From Plans to Priorities: Rethinking the Future of IP&R
- Narelle Lennon
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
At this year’s IPR Conference in Orange, hosted by LGPRO NSW, we led an engaging session titled From Plans to Priorities: You Decide the Future of IP&R.
The workshop challenged delegates to make bold decisions about the future of Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) and unpacked what needs to change for the framework to truly guide councils, communities, and everyday decision-making.
The discussion highlighted several key themes:
1. Foster Staff Engagement
A recurring message from the room was that staff need to better understand IP&R and its importance. Too often, the framework is seen as technical, abstract, or disconnected from day-to-day work.
To shift this, councils must focus on:
Building a culture where conversations about IP&R are influential and valued.
Supporting staff through training and education to build confidence.
Ensuring the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is involved and leading from the top down.
Recognising that attitude and mindset matter as much as technical skills.
Without this cultural shift, IP&R risks being sidelined instead of embedded in council’s DNA.
2. Develop Clear Measures
Measures can empower decision-making - but only when they are clear, achievable, and meaningful. Delegates identified several challenges with the current approach:
Too many measures dilute focus.
Councils don’t always understand why something is being measured.
If a measure isn’t working, it should be changed rather than carried forward by default.
Methodologies and targets need to be realistic and understood across the organisation.
This links closely to the need for centralised data; without it, analysis becomes siloed and confusing.
3. Automate Reporting
Reporting is one of the most resource-intensive aspects of IP&R. Delegates explored ways to reduce the burden:
Using public dashboards to increase transparency and save time.
Leveraging automation to streamline reporting processes.
Supporting staff engagement by ensuring information is accurate, timely, and accessible.
The goal: free up staff to focus on delivery rather than drowning in reporting requirements.
4. Improve Integration
For IP&R to have real impact, it must be integrated across all areas of council operations. Yet, many councils face barriers:
Systems that don’t “talk” to each other.
The cost of achieving integration.
The complexity that comes with both small and large councils.
When integration is missing, IP&R risks becoming a circular exercise - plans that exist on paper but don’t drive financials, resourcing, or strategy.
5. Centralise Data
Data underpins everything from service reviews to grant applications, yet it remains fragmented:
Information is stored across multiple systems.
Conflicting datasets create confusion.
The cost of centralisation is a major hurdle.
Still, the benefits are clear... councils need reliable, centralised data to build trust, make decisions, and support long-term planning.
6. New Outcomes and Suggestions
The session also surfaced practical ideas for strengthening the IP&R process moving forward:
Community engagement: Ensure communication isn’t a one-off exercise but part of the entire four-year journey. Councillors, as community representatives, must be actively involved.
Resourcing: Adequate staff and funding are critical for success.
Realistic timeframes: Allow space for meaningful delivery, not just compliance.
Up-to-date data: Reliance on outdated Census information limits councils’ ability to respond to current needs.
The Takeaway
The session reminded us that IP&R is more than a compliance tool; it should be a driver of decisions, priorities, and culture across councils. To achieve this, bold steps are needed: better staff engagement, stronger integration, clearer measures, and smarter use of data.
Thank you to LGPRO NSW for another fantastic event, and to all the delegates who took part in the workshop.
Comments