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Iclrd pres regional-assemblies-8may13(overview)
The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) is a cross-border, cross-disciplinary network that aims to build strategic planning capacity on the island of Ireland through research, collaboration, and training. It works to address information deficits and the policy-practice divide in spatial planning and local/regional development. The ICLRD conducts applied research, fosters collaboration among stakeholders, advises policymakers, and provides executive training programs nationally and internationally. It has helped facilitate cooperation agreements between councils north and south, and its current CroSPlaN II project focuses on increasing cross-border cooperation through shared services, training, and evidence-based planning.
Iclrd pres regional-assemblies-8may13(overview)
- 1. International Centre forLocal and Regional Development Caroline Creamer, Researcher, NIRSA, NUI Maynooth (Deputy Director, ICLRD) Presentation to the Regional Assemblies 8th May 2013, NUI Maynooth The ICLRD: Promoting All-Island, Regional, Local and Cross- Border Collaboration in Spatial Planning
- 2. 1. The ICLRD •Dynamic and decentralised network - cross-border, cross-campus, cross-disciplinary • Working together since 2003; Legally incorporated in 2006 • An all-island platform - independent, expert, joined-up research - capacity building on spatial planning & local and regional development - bridging information deficits. • Aims to build strategic planning capacity through: - fundamental and applied research - fostering collaboration among key stakeholders - advising policy-makers and practitioners - training public/private sector practitioners in good practice – nationally & internationally 4 Partner Institutes + Associates
- 3. 2. Research: Respondingto the Policy- Practice Divide
- 4. 2. Research: AnAll-Island Focus • Commissioned by InterTradeIreland • Led to development of Cooperation Framework by DRD and DoECLG (currently in draft) • Environment identified as a core area for enhanced cooperation, N & S
- 5. 2. Research: ACross-Border Agenda • Considers the implications of the proposed governance and spatial planning reforms in both jurisdictions on future collaboration • Published 2010 : pre-’Putting People First’ • Yet, opportunities and challenges identified still stand - greater alignment of functions at local government level ....opportunities to enhance cooperation - need to embrace the movement of people, goods and services across the border...in fact, take steps to make more fluid - achieving efficiency agendas....but shouldn’t be the only driver of reform!
- 6. 2. Research: TheInternational Dimension • Elbe International River Basin District & Connecticut River Basin • Using regulatory and non-regulatory measures to integrate water quality improvements with regional land-use plans - importance of negotiation and engagement....not just compliance - convergence of interests around shared asset
- 7. 2. Research toAction: Strategic Alliance between Newry & Mourne District Council & Louth Authorities The sustained engagement through joint-studies, workshops, training and engaging policy and technical expertise led to a MOU for Cooperation in March 2011. 20062006 20092009 20102010 20112011
- 8. 3. Executive Training& Animation Programme • A Real Need! ... Must always be the starting point • Training recognised as integral element of the package of services on offer - With emphasis on ‘part of’.....not stand alone! • Recognition that interventions required at various scales of government ...and other sectors - Reform packages in both jurisdictions demanding a new way of working, and - Increased capacity...recognition of the need to do more with less! Do you ever feel like this?
- 9. 4. ICLRD’s Modelsof Executive Training • Adjacency of Councils - Newry & Mourne with Louth Local Authorities • Sub-Regional Agglomeration - Northwest Gateway • Council Clusters - ICBAN (grouping 10 councils) With further models being developed under new funding programme, CroSPlaN II.....
- 10. 4. CroSPlaN II:An Overview • A 24 month project - 1st February 2013 to 31st January 2015 • Part of wider Centre for Cross Border Studies (CCBS) Project - Ireland-Northern Ireland Cross-Border Cooperation Observatory (INICCO II) • Initiative aimed at increasing and strengthening cross-border cooperation and responding to need for sustained support to territorial cooperation in Irish border region • Three key elements: - Shared Services Programme - Executive Training and Animation Programme - Evidence-Based Planning (incl. data analysis and mapping) • Total Budget of Stg£388,435.76
- 11. 4. Other Aspectsof ICLRD’s Work • Partnering with like-minded organisations • Networking – facilitating and nurturing connections - North West Partnership Board (Derry & Donegal) - Armagh & Monaghan Councils – developing an MOU - Ongoing support to Newry/Mourne & Louth Local Authorities on MOU -Supporting the three cross-border networks • Hosting of conferences, seminars and technical workshops • Briefing Paper Series • Annual Journal: Borderlands: The Journal of SpatialPlanning in Ireland - Always looking for contributors!
