Grey County municipalities exploring shared services model for planning

Ontario Construction News staff writer

All nine Grey County member municipalities met in August to discuss a potential shared services model for the delivery of planning services.

The following municipalities are participating:

Township of Georgian Bluffs, the City of Owen Sound, the Municipality of Meaford, the Town of The Blue Mountains, the Township of Chatsworth, the Municipality of Grey Highlands, the Municipality of West Grey, the Town of Hanover and the Township of Southgate.

The proposed service model would see local planning staff join a reorganized Grey County planning department. Local municipal decision-making authority would be unchanged and operational efficiencies would be expected at the administrative level.

Grey County and local municipal councils are reviewing the shared-service model for a few reasons:

• There have been several changes to provincial planning legislation changes in recent years.
• Staff have been engaging with developers and collecting feedback to understand their needs and challenges.
• Grey County and local municipalities have an ongoing goal of optimizing service delivery for all parties involved in supporting the development of new homes and new or expanded businesses.

Loal councils and staff will now discuss challenges and opportunities of a shared services model.

An evaluation report is expected to be presented to Grey County Council and local municipal councils before the end of the year.