A NEW draft customer experience strategy for Golden Plains Shire has been made available to the public for feedback, after the plan was passed unanimously at last week\u2019s regular council meeting.<\/p>\n
The strategy will remain open for community input prior to next month\u2019s meeting and was drafted after a series of surveys and workshops that took place earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Cr Clayton Whitfield said the new strategy will boost the capabilities of customer responses across the municipality.<\/p>\n
\u201cFront of house staff have always been recognised by the public in a positive light and the strategies put forth will improve interdepartmental communication and improve the customer experience beyond the front desk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis strategy and the work behind it will go a long way to improving an area that traditionally has had poor ratings from the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
The feedback aims to give the Shire a direction in their customer service engagement, with an apparent focus on accountability, transparency, and accessibility through the use of online platforms.<\/p>\n
Cr Helena Kirby said the strategy will help in \u201cclosing the loop\u201d between residents and council, and it is hoped the feedback given will solidify council\u2019s endorsement of it at next month\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
Looking back on COVID support<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors took a moment to reflect on the community\u2019s challenges over the past two years and noted municipal efforts in assisting residents and businesses with the financial burdens of the pandemic.<\/p>\n Part of the COVID-19 Hardship Assistance and Recovery Plan, Golden Plains Shire allocated $50,000 out of the 2021\/22 budget for continued financial support.<\/p>\n So far $27,500 has been used to provide rebates to residents in the 2021\/22 financial year.<\/p>\n An additional $50,000 has been allocated to support mental health across the Shire, with Barwon Child Youth and Families contracted to develop a responsive mental-health program.<\/p>\n Cr Sharkey said council should be proud of the efforts in financially supporting the community through the pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cWith that hardship policy, rather than putting that $50,000 back into consolidation, we\u2019ve got $50,000 there that\u2019s been put aside now to help the after-effects of COVID.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see that sum of money actually doing something rather than being a tokenistic policy. It\u2019s something that\u2019s actually changing lives and helping people in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Rates were also partially waived as part of the hardship policy, including a maximum of $500 for businesses and individuals on JobSeeker and JobKeeper.<\/p>\n Rowe goes by the book<\/strong><\/p>\n Cr Les Rowe has been chosen by council to serve as a deputy member for the Geelong Regional Library Corporation board.<\/p>\n Although passed unanimously, Cr Sharkey noted that not every councillor was present when the initial decision was put to council.<\/p>\n Cr Whitfield said Cr Rowe would do a good job in the position, and highlighted the \u201cadministrative requirement\u201d of having a representative of council on the board.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important as the library provides a terrific service for our community and we do contribute significant funding to ensure its operation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Shed rule dead<\/strong><\/p>\n Council overturned a policy that allowed landholders to build sheds on properties while houses are being constructed.<\/p>\n The policy was initially passed in 2017, and Cr Whitfield said it is now in direct conflict with the municipality\u2019s current planning scheme.<\/p>\n \u201cThe policy allows a shed to be built once a dwelling has reached the completion of the footing stage, whereas the planning scheme says the shed can only be built if there\u2019s a completed associated dwelling that is occupied,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the difference, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n