FAQs

The Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) framework is the NSW Government’s approach for helping councils and communities plan together for the future.

It was introduced in 2009 and requires councils to start with the community’s aspirations and then prepare a coordinated set of plans and reports over at least a ten-year period.

All NSW councils must work within this framework to comply with the planning and reporting requirements of the Local Government Act and Regulation.

All NSW councils are required by the Local Government Act 1993 to prepare a Delivery Program, Operational Plan and Resourcing Strategy as part of the IP&R framework.

This requirement makes sure councils plan ahead, use resources responsibly and are open about what they are doing with public funds.

These plans also help the community see what Council has committed to deliver over the Council term and how this links to the community’s long-term goals.

The DPOP is one part of a broader suite of plans that all work together.

Under the IP&R framework, every council must prepare a Community Strategic Plan (CSP) that sets out the community’s main priorities and aspirations for at least ten years.

These include:

•    Community Strategic Plan: the community’s long-term vision and goals 

•    Delivery Program: Council’s four-year commitment showing how it will help deliver that vision during the current Council term.

•    Operational Plan: detailed, one year plan and budget for the upcoming financial year.

•    Resourcing Strategy: explains how council will fund its services, manage its assets, and ensure it has the staff and technology needed to deliver its plans.