- 12. 5. Future WorkProgrammes • Sustainable Development (incl. environment) - Resilient Communities - Local Government: The REAL Cost of Decisions Made - Shared Services - Aligning Spatial Planning Policy with IRBDs Measures • Spatial Planning - Developing Cross-Border Town Plan - Planning for Kids - All Island / All Active • Evidence-Informed Planning - CroSPlaN II: All-Island Digital Atlas and All-Island Deprivation Index • Networking / Soft Supports to Local and Regional Government • Tailored Executive Training / Animation
- 13.
Editor's Notes
- #3 The ICLRD.... A network of academic and research institutions located in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the U.S....and to which NIRSA was a founding member. ICLRD works to an all-island and cross-border development agenda; and we engage in a wide range of activities – including research, technical assistance and the development and roll-out of executive training programmes --- all of which have an emphasis on spatial planning and balanced development.
- #4 A critical aspect of technical cooperation is research....research that bridges the policy-practice divide and explores the challenges and opportunities for cooperation in specific sectors and in turn leads to action. To this end, organisations such as the ICLRD have been to the core is carrying out research which supports joined-up thinking and action in the Irish border region – and in an all-island context. Topics include: the preparation of cooperative frameworks; the inter-relationships between border towns and villages; the delineation of urban functional areas; opportunities for cooperation in health and education, and shared services in local government; and the challenges of integrating river basin management policy with spatial planning.
- #5 Commissioned by Inter Trade Ireland (2006) Considered options for advancing a more collaborative and strategic approach to planning and infrastructure investment across the Island Led to development of ‘All-Island Cooperation Framework’ by DRD and DoECLG (currently in draft) Environment identified as a core area for enhanced cooperation, N & S
- #6 All Change But Any Alignment? The Impact of the Proposed Governance and Planning Reforms Across the Island of Ireland on Inter-Jurisdictional Planning . Published at the end of June 2010, this report considers the implications of the proposed governance and spatial planning reforms in both jurisdictions on future collaboration. Traces the history of the proposed reforms in both jurisdictions from their point of origin to their current state of play (as of time of publication).... Review of Public Administration (RPA), and the planning and governance reforms proposed for the Republic of Ireland under the Planning and Development Bill 2009 and the Green Paper on Local Government Reform. Report captures many of the opportunities and challenges associated with the reform of governance and planning systems. E.g.: it notes that scope exists for greater engagement on spatial planning issues either side of the border; and that the extent to which this can happen is dependent on the nature and form of governance structures and systems in place It argues that planning policy in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland must recognise, and indeed embrace, the movement of people, goods and services across the Irish border so as to ensure the vitality of the island’s economy and, in the current climate, drive forward an efficiency agency Sounding a note of caution, however, it warns that the achievement of economies of scale should not be the only reason used to ‘sell’ any reform process.
- #7 International dimension to ICLRD’s research programme.....examples of good practice from which the island of Ireland can draw In case of IRBDs, looked to Elbe International River Basin District & Connecticut River Basin Both use regulatory and non-regulatory measures to integrate water quality improvements with regional land-use plans - importance of negotiation and engagement....not just compliance - convergence of interests around a shared asset Perspectives to bear in mind as move into new preparation phase for new RBD plans (post-2015)
- #8 A quick example of how we bring these various strands together into comprehensive work programmes resulting in real change..... Through research and workshops – together with executive training – this has led to positive collaborative action between the neighbouring cross-border councils of Newry/Mourne (in the North) and Louth (in the South)... Since 2007, we worked very closely with these councils --- the emphasis of this work being on determining how they could most effectively and efficiently come together so as to share resources and build on the opportunities that existed in this sub-region. Out of this, a formal Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the councils in 2011 – thus giving the councils the backing they need to work together on renewable energy / green technology; tourism and recreation; sustainable economic growth and job creation; and emergency planning.
