councils have the capacity and resources they need to meet changing community needs and expectations.
“The Best Practice Award for Community Reporting will recognise councils that have achieved higher standards of accountability and transparency through their council newsletters.”
The award, which is open to all Queensland councils, will be determined by assessing newsletter contents against the following criteria:
• community involvement
• councillor performance
• financial performance
• complaints processes.
Mr Pitt said the award would be presented to the council that best demonstrated how it was using community reporting to inform and involve the community in key decisions. “Our aim is to encourage and congratulate those councils who are thinking ahead,” Mr Pitt said.
To be considered, councils will need to submit a sample of their newsletters by 30 June 2008.
For more information on the assessment criteria or to download a sample newsletter, visit www.dlgsr.qld.gov.au or contact the Department of Local Government on 3225 8660.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said councils had 10 days left to submit their nominations for the inaugural Minister’s Best Practice Award for Community Reporting.
“We are now entering a new era in local government – one that is focused on integrity, accountability and transparency for the benefit of all Queensland communities,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring councils have the capacity and resources they need to meet changing community needs and expectations.
“The Best Practice Award for Community Reporting will recognise councils that have achieved higher standards of accountability and transparency through their council newsletters.”
The award, which is open to all Queensland councils, will be determined by assessing newsletter contents against the following criteria:
• community involvement
• councillor performance
• financial performance
• complaints processes.
Mr Pitt said the award would be presented to the council that best demonstrated how it was using community reporting to inform and involve the community in key decisions. “Our aim is to encourage and congratulate those councils who are thinking ahead,” Mr Pitt said.
To be considered, councils will need to submit a sample of their newsletters by 30 June 2008.
For more information on the assessment criteria or to download a sample newsletter, visit www.dlgsr.qld.gov.au or contact the Department of Local Government on 3225 8660.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819