Taking place at Westbury Town Hall, the workshop will run from 10am to 3pm on September 6 and is open to all residents, builders, architects, consultants or planners who have recently interacted with the services department. 

Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins said the session had been designed to help council improve its delivery of regulatory services such as planning scheme implementations, plumbing and building approvals, environmental health and general inspections.

“It's the area that can be the most challenging for councils and it's the area that you can end up with lesser levels of satisfaction because at times council officers have to say ‘no’,” Cr Perkins said. 

“What we want to make sure is that as a council we continue to improve the way we help people through those processes, which can be complex and confusing. 

“Most people only go through them once or twice in their lifetime - if they’re building a house for example.”

Cr Perkins said the workshop was not about changing laws or regulations, but assessing how council’s delivery of services could be improved. 

“We want to hear people's stories, so anyone who’s engaged or interacted with (the department) at some point in time, here's a chance for people to come forward and say 'this is what we'd like to see improved’ or ‘this is what we find challenging’. 

“There'll be some things we'll be able to change and some things we can't change, but let's have a look at it and see if we can (improve the system).”

Recommendations and insights made at the workshop will help shape a draft document outlining a strategy for council’s future delivery of development services.

The draft, which is expected to be completed by the end of September, will then be opened up for public comment before being adopted by council.

For more information or to RSVP to the workshop, contact council's development services director on 63935323.