Local Government, local development and citizen participation

DRAFT 16/11/00 LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION LESSONS FROM IRELAND Jeanne Meldon, Jim Walsh and Michael Kenny 1 1. In oduc ion........................................................................................................................................3 The alue and pu pose o pa icipa ion..........................................................................................3 De ining Pa icipa ion.....................................................................................................................3 Repo S uc u e...............................................................................................................................4 2. The Local Go e nmen Sys em: an o e iew....................................................................................5 Local Go e nmen s uc u es..........................................................................................................5 The ole o elec ed membe s...........................................................................................................5 The ci izen and Local Go e nmen .................................................................................................6 In oduc ion ....................................................................................................................................6 Ci izens and Planning.....................................................................................................................6 Case s udy.......................................................................................................................................6 3. Ci izen Pa icipa ion and Local Go e nance....................................................................................9 Local De elopmen S uc u es.........................................................................................................9 In oduc ion ....................................................................................................................................9 Pa ne ship and pa icipa ion..........................................................................................................9 A ea Pa ne ships..........................................................................................................................10 Case-s udy ....................................................................................................................................10 LEADER ......................................................................................................................................11 Case-s udY....................................................................................................................................12 4. The Re o m O Local Go e nmen - enhancing ci izen pa icipa ion............................................14 In oduc ion.....................................................................................................................................14 A new model o Local Go e nance..............................................................................................14 S a egic Policy Commi ees.........................................................................................................15 Coun y De elopmen Boa ds........................................................................................................15 Ci izen pa icipa ion on SPCs and CDBs .....................................................................................17 Case-s udies..................................................................................................................................18 Facili a ing Ci izen Pa icipa ion..................................................................................................21 Be e Deli e y o Local Go e nmen Se ices............................................................................21 In oduc ion ..................................................................................................................................21 Case S udy....................................................................................................................................22 5. Local Au ho i y Ini ia i es...............................................................................................................24 In oduc ion.....................................................................................................................................24 Local U ban and Ru al De elopmen ...........................................................................................24 Town and illage enewal.............................................................................................................24 Case-s udy ....................................................................................................................................24 In eg a ed en i onmen al managemen – Pa ne ship app oaches...........................................25 Local Agenda 21...........................................................................................................................25 Case-s udies..................................................................................................................................25 6. P omo ing Ci izen pa icipa ion.......................................................................................................29 Lessons lea ned...............................................................................................................................29 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 31 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1The pu pose o his epo is o p o ide a guide o ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and go e nance in I eland as an aid o os e ing bes p ac ice in local de elopmen . The emi o he local go e nmen sys em in I eland is o deli e a ange o se ices o he communi y ha i se es, h ough a democ a ic sys em o locally elec ed councillo s. Howe e i is inc easingly ecognised ha de elopmen is a mul i-dimensional p ocess inco po a ing quali y o li e objec i es, which can only be success ully deli e ed h ough di ec pa icipa i e go e nance and c oss-sec o al pa ne ships. The guide will discuss ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and go e nance in I eland h ough he use o case s udies and examples, se wi hin he con ex o an unde s anding o he concep o pa icipa ion. THE VALUE AND PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATION The issue o pa icipa ion, o he lack o i , has ound i s way on o na ional and in e na ional agendas. In many pa s o he wo ld, in e es in esea ch and de elopmen in o pa icipa o y de elopmen app oaches is