1. Community Development

3. Community Development…
More Funding
Community groups supported
Security & Safety
Equity
…What does it mean to the COMMUNITY?
Feeling good about where and how we live
Connectedness
Community leaders supported
More community facilities
Better community places and spaces
More stuff to do…
Better stuff…

4. 1980s it often had a “community self help” aspect
Times are changing… Only four or five years ago, the expectation was that councillors were elected to make decisions. They were there to make the big calls, and their re-election prospects arguably hinged on the ‘quality’ of their decisions. Today the council’s role is often considered more as a decision-facilitator than a decision-maker. There is an expectation that all key decisions of council will involve some degree of community consultation and deliberation.
High Speed History….
1960s and ‘70s Community Development often had a “political action” orientation
1980s it often had a “community self help” aspect
1990s it fell away with economic rationalism (belt tightening)
More recently “community building’ and “community capacity building” more vogue
“Community engagement” emerged within government and then other terminology around social capital, social planning …community consultation…..
BOTTOMLINE: Scarcity of Resources & Fragmentation of Effort

5. What its not….
It isn’t community service delivery: People are clearly demanding greater service delivery from both government and the private sector. Clearly, providers should give the best service possible. Yet community development is more than delivering services. Delivering what “clients” or citizens perceive they need does little to stimulate the “ rethinking”, social networks or leadership that builds the ability of communities to manage change.
It isn’t social work or welfare: In a community development process, many communities may aim to improve the situation of the unemployed, ill, disabled or poor, strengthen social interaction, or improve social support services. However, community development is not a social welfare program. It is a self-directed process aimed at a broad range of economic, social and environmental community benefits.
It isn’t a “feel good” exercise: Community development produces real “ bricks and mortar” and “ dollars and cents” outcomes. It achieves this through cooperative action, rethinking and organisation. But it involves a lot of action and work. It is far more than a morale boosting exercise.

6. Council Centric Community Centric

7. Our Definition: “Whangarei District Council’s Community Development Framework seeks to support communities to collectively impact positively upon the issues, needs and aspirations identified as important by those communities”.

8. Begin with the end in mind…
Consider the community eco-system
Converse and consult with stakeholders widely…..but not “overly”
Assess readiness of individuals and groups….and Council
Engage and support the willing and the able
Ensure clarity of expectations
Adopt intentional outcomes measurement
Be patiently urgent…..its an iterative process Do
Review
Plan
…. but seek first to understand

9. Community Development Operational Model
Wider Council Departments
Link cross departmentally with…
Parks & Recreation
e.g. playgrounds
Venues & Events
e.g. Community Days
Infrastructure projects
e.g. Pedestrian crossings
Civil Defense
Communications
e.g. Story telling & Capacity Building
Graphics
e.g. for Signs/Signage
Legal – for capacity building
Policy – for Information
IT – Advice
Customer Service – Information
Libraries – Information/Research
Community Development
Link directly with…
Community Funding
Village Plan (Renamed Community-Led) projects
Community Buildings
Pensioner Housing
City Safe
CCTV
Community Liaison
Community Development Advisors
Engage with Community district wide
Support capacity development
Facilitate Community Engagement/Action
Provide Pivotal Point of Contact with WDC
Coordinate Advocacy Groups
Advise on Community funding &
Support Community Led Projects
Community

10. Thank…Qs?