MidCoast Council is inviting feedback on a suite of documents that outline its approach to communications, community engagement, and customer service.
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"The way we connect with our customers, and their experience when they choose to connect with us, forms the basis of our relationship with the local community", MidCoast Council community spaces and services director, Paul De Szell said.
"Documenting our approach and ensuring customers understand what they can expect from us is part of putting our community at the heart of everything we do," Mr De Szell said.
Drafts of both the communications and community engagement strategies went on public exhibition late last week.
Each provides an outline of council's approach to connecting with the community, based on feedback collated during consultations over the past three years.
"Whether it's by providing information to ensure our community is updated on council activities or through conversations aimed at understanding local priorities, we place a high importance on communicating and engaging effectively, in the ways and places that work for our community."
The draft Communications Strategy recognises the need for strong and effective communication with the community. It outlines principles, objectives and opportunities to support council's commitment to communicating in a way that encourages an open relationship with the community.
The way council will engage with the community is set out in the draft Community Engagement Strategy.
This strategy aims to deliver a consistent approach to community engagement and ensure the need to engage with the community is identified early in council's projects.
A draft Customer Service Charter also was placed on exhibition last Friday, May 10.
The draft charter outlines proposed service standards including response times for returning phone calls and replying to correspondence, through to council's commitment to honesty and transparency in dealing with customer enquiries.
"Having a customer service charter in place provides accountability around meeting customer expectations and delivering a consistently high level of customer service.
"As another connection point for our customers, their experience when they deal with us at the counter, by phone, or through correspondence is key to building strong relationships".
The draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategies, and the draft Customer Service Charter are all available to review here , or in hard copy at any of council customer service centres and libraries.
To provide your feedback on the strategies or charter, visit the MidCoast Council have your say site here during the exhibition period.
Email and postal submissions are also accepted.
The Communications and Community Engagement Strategies are open for feedback until 4.30pm on Friday 14 June 2019, while submissions relating to the Customer Service Charter close at 4.30pm on Monday, June 10.
"Getting it right matters, and will ultimately help us build meaningful and collaborative relationships with people across the region."
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