inc easing. I is now accep ed ha ci izen pa icipa ion in local de elopmen is he key o he equali y, inclusi eness and sus ainabili y o de elopmen . DEFINING PARTICIPATION I is impossible o es ablish a uni e sal de ini ion o pa icipa ion. An unde s anding o he concep is o en assumed; in p ac ice, de elopmen ac ions a e o en based on di e ing pe cep ions o pa icipa ion and di e en pe cep ions o he le el and quali y o pa icipa ion being sough , pa ly because o he lack o expe ience o e ec i e pa icipa ion p ac ice. The li e a u e gi es a se ies o de ini ions o pa icipa ion anging om “ oken in ol emen o people”, o, “au onomous decision making by popula o ganiza ions a local le el” A i s mos basic, pa icipa ion is " o ake pa " - his is e y simplis ic and implies ha e e yone is pa icipa ing a some le el in e e y ac ion. I we a e o unde s and pa icipa ion we need o explo e beyond " aking pa " and look o o he commen a o s who ha e explo ed he ex en and na u e o which people “ ake pa ”. Pla (1996) e e s o he h ee ypes o pa icipa ion o local communi ies and indi iduals. These a e: - Physical pa icipa ion - being p esen , using one's skills and e o s; - Men al pa icipa ion - concep ualising he ac i i y, decision-making, o ganiza ion and managemen ; - Emo ional pa icipa ion - assuming esponsibili y, powe and au ho i y Pa icipa ion can be op-down o bo om- up, uni o m o di e se, simple o complex, s a ic o dynamic, con ollable o uncon ollable, p edic able o unp edic able. By in oducing p o essionals, con ols, bu eauc acy and sys ems, pa icipa ion can loose i s spon anei y, i s lexibili y and i s 1 3 use ulness. An accu a e de ini ion o pa icipa ion needs o accommoda e he complexi y inhe en in pa icipa ion and he powe ela ionships ha enable o hinde pa icipa ion. Re e sing powe is he key o pa icipa ion. "Pu ing people i s in de elopmen p ojec s is no jus abou o ganizing people bu i means empowe ing hem o be social ac o s a he han passi e subjec s and ake con ol o e he ac i i ies ha a ec hei li es." (Ce nea 1985). Pa icipa ion is gene ally conside ed a co e alue in communi y de elopmen . While communi y de elopmen has o a long ime been ecognized as a bene icial p ocess, he impo ance o pa icipa ion wi hin communi y de elopmen has been inadequa ely s essed. This is pa ly due o he lack o a clea in e p e a ion o de elopmen , and, he e o e, o he key cons i uen s o e ec i e de elopmen . The need o a new pa adigm o add ess his de iciency was highligh ed by he UNDP in i s Human De elopmen Repo , 1994. The UNDP's pa adigm: "Pu s people a he cen e o de elopmen ; Rega ds economic g ow h as a means and no an end; P o ec s he li e oppo uni ies o u u e gene a ions as well as he p esen gene a ions". The "Thi d Sec o " has been e e ed o as he inno a o o pa icipa o y esea ch and de elopmen . Thi d Wo ld de elopmen app oaches ha e long ecognised he cen ali y o pa icipa ion no only as a de elopmen s a egy bu also as a de elopmen objec i e. Howe e , in ou “de eloped” socie ies we ha e no accep ed he impo ance o pa icipa ion o he same ex en un il now. Acco ding o one expe in he ield o communi y de elopmen , “The e is a undamen al ede ini ion occu ing in I ish socie y...a new ision o he u u e...happening a he inges o I ish socie y a he han a i 's cen e...a he bo om a he han a he op...mo e likely o be ound in communi y g oups a he han in uni e si ies; amongs women han amongs men and amongs olun a y g oups a he han in s a e bodies" (Collins quo ed in Reynolds and Healy, 1993, p 103). This shi is being pushed by he empowe men o ci izens h ough local de elopmen ini ia i es, he gene al inc ease in awa eness and he g ow h in communi y based app oaches o de elopmen which e lec s he ailu e o 'con en ional se ices' o sol e p oblems. The wo k unde aken in local de elopmen in I eland has p o ided a labo a o y o expe imen wi h a ying p ocesses o pa icipa ion. Howe e , li le, i any, c i ically e lec i e ene gy has up o now been in es ed in iden i ying he models o good p ac ice. As I eland mo es apidly in o pos mode nism wi h he in oduc ion o new “in eg a ed and inclusi e” s uc u es o local de elopmen planning and managemen , we may see he dawn o a new highly pa icipa i e socie y. REPORT STRUCTURE This epo will p esen an o e iew o local go e nmen and go e nance in I eland wi h an emphasis on ci izen pa icipa ion and models o good p ac ice. Local Go e nmen s uc u es oge he wi h mechanisms o pa icipa ion a e ou lined in Sec ion 2. The local au ho i y sys em p o ides a amewo k o deli e y o a ange o se ices anging om housing h ough o was e managemen . The eme gence o local de elopmen s uc u es ou side o he local go e nmen sys em, summa ised in Sec ion 3, has illus a ed he necessi y o di ec ci izen engagemen in he de elopmen p ocess. Cen al go e nmen has esponded o he challenge wi h a e o m o local go e nmen designed o enhance pa icipa o y democ acy (Sec ion 4) and by suppo ing a ea-based local de elopmen p og ammes (Sec ion 5). In addi ion a numbe o local au ho i ies ha e become p o-ac i ely in ol ed in championing local ini ia i es ha a e p ima ily p ocess o ien ed. Some examples a e included in Sec ion 5. Lessons lea ned a e explo ed in Sec ion 6. 4 2. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES The Local Go e nmen sys em in I eland includes he local au ho i ies and he egional au ho i ies. The elec ed local au ho i ies a e he coun y councils (29), he i e coun y bo ough co po a ions ( ep esen ing he la ge u ban cen es), i e bo ough co po a ions, u ban dis ic councils (49) and boa ds o own commissione s (30). The membe s o hese au ho i ies a e elec ed by a sys em o p opo ional ep esen a ion, wi h elec ions aking place e e y i e yea s. Each cons i uency is sub-di ided in o a numbe o local a eas om wi hin which candida es a e elec ed o si on he council. The membe ship o coun y councils and coun y bo oughs anges om i een o i y- wo. Bo ough councils ha e 12 membe s and u ban dis ic councils and boa ds o own commissione s ha e nine membe s. The coun y councils and coun y bo oughs a e he p incipal agen s o public adminis a ion wi h a lesse ange o unc ions coming wi hin he ambi o he o he bodies. Town Commissione s ha e a mo e limi ed ange o unc ions han he o he au ho i ies. The p incipal se ices p o ided by he local au ho i ies comp ise: • Housing and building • Road anspo a ion and sa e y • Wa e supply and sewe age • De elopmen incen i es and con ols including planning • En i onmen al p o ec ion • Rec ea ion and ameni ies • Ag icul u e, educa ion, heal h and wel a e • Miscellaneous se ices Compa ed o o he Eu opean s a es, he I ish local go e nmen sys em is ela i ely weak wi h a mo e limi ed ange o unc ions and powe s. Local au ho i ies ha e no ole in policing, public anspo o pe sonal social se ices. Powe s in espec o educa ion, heal h and ag icul u e ha e been se e ely