Management & leadership · Short course
Integrated Development Planning (IDP) — Ward Committees
The relationship between ward-level participation and municipal development planning.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
The relationship between ward-level participation and municipal development planning.
The programme brings together ward priorities, community engagement, planning participation and reporting back. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: A ward committee must present community concerns in a form that can inform municipal planning. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Ward committee members, community representatives and municipal support staff.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Compile a ward-priority register that distinguishes needs from proposed solutions.
- Plan inclusive ways to gather community input.
- Prepare a structured submission linking local concerns to the planning process.
- Create a report-back format for communicating decisions and tracking unresolved issues.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Ward priorities
This part of the programme examines ward priorities, with attention to identifying local needs and issues. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Identifying local needs.
- Issues.
- Applied work: compile a ward-priority register that distinguishes needs from proposed solutions.
Illustrative practical exercise
Compile a ward-priority register that distinguishes needs from proposed solutions. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Community engagement
This part of the programme examines community engagement, with attention to gathering representative input. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Gathering representative input.
- Considering access, language and participation barriers when selecting engagement channels.
- Distinguishing a frequently expressed concern from evidence of a shared community priority.
- Applied work: plan inclusive ways to gather community input.
Illustrative practical exercise
Plan inclusive ways to gather community input. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Planning participation
This part of the programme examines planning participation, with attention to connecting ward concerns with municipal processes. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Connecting ward concerns with municipal processes.
- Organising ward concerns into a submission with clear supporting information.
- Tracking which municipal process or department needs to consider each matter.
- Applied work: prepare a structured submission linking local concerns to the planning process.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a structured submission linking local concerns to the planning process. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Reporting back
This part of the programme examines reporting back, with attention to communicating decisions and tracking progress. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Communicating decisions.
- Tracking progress.
- Applied work: create a report-back format for communicating decisions and tracking unresolved issues.
Illustrative practical exercise
Create a report-back format for communicating decisions and tracking unresolved issues. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
A ward committee must present community concerns in a form that can inform municipal planning. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.