The Integrated Planning and Reporting (IPR) legislation dramatically changes current strategic planning and reporting requirements for NSW councils. Under its Integrated Planning Capacity building Program, the Centre for Local government has worked extensively with councils throughout NSW, providing them with assistance, guidance and external review processes to support their work in meeting the requirements of the Integrated Planning and Reporting legislation.

The Centre has been working closely with councils to ensure that their plans and strategies are developed in ways that demonstrate clear linkages and accountabilities between all components of the IPR framework.

The program has yielded positive results for a number of councils. Working on a truly collaborative basis it is specifically designed to draw on the existing skills, knowledge and experience of staff to determine the council's direction under Integrated Planning and Reporting and develop the processes to be used to fulfill the requirements of the legislation.

The Centre's staff bring to the program a wealth of practical experience in working with local government across a broad range of projects. Services provided by the Centre under the Integrated Planning Capacity Building Program include:

• Provision of high level guidance, facilitation and training to NSW councils for implementation of Integrated Planning and Reporting legislation. (Councils include: Richmond Valley, Yass Valley, Snowy River Shire, Warrumbungle Shire, Queanbeyan City, Kiama, Willoughby, Dungog Shire, Palerang)
• Provision of review and evaluation services to assess the readiness of NSW councils to implement Integrated Planning and Reporting legislation
• Design and leadership of community engagement processes for a range of councils for Community Strategic Plan development
• Development of structures and formats for Integrated Planning and Reporting documentation (Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program, Operational Plan) for NSW councils
• Provision development and planning seminars to councils to ensure effective organisational structures and decision making in the implementation of Integrated Planning and Reporting legislation.