cons ained (Local au ho i ies adminis e highe educa ion g an s; coun y oca ional educa ion commi ees do no come wi hin he ci y and coun y managemen sys em). The only social unc ion is in espec o housing. THE ROLE OF ELECTED MEMBERS The unc ions o local au ho i ies a e di ided in o execu i e and ese ed unc ions. The ese ed unc ions a e pe o med di ec ly by he elec ed membe s and comp ise majo ma e s o policy and p inciple. Such unc ions include he adop ion o annual es ima es, bo owing o money; he making o de elopmen plans; making, amending o e oking bye-laws; b inging enac men in o o ce and 5 nomina ing pe sons o ac on o he public bodies. Any unc ion ha is no a ese ed unc ion is he esponsibili y o he execu i e. The policy ole o he elec ed membe s has no been ully ealised, pa ly due o he lack o adequa e suppo sys ems. THE CITIZEN AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION S uc u es o pa icipa ion in local go e nmen a e in a s a e o lux in I eland wi h he ecen es ablishmen o S a egic Policy Commi ees and Coun y De elopmen Boa ds. These s uc u es a e examined in mo e de ail in Sec ion 3 below. In addi ion, in ecen yea s local au ho i ies ha e been in ol ed in an inc easing numbe o ini ia i es in ol ing ci izen pa icipa ion in he deli e y o se ices (see Sec ion 4). His o ically, apa om ep esen a ion h ough he democ a ic p ocess, ci izens ha e pa icipa ed di ec ly in local go e nmen h ough a limi ed numbe o commi ees and h ough he planning p ocess. CITIZENS AND PLANNING Planning is a signi ican unc ion o he local au ho i y. Day- o-day planning decisions on indi idual planning applica ions a e an execu i e unc ion while he adop ion o De elopmen Plans is a ese ed unc ion. Unde cu en legisla ion and s uc u es a d a De elopmen Plan is p epa ed by he Council Execu i e and is pu be o e he Elec ed Membe s. The D a is adop ed and pu on public display o h ee mon hs, p io o i s inal a i ica ion 2 by he Council. Oppo uni y o public pa icipa ion is la gely limi ed o eac ion o he d a Plan. Such in ol emen may be e med passi e consul a ion. The e ms o a new Planning Ac (2000) enhance he scope and ange o pa icipa ion o ci izens in he planning p ocess. The e is now a s a u o y obliga ion on he Planning Au ho i y o ad e ise i s in en ion o p epa e a d a plan and o in i e commen s and submissions. Indi iduals o communi y g oups o o ganisa ions also ha e a igh o make submissions on planning applica ions. Unde he new Planning Ac (2000), he manage is equi ed o ake in o accoun any objec ions lodged on planning applica ions whe eas p e iously hey may o may no ha e been aken in o accoun by he planning au ho i y. Despi e he limi a ions inhe en in he cu en sys em he e a e some examples whe e ci izen pa icipa ion has ex ended beyond he scope o he egula o y amewo k hus poin ing o oppo uni ies o de eloping models o good p ac ice o ac i e in ol emen in he planning p ocess. CASE STUDY CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AREA PLANNING IN COUNTY CLARE O e iew Ballin uan/C usheen a e wo ownlands i e miles om he coun y own (Ennis) in he Mid- Wes e n coas al coun y o Cla e, in he Wes o I eland. These u al based ownlands ha e jus 2 The e a e ela ed p ocedu es i he D a Plan is ma e ially al e ed as a esul o amendmen s esul ing om he public display. 6 ewe han 400 houses. The ownlands a e cha ac e ised by pocke s o high popula ion g ow h and pocke s o se e e u al disad an age. The e a e closed houses and a signi ican numbe o houses wi h single elde ly occupan s. The local economy is s ongly suppo ed by an ac i e wo king popula ion who a el ou o he a ea o wo k in Ennis o u he a ield. The local de elopmen council became e y conce ned ha he u al se ing o hese ownlands would be adically al e ed by he spill-o e o housing om Ennis. They ea ed, om he expe ience o many o he u al communi ies on he ou ski s o as de eloping u ban cen es, ha pe missions o housing de elopmen would be g an ed wi hou consul a ion. Because o he conce ns o he local g oup, hese ownlands we e selec ed as pilo a eas o a Cla e LEADER (RRD) ini ia i e called he Local De elopmen Planning P og amme. The objec i es o he p og amme we e: - To engage maximum pa icipa ion o he communi y in he d awing up o he plan - To p o ide ele an aining o build he capaci y o he communi y in he o mula ion and implemen a ion o he plan This p og amme is an inno a i e and comp ehensi e app oach o he assessmen o needs by communi ies in u al a eas. In 1997 he pa ish o C usheen/Ballin uan oge he wi h Ru al Resou ce De elopmen (RRD) and Cla e Coun y Council came oge he o o mula e a local de elopmen plan o he wo ownlands. The pa icipa o y planning p ocess ha eme ged was e y inno a i e in he con ex o local de elopmen and is a model o good p ac ice on posi i e ci izen pa icipa ion. P ocess Following ini ial mee ings he pa ne s in his p ocess p oposed o use he ‘house mee ing’3 model as a way o join ly assessing needs. The commi ee planned he p ocess, p epa ed wo k shee s, called a b ie ing e ening o house mee ing hos s and leade s, o e saw he ca ying ou o he p ocess and hen h ough a wo kshop assembled he eedback in o a bookle . Six een house mee ings we e held wi h almos one hund ed and i y people a ending. A wide ange o occupa ions and ages we e ep esen ed. The eedback om he house mee ings was e y posi i e mainly because hey we e iendly and in o mal. The e we e high le els o pa icipa ion. People me as neighbou s and iends o discuss he issues ha conce ned hem and exp essed a wish o do so again. A a second ound o house mee ings, nomina ions we e aken o a S ee ing Commi ee, made up o s akeholde s in he local planning p ocess, o o e see he planning p ocess and o ake esponsibili y o he many aspec s o i . This G oup, including he olun ee local de elopmen g ouping, me o ag ee collabo a i e ac ions o mo e e ec i e pa ne ship in mee ing needs and imp o ed he quali y o li e in hose u al communi ies. Thi y- ou people became ac i ely in ol ed in he p ocess. This planning o um me egula ly wi h ac i e pa icipa ion o de elop a local de elopmen plan o mee local needs. In he ollowing mon hs, a ision s a emen and objec i es we e p epa ed and he p o essional planne was engaged o assis wi h he p ocess. This in ol ed o mula ing and de ising a ques ionnai e o ga he in o ma ion om he people o he communi y which, ollowing analysis, would iden i y he op ions o p ojec and p og amme de elopmen in he local a ea. The nex s age o he p ocess is unde way, a p esen , o p io i ise op ions om he analysis and i is expec ed ha he d a plan will be a ailable o he gene al communi y, o conside a ion in he nea u u e. Du ing he p ocess, he communi y was consis en ly kep in o med o p og ess. This 3 This model builds on he concep o house s a ions in he wes o I eland. 