Steering/Advisory committees are suited to overseeing developing projects, issues or long-term and targeted strategies.

Facilitation or chairing skills are very important. Third-party facilitation may help if the issue or process is particularly contentious.

Steering committee members will have some sort of stake in the issue or process being discussed or developed. It is important that the key power brokers are involved, otherwise they risk becoming vocal outsiders to this process.

Advisory committee members may have a specific skill set or knowledge-base relevant to the emerging strategy or policy.

Potential committee members are often interviewed before selection by the convening body. Special needs of committee members will be canvassed at this time, which will include preference for venue and meeting times. Other needs, such as access requirements to venues and childcare assistance, may be relevant.

Depending on the issue, participants should receive draft Terms of Reference for the committee, detailed reports and background information on the issue; have access to any visual or audio-visual information which is relevant and details of key contacts or staff members to contact regarding their involvement.

They should also have a clear understanding of what their involvement might mean in terms of time required and anticipated input.

• Depending on the issue, meeting times and frequency will vary. For example, the development of a positioning policy such as a drugs strategy will require monthly meetings, whereas committees convened around land use planning decisions may require more frequent contact.
• Terms of Reference are often circulated in draft form for agreement at the first meeting of the committee. These will typically contain information on the scope, role and responsibilities of the committee and timelines, where appropriate.
• As well as agreed terms of reference, other protocols may be determined at the outset of the meeting. These could relate to respecting the views of others and other housekeeping matters. This theme of agreeing on key points of the process is important in ensuring committee members move forward together.
• The committee will work towards its task, as identified in the Terms of reference. It will often work with consultants or staff members, who may present information to inform committee discussions.
• A willingness to compromise and a commitment to the process are often key features of a successful committee. It is important that members representing broader stakeholders communicate with their constituencies.
• Generally, steering/advisory committee members will be resourced by local government staff and will receive agendas and minutes prior to any designated meetings. Accurate reporting of proceedings is important.

• The process is concluded with the completion of the policy or strategy or a decision made on a land use planning issue. This might include a set of actions, a formal report or recommendations to council.

• Provides detailed analyses of project issues.
• Participants gain an understanding of other perspectives, leading towards compromise.

• General public may not embrace committee's recommendations.
• Members may not achieve consensus.
• Sponsors must accept the need for 'give and take'.
• Time and labour intensive.

Depending on its duration, this can be a resource-intensive process in relation to staff time, use of consultants and venue hire.

• One-to-one interviews
• Surveys
• Weekly committee meetings

The target group was people aged between 12 and 24, who may not usually get involved in such a project. A school-based welfare worker helped select the initial group of young people that formed the Streets of Harmony Committee and has been involved in the development of a mapping and scoping exercise. The committee developed a survey and undertook consultation with community groups, businesses and other young people within the shire. About 20 young people have been involved in the committee and there are currently eight committee members who meet weekly. The numbers fluctuate slightly due to study, employment and sporting commitments. Training has and will continue to be provided to give the young people the skills they need to complete the project. The Streets of Harmony Committee is still meeting regularly to implement the recommendations from the consultation.

From council's perspective, the consultation has been successful. It has given young people an opportunity to identify issues that are important to them and has produced a database of youth programs which outlines their cost, where they are, who runs them, the amount of youth involvement, availability, and the possibility of further youth involvement. The youth committee has used this database to recommend issues and projects to focus on. The participants had a strong dedication to the project and a sense of ownership about the programs to be implemented from their recommendations.

An important lesson was to identify and use the participants' existing skills and allow them to develop new ones. As the project progresses, the participants' confidence and abilities increased.