Council CEO wants to see end to ‘disrespectful’ community consultations

Sunshine Coast Council CEO John Baker listens to a business owner at the Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catch Up.

Sunshine Coast Council's chief executive officer has pledged to change how the organisation engages with residents, moving away from what he described as a paternalistic approach to genuine partnerships.

John Baker told a Nambour Chamber of Commerce meeting at Nambour Cinema & Events Centre he had observed too many council consultation processes that were “more than frustrating” and actually “disrespectful” to the community.

“I've observed lots of consultation that isn't meaningful and I think it’s more than frustrating. It's disrespectful,” Mr Baker said.

The CEO criticised council's current internal focus, saying the organisation was largely “built predominantly for itself” rather than serving the community effectively.

Mr Baker announced council had already taken steps to broaden community engagement through Queensland's first citizens' panel, a deliberative democracy model involving 53 randomly selected residents.

“We wrote out to 10,000 households randomly selected across the whole of the Sunshine Coast. First council in Queensland ever to do it," he said.

The panel, profiled to represent the community's demographics within half a percent accuracy, will examine key issues including Olympic legacy, budget processes, and growth management over a year-long period.

“What a fascinating perspective from young people, from old people, from people that – 80 percent of them – have never engaged with council before," he said.

Mr Baker said council’s new approach would emphasise reaching residents who typically remained silent.

"It's the smaller community groups that don't have access (to public relations expertise) that we need to start listening to in a more meaningful way," he said.

Mr Baker also announced plans to break down departmental silos through an “enterprise model” approach.

“What I observed were very discreet departments doing really good work, but solving and grappling with issues in isolation from the rest of the council ... which is why you are asked five times for your name of address,” he said.

The new approach will see community development, economic development and planning working together rather than in isolation.

Mr Baker acknowledged the challenge of meaningful engagement with time-poor residents, noting many people haven't got the time or the energy to be able to engage with council in a meaningful way. “They've got to get the kids to school," he said.