7 was an impo an ac o in ensu ing almos 87% esponse om all households h ough a comple ed ques ionnai e. Ou comes The house mee ing consul a i e p ocess and he planning o um is deemed o be a e y good model o local pa icipa ion and pa ne ship in planning local de elopmen . The planning o um, which con inues o mee , is a e y open p ocess o wo-way in o ma ion exchange o in o ma ion om Cla e Coun y Council and he local a eas. A high le el o us has de eloped wi h ecogni ion o he openness and lexibili y o Cla e Coun y Council planning o icials. As he p ocess is ongoing, he ou comes in e ms o mo e accep able decisions, mo e e ec i e se ice deli e y and mo e sus ainable local de elopmen s uc u es ha e ye o be p o en. An in eg al componen o he Local De elopmen Planning p ocess was he in oduc ion o he capaci y building p og amme T aining o T ans o ma ion. I has made he di e ence in building he capaci y o communi y by ecognizing hei own knowledge and expe ience and by empowe ing pa icipan s o ake ac ion on ma e s ela ing o communi y li e. The p ocess is being eplica ed in he adjoining pa ish o Feakle and a simila p ocess is unde way. The expe ience o he pilo p ojec in C usheen/Ballin uan was o huge bene i o all o he pa ne s in ol ed, in his la es ini ia i e, and while some changes ha e been made o he o iginal p ocess, he o e all model and objec i es ha e been adhe ed o. The en i e p ocess has aken mo e han wo yea s o comple e, wi h huge commi men om bo h communi ies. The Local De elopmen Planning model b ings he e m "pa ne ship" in o a new dimension, which allows o pa icipa ion, consul a ion and ans o ma ion. Sou ce: A Re iew o Ru al Resou ce De elopmen L d. And LEADER II in Cla e 1999 8 3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES INTRODUCTION The eme gence o a ea based local de elopmen s uc u es ou side o he local au ho i y sys em has aken place in he con ex o a g owing ealisa ion globally, na ionally and locally ha o be sus ainable, de elopmen should b ing abou no only an imp o emen in social and physical condi ions bu i mus also con ibu e o an imp o emen in he capaci y o people and communi ies o con ol and sus ain hose condi ions. The limi a ions o bo h cen al and local go e nmen sys ems oge he wi h he pe cei ed ailu e o he s a u o y agencies o add ess pe sis en p oblems o u ban unemploymen and disad an age and o u al dep i a ion, led o he i s pilo a ea-based local de elopmen ini ia i es in he 1980’s. EU unding mechanisms unde he S uc u al Funds p o ided he oppo uni y o u he expansion o such ini ia i es du ing he pe iod o he i s Communi y Suppo F amewo k (CSF) o I eland, 1989-1993. Six een a ea-based pa ne ships we e es ablished on a pilo basis o ackle long- e m unemploymen wi h he suppo o a global g an adminis e ed h ough ADM (A ea De elopmen Managemen ). Coun y En e p ise Boa ds (CEBs) we e es ablished on a pilo basis o p omo e and suppo mic o-en e p ises. In addi ion unde he LEADER 1 Communi y Ini ia i e, 16 LEADER g oups we e es ablished in selec ed a eas o he coun y o p omo e an a ea-based app oach o u al de elopmen . The LEADER II Communi y ini ia i e co e ing he pe iod 1994-1999 p o ided unding o g oups on a coun ywide basis. Unde he e ms o he Ope a ional P og amme o Local U ban and Ru al De elopmen 1994- 1999, u he unding was made a ailable o deli e in eg a ed p og ammes on (i) Local En e p ise deli e ed h ough he mechanism o he Coun y En e p ise Boa ds on a coun ywide basis, (ii) In eg a ed de elopmen o designa ed disad an aged and o he a eas o be deli e ed la gely h ough he A ea Pa ne ships, and (iii) u ban and illage enewal. These measu es we e o complemen he unding made a ailable h ough LEADER II. The objec i e o he Ope a ional P og amme was o b ing abou social and economic de elopmen a local le el, o in ol e and o enable local communi ies o be in ol ed in ha de elopmen in a o mal way and o achie e physical imp o emen s o he en i onmen (OPLURD 1994-1999). The p og amme ecognised he ole which local ini ia i es can play as a ca alys o local economic, social and en i onmen al de elopmen and he impo ance o locally based measu es o complemen he na ional app oach. Fo example, he ole o he Coun y En e p ise Boa ds is o de elop indigenous po en ial and s imula e economic ac i i y a local le el, h ough he p o ision o inancial assis ance and echnical suppo o he de elopmen o mic o en e p ises unde aken by indi iduals, i ms and communi y g oups and suppo he c ea ion o an en e p ise pa ne ship a local le el be ween he social pa ne s, inancial ins i u ions and local communi ies ha had no been achie ed a local go e nmen o s a u o y le els. PARTNERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION Signi ican ly he Ope a ional P og amme acknowledged he pa icula impo ance o di ec 9 - Simplici y The unc ions and oles o bodies a local le el should be clea -cu & simple as easible; - Thema ic and a ea-based app oaches The wo should be combined o maximum a ec ; - Volun a y e o Exis ing olun a y e o should be e ained and ha nessed; - Local Go e nmen Mus become pa icipa i e as well as ep esen a i e; - Linkages wi h o he p og ammes Including he deli e y o EU p og ammes - Value o money The ecommenda ions o he Task Fo ce led o he es ablishmen o Coun y De elopmen Boa ds wi h e ec om 1s Janua y 2000 as pa o he in eg a ion p ocess be ween local go e nmen and local de elopmen a coun y le el. The composi ion and unc ioning o he Boa ds is in ended o e lec he se o p inciples se down by he Task Fo ce. These boa ds will eplace Coun y S a egy G oups, which p e iously had a limi ed coo dina ing ole o some local se ices. The p ima y unc ions o he CDBs will be o d aw up a comp ehensi e s a egy o economic, social and cul u al de elopmen wi hin he coun y and o o e see i s implemen a ion. I is en isaged ha CDBs will ha e a pa icula ole in ensu ing co-o dina ion o local se ice deli e y. The CDB will de elop a ision a local le el o encompass a ious local and sec o al plans; p o ide he ocus o co-ope a ion on a con inuing basis a coun y le el in he wo k o he a ious agencies, p omo e co-o dina ion and by b inging oge he he a ious in e es s, seek o maximise he e ec i eness o spending on p og ammes and p ojec s a local le el included in he Na ional De elopmen Plan. The ecen ly appoin ed Di ec o s o Communi y and En e p ise ha e d awn up a egis e o communi y and olun a y o ganisa ions in hei a eas in e es ed in pa icipa ing in he Boa d and i s suppo s uc u es. Volun a y and communi y g oups om a ange o sec o s including communi y o u al de elopmen , conse a ion, cul u e, he i age, Gael ac h , communi y in as uc u e o he en i onmen , ec ea ion, disad an age, disabled and o he s we e in i ed o egis e wi h he Coun y Council in o de o join a Communi y and Volun a y Fo um o each elec o al a ea om which ep esen a i es ha e been nomina ed o he Boa ds. As Table 1 illus a es, he di e en local pa ne ships (ADM Pa ne ship Companies, LEADER companies and CEBs) a e all ep esen ed on he Boa ds. Fo he i s ime he communi y and olun a y sec o is being suppo ed o ul il i s ole as a social pa ne a local le el (see case s udy Mea h CDB). One o he cen al asks o he CBD is o d aw up a s a egy o economic, social and cul u al de elopmen wi hin each coun y/ci y a ea. The s a egy which is due o be inalised by Janua y 2002 will be an ag eed amewo k o o e all objec i es and a ge s in o which ele an plans can i and no a de ailed sec o -by-sec o plan. Responsibili y o he deli e y o de ailed sec o al plans will emain wi h he ele an pa ne s, including sec o al agencies and Pa ne ship companies. 