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 [email protected]
Or check out the website at:www.wbcalliance.nsw.gov.au