Name of the auditor:

Title of auditor:

Date of the audit:

Counter signoff:

Date of previous audit:

Consistency with SPPF

/ Yes/No / If no, indicate future actions.
Does the planning scheme further the objectives of planning in Victoria?
Does the planning scheme advance the strategic directions in the SPPF and adequately implement State Policy applicable to the municipality?
  • Does the MSS respond to or further the directions in Melbourne 2030 or other relevant State policies?

Are there clear links between the SPPF and the LPPF?
Local Planning Policy Framework / Yes/No
Have any issues emerged with the MSS since any previous review?
  • Inconsistencies with State policy
  • Difficulty in defending policy basis at VCAT
  • Outdated policy
  • Issues raised in consultation
/ If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Is there repetition or conflict in the MSS, such as between housing and settlement policies? / If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Does the MSS comply with the Format of Municipal Strategic Statements (February 1999) VPP Practice Note? / If no, indicate future actions.
Does the MSS need simplification or clarification in any area?
  • Have issues been raised in consultation?
  • Is there difficulty in arguing a case in officer reports or at VCAT hearings?
/ If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Local Planning Policy Framework / Yes/No
Is any aspect of the MSS not relevant to land use decision-making?
  • Do officer reports refer to the MSS?
/ If yes, indicate future actions.
Are there any matters raised in VCAT decisions, or Planning Panel or Advisory Committee reports that require improvements to the LPPF? / If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Is council relying on adopted council policies or guidelines in decision-making that are not included in the planning scheme? / If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Are there particular planning issues that would benefit from a new or revised local policy? / If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.
Are there reference documents that should be included as a local policy (ie Advertising Policy or Urban Design Guidelines)? / If yes, nominate and indicate future actions.

Assess the strategic objectives

/ Yes/No / If no, indicate future actions.
Do the objectives in the MSS adequately reflect the land use and development outcomes council wants to achieve?
Do all the objectives have specific land use or development outcomes?
Are the objectives being achieved?
Do the objectives successfully guide planning decisions?

Assess the strategies

/ Yes/No / If no, indicate future actions.
Are the strategies clearly linked to and achieving the objectives?
Are the strategies achieving the desired outcomes?
Do the strategies help inform planning decisions?

Strategic Gaps

/ Yes/No
Has council reviewed the progress made on strategic gaps identified in the LPPF and actions identified in the last review? / If no, indicate future actions.
Have changes been made to the SPPF that require amendments to the LPPF? / If yes, specify future action.
Does council have commitments, policies or programs to address any particular planning issues that should be included in the planning scheme? / If yes, specify and indicate future actions.

Links with the Council Plan

/ Yes/No
Do the LPPF objectives align with the land use and development objectives of the Council Plan? / If no, indicate future actions.
Since the last review, do changes to the Council Plan require amendments to the LPPF? / If yes, specify and indicate future actions.

Assess the VPP implementation tools (local planning policies, zones, overlays)

/ Yes/No
Are the VPP tools successful in achieving the objectives, strategies and desired outcomes? / If no, indicate future actions.
Are there any VPP tools used that are no longer useful or effective? Should these be modified or deleted from the scheme? / If yes, specify and indicate future actions.
Are the tools clearly linked to the objectives and strategies in the LPPF (are they strategically driven or do they provide for a strategic outcome)? / If no, indicate future actions.

Format, consistency & usability

/ Yes/No
Are the MSS and LPP expressed in plain English’? / If no, indicate future actions.
Is the intent and language of the LPPF clear, usable and effective in meeting council land use objectives and decision-making? / If no, indicate future actions.
Are there superfluous or inconsistent policies, overlays and schedules that no longer contribute to council planning goals and objectives? / If yes, specify and indicate future actions.
Are improvements to the statutory drafting of the planning scheme required? / If yes, specify and indicate future actions.
Has the LPPF been assessed against the relevant VPP Practice Notes? / If no, indicate future actions.

Assess the monitoring of the scheme

/ Yes/No
Is the planning scheme being regularly monitored and reviewed? / If no, indicate future actions.
Are there monitoring processes targeting the key strategic objectives of the scheme?
  • Is the information easy to collect?
/ If no, indicate future actions.
If no, indicate future actions.
Are the monitoring processes the most appropriate means of measuring the performance of the objectives? / If no, indicate future actions.
Can the monitoring of the planning scheme be improved? / If yes, indicate future actions.

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