406   Integrated planning and reporting guidelines

(1)  The Director-General is to establish integrated planning and reporting guidelines (referred to in this Chapter as the guidelines) for the purposes of this Chapter.

(2)  The guidelines can impose requirements in connection with the preparation, development and review of, and the contents of, the community strategic plan, resourcing strategy, delivery program, operational plan, community engagement strategy, annual report and state of the environment report of a council.

(3)  In particular (but without limiting subsection (2)), the guidelines can impose requirements in relation to any of the following:

(a)  the procedures to be followed in the preparation, development or review of plans, strategies, programs and reports,

(b)  the matters to be addressed or provided for by plans, strategies, programs and reports,

(c)  requirements for consultation in connection with the preparation, development or review of plans, strategies and programs,

(d)  the matters to be taken into account or to which regard is to be had in connection with the preparation, development or review of plans, strategies, programs and reports.

(4)  A council must ensure that the requirements of the guidelines are complied with.

(5)  The guidelines can include other material for the guidance of councils in connection with the plans, strategies, programs and reports to which this section applies.

(6)  The Director-General may review and amend the guidelines from time to time.

(7)  The guidelines and any amendment of the guidelines must be posted on the Department’s website and notified in writing to each council by the Director-General.