16 Table 1 Coun y De elopmen Boa d Typical Membe ship S uc u e Sec o MEMBERS Local GOVERNMENT • SPC Chai s • Ca haoi leach • Coun y /Ci y Manage • U ban Rep esen a i e LOCAL DEVELOPMENT Two ep esen a i es om each o he ollowing ypes o local de elopmen bodies: • Coun y En e p ise Boa ds • LEADER G oups • ADM-suppo ed Pa ne ship Companies & Communi y G oups STATE AGENCIES Rep esen a i es o s a e agencies ac i e in he a ea as app op ia e: including Hea h Boa d, FAS, VEC, Teagasc, En e p ise I eland, IDA, Uda as na Gael ach a, Dep . o Social, Communi y & Family A ai s and he Regional Tou ism Au ho i ies. SOCIAL PARTNERS • Employe s and Business O ganisa ions (1) • T ade Unions (1) • Ag icul u al & Fa ming O ganisa ions (1) • Communi y & Volun a y O ganisa ions (2) In addi ion o he in ol emen o he Boa d i sel in he p epa a ion o he s a egy, ad hoc wo king g oups co e ing a a ie y o hemes as app op ia e o pa icula coun ies, such as social inclusion, adul lea ning, u al anspo , ou ism, spa ial planning and o he s will be se up o acili a e consul a ion and pa icipa ion in he p ocess o p epa ing he coun y s a egy. These g oups will include communi y ep esen a i es. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ON SPCS AND CDBS In oduc ion The Be e Local Go e nmen P og amme e e ed o abo e, seeks o enhance he elec o al manda e wi hin local Go e nmen by s eng hening he co po a e posi ion o elec ed membe s h ough he o mula ion o a es uc u ed commi ee sys em, namely S a egic Policy Commi ees (SPCs). The p oposed new sys em acknowledges ha elec ed ep esen a i es should be engaged a an ea ly s age in policy o mula ion. I also seeks o b oaden in ol emen in Local Go e nmen h ough he pa icipa ion o a ange o sec o al in e es s. The Depa men o En i onmen and Local Go e nmen issued guidelines in No embe 1997, se ing ou a amewo k wi hin which each local au ho i y should de ise and es ablish an app op ia e SPC s uc u e. 17 The in en ion is ha SPCs should: • Assis he Council in he o mula ion, de elopmen and e iew o policy • Re lec he majo unc ions o se ices o a local au ho i y wi hin a b oade con ex The SPC sys em is in ended o gi e councilo s and ele an sec o al in e es s an oppo uni y o ull in ol emen in he policy-making p ocess om he ea ly s ages, when policy op ions a e mo e luid. SPCs can p o ide ad ice/ epo s e c. di ec ly o he Council on ma e wi hin hei ange o esponsibili ies o on ela ed issues, ei he hei own ini ia i e o as decided by he Council. In e ms o ci izen pa icipa ion he mos impo an sec o s ep esen ed on he SPCs and CDB a e he public ep esen a i es and he ep esen a i es o he communi y and olun a y sec o in he coun y. This p ocess was he i s ime ha he communi y and olun a y sec o we e, as a ma e o go e nmen policy, being in i ed as ull pa ne s o pa icipa e in s a egic planning a coun y le el. I was also a e y signi ican s ep in enhancing ci izen pa icipa ion and, hope ully suppo ing ep esen a i e democ acy wi h pa icipa i e democ acy. CASE-STUDIES DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES Dunlaoghai e-Ra hdown is loca ed o he sou h o Dublin ci y along he coas and is a la gely u ban a ea wi h Dunlaoghai e Bo ough a i s co e. I ex ends in o he oo hills o he Dublin Moun ains. S uc u e and Membe ship o SPC's Dunlaoghai e-Ra hdown Coun y Council has es ablished i e commi ees o co e he ollowing a eas o policy: Cul u e, Communi y De elopmen and Ameni ies; En i onmen ; housing; Economic De elopmen and Planning; and T anspo a ion. Each commi ee is chai ed by a Councillo and ypically has ele en councillo s ep esen ing he local go e nmen sec o , one ep esen a i e om each o he a ming, business/comme cial sec o s, wo communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o ep esen a i es and one o h ee om en i onmen , conse a ion/cul u al in e es s as app op ia e. Fo ma ion & Cons i u ion o SPCs: elec ion o Communi y Rep esen a i es A i s ound o S a egic Policy Commi ees was es ablished in 1998/1999. The commi ees we e e- es ablished in 2000 ollowing he issuing o new guidelines by Go e nmen . The Council unde ook consul a ion wi h he communi y o ill he places on he a ious commi ees. Fo he ini ial ound he Council unde ook he ollowing consul a ion p ocess wi h he communi y: • Con ac ed o ganisa ions ha hey a e awa e o • Placed public ad e isemen s in i ing applica ions • Held public mee ings • Employed independen acili a o s o selec ion mee ings Fo he second ound he Council: • W o e o all hose ha a ended p e iously • Con ac ed o e 300 g oups on he Coun y De elopmen Boa d mailing lis • A ended he Communi y Pla o m (which ep esen s he communi y and olun a y sec o ) While he elec ion o communi y ep esen a i es was he esponsibili y o he o ganisa ions, he Council speci ied a numbe o sub-sec o s ha hey wished o ha e ep esen ed on he ele an SPC 18 such as: • Spo • Residen s/O he • You h • T a elle s • Disabili y • En i onmen /cul u e Each sub-sec o h ough a acili a ed elec ion p ocess elec ed a nominee(s) o he ele an SPCs. The e we e in o al se en communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o ep esen a i es elec ed o he commi ees. A o al o 104 communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o g oups esponded o he p ocess. I is he esponsibili y o each o he sub-sec o al ep esen a i es o p o ide eedback o he g oups wi hin hei sub-sec o . The council will acili a e his p ocess h ough he p o ision o a mailing lis and o a enue should hey wish o mee wi h he g oups wi hin hei sub-sec o . T aining is being p o ided o he SPC membe s on how he Local Au ho i y wo ks. Fu he aining will be o ganised na ionally by cen al Go e nmen o co e a eas such as consensus building, eamwo k, he na u e o decision-making, e c. The SPC's ha e only me once so a a an in o mal plena y mee ing. The i s o mal mee ing is o ake place nex mon h. I is he e o e no possible o measu e he ou comes o he p ocess. Howe e some o he SPCs du ing he i s ound had made ecommenda ions o he council, which we e adop ed and esul ed in changes, been made. COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION - MEATH STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD This case s udy will de ail he p ocess