- #9 For past three years, ICLD has moved into the space of providing executive training and animation programmes... Why enter this space? Increasingly, key actors in the fields of spatial planning and governance recognise that they must be creative and, as such, utilise their resources to the maximum so as to meet the needs of their communities in terms of delivery of services. This necessitates the establishment of multi-disciplinary teams to ensure an holistic and integrated approach is adopted...and to do this properly...this means Training ..... Or..... Retraining! The ICLRD recognises that such interventions are required at various scales across local and regional government, the community sector and indeed, the business sector.... understanding that the ongoing and proposed reforms in governance and spatial planning in both jurisdictions demands a new way of working, heightened capacity within organisations to deliver the same level and quality of service but often with less staff and resources ....and as such have to do more with less!
- #10 The ICLRD have, to date, tested three different models of Executive Training Firstly, the Adjacency Model …..working with two neighbouring cross-border councils on the issues and opportunities they are grappling with…..this model was developed with Newry & Mourne District council and Louth Local Authorities Secondly, the Sub-Regional Agglomeration Model ….working with a small grouping of neighbouring cross-border councils ….again on issues that are topical to them at that point in time….this model having been developed with the councils that constitute the North West gateway And finally, the Council Cluster Model ….working with a regional network of cross-border councils on the challenges and opportunities that the diversity within such a large region brings to the table…..this model developed with the ten cross-border councils that make up the Irish Central Border Area Network – or ICBAN – Region.
- #11 So what is involved in our new funding programme, CroSPlaN II...... CroSPlaN II is a 24month project. As with our previous funding, CroSPlaN II is one element of a wider application put together by the Centre for Cross Border Studies – albeit a significant part of that application. The overall objective of INICCO II is to address key information and data gaps which are barriers to cross-border cooperation, cross-border mobility and the delivery of public services in the cross-border region...and to develop and maximise the potential of new tools to support cross-border cooperation in the region. CroSPlaN II very much sits with and supports this objective. There are three key elements to CroSPlaN II: A shared services programme Executive Training and Animation Programme (building on CroSPlaN I, a programme of executive training and animation/capacity building supporting the government reform agendas in both jurisdictions) Evidence-Based Planning (incl. mapping and analysis of Census 2011 in both jurisdictions – and the production of an on-line and hard copy all-island atlas with commentary)....in collaboration with AIRO
- #12 Increasingly partnering with like-minded organisations to carry out research / hold events.....partnership is the future in challenging funding environment....plus it is just good common sense (e.g. Co-operation Ireland, IBIS, etc.) Networking – facilitating and nurturing connections; committing time and resources to building relationships Hosting of conferences, seminars and technical workshops Briefing Paper Series Annual Journal: Borderlands: The Journal of Spatial Planning in Ireland - Always looking for contributors!
- #13 ICLRD’s future work programme (funding permitting!) ....under four very closely related headings includes: Sustainable Development - Resilient Communities (border communities....post-troubles work –’Fostering Mutual Benefits’...and now, mid-austerity) - Local Government: The REAL cost of Decisions Made (for elected and council officials, understanding the real cost implications of policies made / planning decisions, etc. - Shared Services (sharing of specialised services / staff; buildings; equipment; etc.) - Aligning Spatial Planning Policy with IRBDs Measures Spatial Planning - Developing Cross-Border Town Plan (in association with Border Regional Authority) - Planning for Kids (part of age-friendly agenda...role of children in planning process) - All Island / All Active – led by UCC and UU ....role of build environment in our health and well-being Evidence-Informed Planning - CroSPlaN II: All-Island Digital Atlas and All-Island Deprivation Index Networking / Soft Supports to Local and Regional Government - includes on-going supports to the Newry/Mourne and Louth Councils on their MOU - support to NWPB in NW and development of priority action plan for future collaboration - working with Monaghan and Armagh councils to develop MOU - supports to Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) in translating their Regional Vision Plan into ‘ on the ground’ programmes Executive Training / Animation - Government and Planning Reform Agendas, North and South - Aligning spatial planning policy with IRBD measures - Shared Services
- #14 .