| Step 9. Evaluating
Progress
A community plan is not a static
document. It really is a process of ongoing community engagement,
capacity building and community improvement, along with
the implementation of tangible improvements to services
and facilities. It involves a process of continuous improvement
where the plan is adapted and enhanced over time.
The Local Government Act 2009 requires
Councils to set startegies and actions to be taken to attaing
its vision and to agree os responsibilities for implementation.
It is also a requirement to identify performance indicatiors
to measure and evaluate progress. Performance indicators,
such as those shown in the table under 9a. It is a difficult
task to develop indicators that are appropriate, realistic
and not too costly, and should not be done as an afterthought.
Evaluation involves not just assessing progress towards outcomes
but it is also crucial to the continuous improvement of the
plan. A suggested way of conducting the evaluation would be
for the Council, Community Plan Implementation Group and other
stakeholders to hold an annual workshop. They could review
the implementation of actions and develop an action plan for
the following year.
9a.
Implementation of Strategies and Actions
The implementation of specific actions
and progress towards achieving goals can be collated and
reviewed annually. This would identify achievements that
can be reported to the community and other stakeholders
and can inform the annual Corporate Plan reporting process.
It would also identify constraints and issues that need
to be addressed to maintain a high level of implementation.
Councils are formally required to review and refresh the
community plan every five years. This would involve a phase
of community engagement.
An example of how the implementation of
a plan can be evaluated is shown below.
Example
Topic: Community Infrastructure
and Facilities
| Key
Result Area (Community Plan Strategies) |
Performance
Indicators |
Progress/Achievement |
| Outcome
Area: Effective Community Facilities that Meet
Community Needs |
| Well maintained facilities |
The implementation of an ongoing program of
maintenance |
Maintenance program in place. $40,000 and 500
person days of maintenance work completed in the
last year |
| Upgrade of swimming pools |
Two swimming pool upgraded
Funding proposal for third pool upgrade submitted |
| Secure tenure for community facilities |
Investigation of tenure arrangements |
Tenure arrangements identified and discussed
with community groups |
| Outcome
Area: High Quality Parks and Public Space |
| Maintenance of parks and public spaces |
Ongoing maintenance of parks and public spaces
|
Twenty parks regularly mowed
Weekly rubbish collection |
| Etc. |
Etc. |
Etc. |
|
The achievement of outcomes could be assessed
with a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures.
9b. Progress Towards the Community
Vision
While specific actions can be monitored,
it is also important to measure progress towards the vision
described in the plan. This may involve broader measures
of progress such as improved community safety, maintenance
of the quality of infrastructure, improving opportunities
for young people, or enhanced employment. This can include
data of actual changes as well as qualitative measures of
perceived improvements.
Clearly, the evaluation framework is flexible
and the above result areas are only suggestions. A template
is provided in Appendix 2. |