o selec ing and elec ing o ep esen a i es o m he communi y & olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h o pa icipa e in he allo ed posi ions in bo h he SPCs and CDB. P ocess The i s s ep in selec ing communi y & olun a y ep esen a i es was o in o m and consul he communi y & olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h ega ding local go e nmen e o ms and he oppo uni y o hei pa icipa ion. This ask was unde aken by he newly es ablished o ice o he Di ec o o Communi y & En e p ise in Coun y Mea h. This is a local au ho i y con ac appoin men . A public in o ma ion mee ing a ge ed a all hose g oups and indi iduals’ ac i e in he communi y and olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h was called in mid Feb ua y 2000. A ha mee ing i was ag eed ha he ollowing p ocess would be u ilised in ela ion o he es ablishmen o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o and he selec ion o ep esen a i es o si on he Mea h Coun y De elopmen Boa d (CDB) and he ou S a egic Policy Commi ees (SPC’s) o be es ablished by Mea h Coun y Council: • Regis a ion o all communi y & olun a y sec o g oups o he pu pose o making a nomina ion(s). A se o c i e ia o de e mine hose eligible o egis e was ag eed. • Nomina ions o he posi ions on he CDB and SPCs we e in i ed acco ding o ag eed 19 p ocedu es. Nomina ions we e submi ed o he o ice o he Di ec o o Communi y & En e p ise by an ag eed da e. • A he i s mee ing o he newly o med Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o nominees we e in i ed o speak o 5 minu es on hei easons o going o wa d and wha hey would b ing o he ole. The mee ing also acili a ed a ound able o nominees o discuss issues. • A second mee ing o Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o was called o a i y he nomina ions and ag ee he o ing p ocess. • Ballo pape s we e p epa ed by Mea h Coun y Council o icials and we e sen o all egis e ed o ing g oups egis e ed o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o and he o ice o he Di ec o o Communi y & En e p ise. • Mea h coun y council o icials o icia ed a he o ing p ocess ha was held in conjunc ion wi h he nex mee ing o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o . Vo ing was conduc ed acco ding o he p opo ional ep esen a ion sys em and esul s we e announced ha nigh a he mee ing. • Elec ed candida es me as a g oup wi h an ex e nal acili a o o cla i y oles, o de e mine a collec i e p ocess and o ag ee p io i ies. A p ocess o eedback h ough he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o was ag eed and a suppo mechanism o hese olun a y elec ed ep esen a i es p oposed. Ou comes The p ocess was implemen ed as ag eed and p o ed bo h e ec i e and educa ional. As an ou come, he pla o m is es ablished and nine people om he communi y and olun a y sec o ha e aken hei places on he SPCs and CDB. They a e wo king as a eam and ha e he pla o m as hei o um wi hin he sec o o consul on an on-going basis. The inaugu al mee ings o he CDB and he SPCs we e held and wo k is ongoing. The eedback om he in o ma ion dissemina ion p ocess, he nomina ion p ocess, he elec ion p ocess and he eam wo king o he elec ed ep esen a i es was e y posi i e. Howe e i s ill emains o he e ec i eness o he communi y & olun a y sec o ep esen a i es on he boa d o he CDB and SPCs o be demons a ed. Equally he e ec i eness o he eedback mechanism o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o , and he e ec i eness o his pla o m, has s ill o be p o en. I mus be no ed ha he abo e p ocess ma ks a signi ican s ep o wa d in e ms o ci izen pa icipa ion, pa icula ly ci izen ac i is s in he communi y & olun a y sec o , because: • I is he i s ime ha he communi y and olun a y sec o has been ecognised o icially as a key pa ne in local de elopmen a coun y le el • I is he i s o mal o ganisa ion o ac i is s in he communi y and olun a y sec o a coun y le el • I is he i s in eg a ed ep esen a ion o he communi y and olun a y sec o on he s a egic planning commi ees o he coun y • I is he i s ime ha he local au ho i y has commi ed o p o iding esou ces o suppo he o ganisa ion o he communi y and olun a y sec o a coun y le el. This p ocess is a s a egic ecogni ion o he lea ning and wo k achie ed h ough local de elopmen o ganisa ions in I eland o e he las decade and he impac o he EU unding o s eng hen he communi y & olun a y sec o 20 I is also he i s applied ecogni ion o he ole and ela ionship o pa icipa i e democ acy side by side wi h ep esen a i e democ acy, and i is he i s eal challenge o he communi y and olun a y sec o o pa icipa e ully and equally wi h he social pa ne s, public ep esen a i es and he s a ua y sec o in he p epa a ion o , and consequen deli e y o , a de ailed s a egic documen o he in eg a ed de elopmen o he whole coun y. FACILITATING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION A numbe o issues need o be add essed o ensu e ha communi y ep esen a i es will be able o pa icipa e ully. The le el o eadiness o pa icipa e in such s uc u es a ies signi ican ly wi h some ep esen a i es well used o dealing wi h s a e agencies in he cou se o hei wo k while o he s ha e no such expe ience and eel o e -awed by he p ocess. Gaps exis in he le el o knowledge o how he local au ho i y wo ks. In he iew o a local go e nmen o icial, he S a egic Policy Commi ees o e po en ial o enhanced ci izen pa icipa ion bu i is expec ing a lo om olun a y people o con ibu e o complex issues such as social housing, planning, e c. especially as less and less people a e willing o olun ee . The aining e e ed o abo e will help o o e come some o hese ba ie s. The e is also a esou ce issue o communi y ep esen a i es because o he ime inpu in ol ed o membe s ep esen ing a olun a y commi ee ha would no ha e ei he he inancial o adminis a i e esou ces o suppo ha pe son. Holding mee ings in he Council Chambe is an issue o some. This is ega ded as councillo s’ e i o y and some o he o he sec o s eel a a disad an age. The deg ee o accep ance by o he sec o s o he in ol emen o he communi y sec o a ies om po en ial oppo uni y o in usion. BETTER DELIVERY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES INTRODUCTION The de elopmen o new s uc u es o enhance ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and o aid he in eg a ion o local de elopmen sys ems has o be accompanied by new and inno a i e measu es o imp o e he deli e y o local se ices. In o de o imp o e he deli e y, a numbe o local au ho i ies ha e emba ked on a decen alisa ion p og amme o b ing se ices, which equi e di ec con ac be ween ci izens and s a close o ci izens. Fo example in Donegal, six new council o ices a e planned wi h h ee al eady buil . In he case o Donegal, he new o ices will be s a ed by he app op ia e pe sonnel ac ually dealing wi h he se ice in ol ed – such as planning, mo o ax, was e collec ion, connec