A council that goes about building its community through empowering it and assisting it will look more attractive locally and derive more benefits locally.

• It helps empower local community groups, strengthening their voice and standing, as well as having them less dependent on the council as a primary source of assistance.

• This is financially good for the council – who can look to use the money in other proactive ways or on other services.

• It is also good for the community group, as it can become more self-sufficient and self-reliant, without having to fall back onto council funding.

• It helps the community – and particularly community groups and their members – to become empowered. Because of this empowerment, and the knowledge gained, it means the community has more of a chance to find creative and worthwhile solutions to problems or issues that may be raised.

• It improves the community’s perceptions of the council, and raises the council’s profile across a wider area.

• It shows the council as willing to encourage and help business and community groups, and foster constructive relationships that may have a positive impact on the lives of residents in the wider community.

• It shows the council as a body that is receptive to ideas and creative partnerships.

• It can also increase the profile of the council through “good news” stories of successful partnerships. That profile boost could occur not only locally, but with other councils and possibly even across the state!

• It encourages business to seek out further Community Business Partnerships if they know the council is supportive in attitude and understands the concept encourages businesses to take part.

• Be it through awards, good press or mentions in council publications or through other means.

More benefits of a council information can be found here.