WBC STRATEGIC ALLLIANCE

The C.O.R.E Principles for Successful Collaboration

National Awards Excellence in Local Government

Category Winner 2009

Communicationwhat, how, when and to whom……

CommunicationPromote activities and achievements –

newsletters, emails, annual report, monthly report to councils, bi-annual presentations to councils, website, media releases

Communication methods – web conferencing, teleconferencing, face to face off site,

Networking – annual forum, project team meetings shared around venues, connecting work teams and people, 2 monthly Professional Team meetings (all Directors and GM’s), shared training

Opportunity & Order

Structure, processes, governance,chances to explore……

Opportunity

• - staff involved in project teams

• Build it and they will come.....provide venue, make it easy for them to get together..........feed them!

• Identify areas of expertise and exploit them!

OrderGovernance of Alliance –

MOU, Board structure, decision making, reporting

Processes for managing finances – bit messy but it works!

Project Management principles applied

Accountability

Resources & Relationships the stuff you need

&Who you are travelling with....

RESOURCES

Money to do things

People to do things

Time to do things – staff

released to do project

work

My position to make

sure things get done –

focussed wholly on the

Alliance

RELATIONSHIPS

Pick your partners well – similar size/challenges/ demographic

Manage relationships – nurture, support, communicate

Manage ego’s and personalities and the “protection of their own patch”

Enthusiasmleadership, common

direction and……knowing the way

EnthusiasmStrong leadership – Board of Mayors, Deputy

Mayors and General Managers

Willingness to work together – at all levels

Demonstrated outcomes keep people interested

Management Plan to give direction

Promotion of activities

Dedicated resources (such as my position)

What we have achieved?

9 years as an Alliance with continuing strength

and commitment

Over $4 million in savings and efficiencies

55 collaborative projects completed

Successful joint funding applications

2 shared positions

Achievements?- Joint Tender and then purchase of IT Corporate Software –

saving of $420k (on price, management of tender, legal fees

etc)

- Over last 4 years collective grant funding of over $400k

(training, planning, water planning)

- Worked together to develop Integrated Planning and

Reporting plans (joint engagement of consultant saved

$42k)

Achievements?Joint project for the initial design of asset plan framework

and templates – estimated saving of $90k over 2 years by

joint engagement of consultant (started in 2007)

Common Engineering Guidelines – consistent approach to

engineering design (including generic set of drawings)

Standard Conditions of Consent – combined with

Environmental Health staff to develop common consent

document – reduced from over 900 in use to 280!

Achievements?New project for standard Development Control Plans

Joint plant purchasing (new project just commencing to

review how we manage fleet and if it could be centralised)

“Mates rates”for use of plant…….

Use of neighboring outdoor crews on boundary road

maintenance

Joint training

So, where next? Shared Service Model –Developing Business Case

for a shared service model for “niche” functions….. Fleet Management Food Shop Inspections Trade Waste

New Governance Model……..can’t move to shared services without it

Implementation of new and upgraded IT systems and streamlined business processing

So, where next?Destination 2036 Reform Agenda in NSW –

significant change expected……….we are currently working on how we will “look” individually or collectively into the future

Can a voluntary cooperative model carry us through?

Do we need to corporatize? Is shared administration or services a solution ?

How does the Alliance support the sustainability of the individual member councils?

My top tips for a successful road trip

Give time and consideration to the C.O.R.E Principles

Communicate Order and opportunityResources and relationshipsEnthusiasm

Pick your partners carefully

Don’t be afraid to ask for directions if you get lost

And......don’t forget to celebrate along the way – acknowledge the efforts and achievements....

......like now... at the end of a long day.

For more information:

Contact Donna Galvin, Executive Managerdonna.galvin@cabonne.nsw.gov.au

Or check out the website at:www.wbcalliance.nsw.gov.au