Conference Programme

POLICY SEMINAR

“THE IMPLICATIONS OF COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR POLICY-MAKING IN BOTH CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND”

THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2007 IN THE ARMAGH CITY HOTEL, ARMAGH

PROGRAMME

09.00    Registration and Tea/Coffee
09.30    Welcome and Introductions
           Chair’s Opening Remarks
Chair:  Mr Tom McCall, Clerk and Chief Executive, Newry and Mourne District Council

Theme 1:  BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

09.40    Community Planning: Key features  
  • What is it?
  • What are its distinguishing features?
  • Why is it important
  • What does it mean at the local level
Speaker:  Brian Cavanagh, former Chair of Social Work, Edinburgh City Council and former Chair of Lothian and Borders Health Board.

Theme 2:  DEVELOPMENTS AND PRACTICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

10.00    An update and overview of recent developments in community planning
  • Update on current progress in terms of legislation
  • Follow-up to Local Government Taskforce Sub-Group on community planning.  
  • Pilot initiatives
  • Looking to the future; what needs to be done
  • What questions remain still to be answered
  • What actions are necessary to ensure successful community planning
  • What role for current partnerships and the wider voluntary and community sector.
  • What should individual partnerships be doing to prepare?
Speaker:  Ian Maye, Director, Local Government, DoE
10.20    The role of citizen surveys: A case study from Armagh
  • Background
  • Progress to date
  • Lessons arising
Speaker:  Sharon O’Gorman, Armagh City and Borough Council
10.35    Omagh District Council: Community Development Plan  
  • Background
  • Progress to date
  • Lessons arising
Speaker:  Alison McCullagh, Omagh District Council
10.50    Panel Discussion
11.10    BREAK
           Tea and Coffee

Theme 3:  COMMUNITY PLANNING: EXPERIENCE FROM ELSEWHERE  

11.30    Comparative analyses of community planning in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Speaker:  Norma Hurley, Blake Stevenson Ltd, Consultants
11.50    Community Planning: Perspectives from Dumfries and Galloway  
  • Issues concerning leadership, strategy and governance  
Speaker:  Liz Manson, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
12.05    Evaluation of Community Planning in Scotland: evidence from Audit Scotland
  • Key findings of Audit Scotland report.
  • Lessons arising
Speaker:  Miranda Alcock, Audit Scotland.
12.25The experience of community planning in the Scottish Borders  
  • What has been the experience to date of community planning in the Scottish Borders?
  • What has worked and why?
  • What have been the real problems in implementation?  
  • What challenges remain / Lessons for NI
Speaker:  Sarah Glendinning, Scottish Borders Council  
12.40    Panel Discussion
13.00    LUNCH

Theme 4:  COMMUNITY PLANNING: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

14.00    Reflections on Community Planning and sustainable development
Speaker:  Waheed Saleem, Commissioner for Education and Young People, Sustainable Development Commission.
14.20    Community Planning and Health  
  • What values are inherent in community planning which are relevant to efforts to address heath inequalities?
  • How can heath inequalities be addressed using a community development approach?
  • What are the implications in terms of both processes and structures?
  • How can policy makers be persuaded of the community development approach?
Speaker:  Barbary Cook, Director, Community Development and Health Network.
14.40    Community Planning and Children’s Services: The experience of Fife Council
  • Integrating Children’s services in a Community Planning context
  • Changing working practices and behaviours
  • Lessons learned from the process to date
Speaker: Eric Byiers, Strategic Manager, Fife Council.  
15.00    Panel Discussion
15.20    Chair’s Closing Remarks
15.30    Close