ion o wa e se ices, e c. I is en isaged ha s a wo king a local le el will be delega ed o ake decisions in espec o ce ain unc ions. Space is being p o ided in he new local o ices o accommoda e a ea based s a om local de elopmen agencies including LEADER companies, Pa ne ship Boa ds, Coun y En e p ise Boa ds and Communi y in o ma ion Cen e Se ices. 21 CASE STUDY ENHANCING DELIVERY THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & ONE-STOP- SHOPS IN COUNTY MEATH Backg ound Mea h Coun y Council is commi ed o ci izen access o all ac i i ies o he coun y council as a means o sus aining local de elopmen , o encou aging e ec i e in e ac ion wi h ci izens and as he mos e icien me hod o decision-making. The Coun y Council has de eloped a s a egy o decen alise access o in o ma ion and decision making o he local elec o al a ea le el h ough “One-S op- Shops”. In o ma ion echnology (IT) is cen al o his p ocess. Wi h cen al go e nmen suppo Mea h coun y Council ini ia ed a s a egy o open an in eg a ed local au ho i y se ice poin o “One- S op-Shop” in each elec o al dis ic , suppo ed by a oll ou o accessible in o ma ion p o ision h ough a ious echnologies. To suppo his ini ia i e, Mea h Coun y Council commissioned a epo in Feb ua y 1998 o de ise a model o quali y public se ice deli e y in he No h Mea h a ea, se ed by he own o Kells. The consul an s we e asked o e iew he pe cep ions o people li ing in No h Mea h ega ding public se ice p o ision, o consul s a e agencies ega ding hei me hod o se ice deli e y and o p opose a “One-S op-Shop” model o enhanced and sus ainable public se ice deli e y o he a ea. This epo iden i ies he possibili ies o ci izen pa icipa ion h ough IT and is an excellen p ac ical documen o guide he planning and implemen a ion o a u al based “One-S op-Shop” o he deli e y o public se ice and local in o ma ion/se ices. The epo no es ha he de elopmen o a local IT se ice cen es, o “One-S op-Shop”, p o ided an oppo uni y o de ine se ices acco ding o he needs o he communi y. Ra he han jus a new o ice loca ion p o iding he same se ices ha we e always a ailable, i could p o ide he oppo uni y o de elop a aluable esou ce cen e and a o um o ongoing assessmen and co- o dina ion o local se ices. The consul a ion p ocess showed a eadiness on he pa o se ice p o ide s and he communi y o wo k owa ds such an a ea-based public se ice deli e y app oach. The epo made he ollowing ecommenda ions. • An in e -agency commi ee is es ablished o se up he “One-S op-Shop” wi h ull IT acili ies • An in e -agency o um is es ablished o look a and de elop models o in eg a ion o public se ice deli e y in a eas such as join needs assessmen , consul a ion and s a egic planning • Se ice p o ision agencies should adop a common planning p ocess, p oducing i e yea public se ice plans based on a common and in eg a ed assessmen o needs in each local a ea • A pa ne ship model (public agencies, social pa ne s and communi y ep esen a i es wo king oge he ) o public se ice deli e y be adop ed a a ea le el, h ough a “One-S op-Shop”, and hen a local communi y le el based on an a ea plan • The “One-S op-Shop” be es ablished as a single poin o con ac in a cen al loca ion o he in eg a ed p o ision o gene al and speci ic in o ma ion on public and local se ices wi h a ollow-up a ge ed e e al se ice • To acili a e ne wo king, join aining days be a anged o s a om all agencies o inc ease awa eness o each agency’s ocus and se ices • S a om all agencies o a end cus ome ca e cou ses oge he . • Tha IT p o ides he mos use ul cos e ec i e ool o need moni o ing, emo e consul a ion and in eg a ed se ice deli e y. 22 The ollow on o he epo demons a es he di icul y in esponding o he challenges o IT o ci izen pa icipa ion in se ice deli e y. These include: • Inaccessibili y and lack o amilia i y o IT wi h he a e age ci izen, bu pa icula ly among hose mos excluded • The lack o amilia i y among se ice agencies wi h IT as a medium o se ice deli e y • The indi idualised na u e o s a u o y se ice p o iding agencies • The cos and incon enience o shi ing om he amilia model o se ice deli e y o he less amilia ou each/one s op shop/IT model o se ice deli e y. Ac ions & P og ess In andem wi h he epo Mea h Coun y Council is implemen ing a phased p ocess o se ing up local au ho i y “One-S op-Shops” in each local elec o al a ea. These “One-S op-Shop” cen es will ha e a s a e o he a IT in as uc u e o suppo local ci izen pa icipa ion, ull anspa ency o in o ma ion and empowe men o decision-making. This ini ia i e by Mea h Coun y Council is a clea indica ion ha he local au ho i y expec s o he s a e se ice p o ide s o ollow his lead and deli e in eg a ed se ices locally. Mea h Coun y Council has opened a “One-S op-Shop” in wo elec o al a eas in Coun y Mea h in he las yea . In bo h cen es all easible e o s a e being made o decen alise decision-making and o maximise public access o in o ma ion. Ini ia i es a e unde way o imp o e communica ion sys ems o local au ho i y s a wo king ou o he “One-S op-Shop”. Howe e , when compa ed o he epo ecommenda ions, much mo e needs o be done o enable g ea e ci izen pa icipa ion. Some o he ac ion a eas ye o be de eloped include: • Dialogue wi h s a ua y p o ide s o a ge ed se ices, e.g. se ices o hose wi h disabili ies • Dialogue wi h p i a e sec o se ice p o ide s, e.g. anspo p o ide s • Dialogue wi h communi y and olun a y g oups o inc ease impac , e.g. access o mos ma ginalised • Dialogue wi h ci izens h ough pa icipa i e o a and panels o de e mine needs and mos app op ia e means o deli e y • G ea e use o IT public assess poin s o in o ma ion access • G ea e use o public no ice boa ds • Awa eness and aining o local au ho i y and public se ice agency s a on he use o IT • Inc eased amilia isa ion o IT among he public Concu en ly, he es ablishmen o he Coun y De elopmen Boa ds a e ‘encou aging’ all sec o s in Mea h o co-ope a e in de eloping in eg a ed models o se ice deli e y. Fu he mo e, he es ablishmen o a coun y le el communi y and olun a y sec o pla o m and local elec o al a ea communi y and olun a y sec o o a will p o ide he o a o op imise in e ac ion wi h communi y o ganisa ions. The CCDB p ocess oge he wi h ully esou ced “One-S op-Shops” could help o ensu e uni e sally equi able access o public se ices, using he mos app op ia e echnology. 