Proposal for the Establishment of a Council of Planning

By Kavita Dehalwar

Effective planning is essential to ensure the sustainable development, efficient use of resources, and coordinated decision-making within our organization/community. At present, planning activities are fragmented across different units, leading to overlaps, gaps, and missed opportunities. To address this, it is proposed that a Council of Planning be established as a central coordinating body to guide, oversee, and harmonize planning processes.

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2. Purpose of the Council

The Council of Planning will serve as a strategic advisory and coordinating body. Its purpose is to:

  • Provide a structured forum for long-term and short-term planning.
  • Ensure alignment of departmental/sectoral plans with overall organizational or community goals.
  • Promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the use of resources.
  • Facilitate collaboration between stakeholders, avoiding duplication of efforts.
  • Anticipate future challenges and propose proactive strategies.

3. Objectives

The Council of Planning will:

  1. Develop and periodically review a comprehensive planning framework.
  2. Advise leadership on policy priorities and strategic directions.
  3. Oversee the integration of financial, physical, and human resource planning.
  4. Recommend best practices for sustainable development and innovation.
  5. Monitor the implementation of approved plans and provide progress reports.

4. Composition

The Council shall consist of representatives drawn from relevant sectors, departments, and stakeholder groups, including but not limited to:

  • Senior leadership/management representatives
  • Heads of key departments (finance, infrastructure, environment, social development, etc.)
  • Technical experts and planners
  • Representatives of community/stakeholder groups (where applicable)

A Chairperson will be appointed/elected to preside over meetings, and a Secretariat will be established to provide administrative support.

5. Functions and Responsibilities

The Council will:

  • Convene regular meetings to deliberate on planning matters.
  • Prepare a consolidated planning document for submission to leadership/authorities.
  • Establish thematic working groups (e.g., infrastructure, social services, environment, technology).
  • Provide recommendations to resolve conflicts in planning priorities.
  • Promote stakeholder engagement and participatory planning.

6. Governance and Decision-Making

  • Decisions of the Council shall be made through consensus where possible, or by simple majority vote.
  • The Council will submit its recommendations to the leadership/board for approval and implementation.
  • A code of conduct and terms of reference will be developed to guide the Council’s work.

7. Expected Outcomes

  • Streamlined, coordinated, and inclusive planning processes.
  • Increased efficiency in resource allocation.
  • Stronger alignment of plans with long-term strategic goals.
  • Enhanced stakeholder confidence and transparency.
  • More resilient and adaptive organizational/community development.

8. Implementation Plan

  • Phase 1: Approval of the proposal and endorsement by leadership.
  • Phase 2: Appointment of Council members and establishment of Secretariat.
  • Phase 3: Development of terms of reference and planning framework.
  • Phase 4: First Council meeting and preparation of initial consolidated plan.

9. Conclusion

The establishment of a Council of Planning will provide a vital platform for integrated, participatory, and forward-looking decision-making. By creating this body, we will strengthen our capacity to meet present needs and anticipate future challenges, ensuring sustainable growth and development.

References

Council, L. C., & Gold, J. R. (2015). The planning of a new town. Routledge.

Rosen, G., & Avni, N. (2023). Negotiating urban redevelopment: Exploring the neighborhood council planning model. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 43(2), 416-427.

Sharma, S. N., & Dehalwar, K. (2023). Council of Planning for Promoting Planning Education and Planning Professionals. Journal of Planning Education & Research, 43(4).

Sharma, S. N., Dehalwar, K., Kumar, G., & Vyas, S. (2023). Redefining peri-urban urban areas. Thematics Journal of Geography, 12(3), 7-13.

Sharma, S. N. (2013). Sustainable development strategies and approaches. International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR), 2.

Sharma, S. N. (2019). Review of most used urban growth models. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), 10(3), 397-405.

Tewdwr-Jones, M. (1998). Rural government and community participation: The planning role of community councils. Journal of Rural Studies, 14(1), 51-62.