Planning: Customer focus in the spotlight

MEDIA RELEASE

Murray River Council’s Development Services Team have adopted a new draft Customer Charter, detailing a commitment to provide an efficient and responsive service.

The Charter focuses on performance commitments, including timelines, whilst also detailing the customers role in ensuring their applications are dealt with efficiently.

“The Charter sets out council’s commitment to our customers and holds us accountable if we fail to meet those commitments and standards,” Mayor Chris Bilkey said.

“But the draft charter is more than that. It is effectively a “pact” between the customer and the team requiring our customers to meet their obligations in helping us meet our performance targets.”

Council said issues can often arise when suitable plans and information to determine the application are not submitted.

Taking this into account, the Charter offers a clear point of direction as to what the customer needs to have available when submitting applications, then details council’s responsibility in the process once everything is provided.

“We want our services to be delivered in a timely manner and this new charter is a formalised step towards this goal.”

“I’d encourage the community to provide feedback where relevant to ensure we are on the right track,” Cr Bilkey said.

The draft will be on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from next week.