23 5. LOCAL AUTHORITY INITIATIVES INTRODUCTION Local au ho i ies in I eland ha e been in ol ed in a numbe o ini ia i es, some s imula ed by EU unding mechanisms such as he own and illage enewal scheme, o he s by he Local Agenda p ocess such as he Co k En i onmen al Fo um which ha e p o ided he oppo uni y o a mo e pa icipa i e app oach o he deli e y o local se ices. O he ini ia i es ha e de eloped om local au ho i y and communi y co-ope a ion se wi hin a Local Agenda 21 con ex and acili a ed by unding sou ces ha included he LIFE p og amme, he EU inancial ins umen o he en i onmen . Two examples o such p ojec s ha di ec ly in ol ed local au ho i ies we e he Bea ha eco-label p ojec and he Ban y Bay Cha e . LOCAL URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT TOWN AND VILLAGE RENEWAL Unde he measu e o own and illage enewal, included in he sub-p og amme on Local U ban and Ru al De elopmen which was pa o he CSF o I eland 1994-1999 (see also Sec ion 3 abo e), schemes we e d awn up in consul a ion wi h local communi ies o enewal o own and illages in many pa s o he coun y. Th ough consul a ion be ween Council o icials and councillo s om each elec o al a ea, pa ish councils, local de elopmen g oups, chambe s o comme ce, social and communi y se ice o ganisa ions, p io i ies o each own o illage we e nego ia ed, he local in as uc u e was imp o ed and enewal and egene a ion measu es we e pu in place. The ex en o he pa icipa i e p ocess in ol ed a ied om one local au ho i y o ano he bu he be e -managed schemes se e as use ul models o communi y in ol emen in he deli e y o local imp o emen schemes and as p o o ypes o a mo e pa icipa i e app oach o he p epa a ion o De elopmen Plans and planning schemes gene ally wi hin local au ho i ies. CASE-STUDY WESTMEATH URBAN & VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME 1994-1999 In Wes mea h local council membe s selec ed a numbe o owns and illages om hose ha me he equi emen s, o pa icipa e in he scheme. When app o al was ecei ed o he selec ed owns and illages Wes mea h Coun y Council p omo ed he schemes by a ange o me hods including no ices in local newspape s, newsle e s, public mee ings and local adio. In addi ion di ec con ac was made wi h local g oups such as Tidy Towns by local councillo s and a ea enginee s pa icula ly in he case o he Village Renewal Scheme o encou age hem o be in ol ed in he implemen a ion o he scheme. The imescale o p epa a ion o plans and implemen a ion o he scheme limi ed he oppo uni y o public consul a ion. Examining he le el and na u e o he ci izen in ol emen wi hin he scheme in Wes mea h a mix u e o eedback was ecei ed. Some el ha he ime ame o he p epa a ion o plans was oo igh o allow o any eal consul a ion om he public. On he o he hand some g oups we e e y happy wi h he le el o consul a ion and in ol emen hey had h oughou he scheme. The le el o sa is ac ion o o he wise wi h he consul a ion was o some ex en de e mined by expe ience in local pa icipa ion, commi men o he p ocess as well as he wo kload o he 24 Coun y Council s a in ol ed. Du ing he cou se o he implemen a ion o he P og amme, he Council became inc easingly awa e o he alue o wo king wi h he local communi y in designing and implemen ing he Scheme wi hin he selec ed owns and illages. Thus hose communi ies in ol ed a a la e s age in he p ocess ended o ha e a mo e posi i e expe ience o wo king wi h he Coun y Council. In pa allel wi h he U ban and Village Renewal Scheme he Wes mea h LEADER g oup was wo king wi h local communi ies and Tidy Towns G oups in de eloping Village enhancemen plans. These ac ions ed in o he scheme and also ga e he local communi y he con idence and esou ces o wo k wi h he Coun y Council. Th ough in ol emen wi h bo h he LEADER P og amme and he own and illage enewal scheme, he local communi ies became mo e awa e o he Local De elopmen p ocess, how Local Go e nmen wo ked and how hey could ha e a ole in he enhancemen o hei own own o illage. This awa eness was also c ea ed by g oups ne wo king and h ough newsle e s. Wes mea h Coun y Council has also become mo e conscious o he local de elopmen p ocess and he long- e m alue o encou aging and assis ing ci izen pa icipa ion and owne ship in he wo k i does. Some s a el ha hey need mo e aining o assis hem in wo king wi h local communi ies in o de o allow hem o wo k mo e e ec i ely o encou age communi y pa icipa ion and owne ship in he de elopmen o local a eas. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – PARTNERSHIP APPROACHES LOCAL AGENDA 21 Agenda 21 is a bluep in endo sed by o e 150 coun ies a he 1992 UN Con e ence on en i onmen and de elopmen in Rio de Janei o o how he na ions o he wo ld can wo k indi idually and collec i ely owa ds sus ainable de elopmen . Sus ainable de elopmen is no jus abou en i onmen al p o ec ion; i is also conce ned wi h he quali y o li e, wi h equi y, including he dis ibu ion o esou ces, and wi h he in e ac ions be ween en i onmen and de elopmen . Local Agenda 21 is pa o he p ocess o de ining and a icula ing sus ainable de elopmen a a local/ egional le el and iden i ying how i can bes be achie ed. Consul a ion and consensus building a e essen ial elemen s bu local au ho i ies may choose di e en means o de elop he p ocess. Sus ainable de elopmen can only be b ough abou h ough coope a ion and pa ne ship be ween di e en in e es s and g oups in socie y. CASE-STUDIES CORK ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM The Co k En i onmen al Fo um was es ablished by Co k Coun y Council ea ly in 1995 as a c oss- communi y based ini ia i e o os e , p omo e and implemen sus ainable de elopmen wi hin he Co k egion unde he auspices o Local Agenda 21 and in acco dance wi h he b oad objec i es o and he Eu opean Union Fi h Ac ion P og amme on he En i onmen , Towa ds Sus ainabili y. The Fo um includes ep esen a i es om a ange o sec o al in e es s including communi y o ganisa ions and s a u o y agencies. Mee ings and wo kshops ake place abou e e y six weeks a a ious loca ions a ound he coun y and a e open o all in e es ed pa ies. 25 5. Models o bes p ac ice in op imum pa icipa ion need o be in eg a ed in o local s uc u es egula ly. 6. Real ci izen pa icipa ion equi es a change in cul u e among o mal o ganisa ions and a change in expec a ions among ci izens. 7. Le els o ci izen pa icipa ion need o be g aded om minimum in ol emen o a ull sense o owne ship. 8. Real pa icipa ion p ocesses equi e a commi men o esou ces om all sec ions o make all pa icipan s s akeholde s. 9. Ci izen pa icipa ion is no jus a change in s uc u e o he in oduc ion o new s uc u es. Real ci izen pa icipa ion is an in eg a ed way o wo king. 10. Ci izen pa icipa ion needs o achie e demons able ou comes ha mo i a e all s akeholde s o main ain hei commi men o pa icipa ion. Mos o he s uc u es ha ha e been pu in place in I eland a e oo ecen o be able o ully e alua e hei impac . Many o he inno a i e ini ia i es ha e been o a empo a y pilo na u e and ha e no been subjec o ull e alua ion o ei he me hodology o ou comes. E en whe e he p ocess is clea ly o alue he ini ia i e canno make a las ing con ibu ion o enhancing pa icipa ion unless a decision is made o mains eam and o p o ide on-going unding. Moni o ing and e alua ion o bo h local de elopmen ini ia i es and local go e nmen s uc u es is equi ed o ensu e ha he pa icipa i e p ocess is inclusi e and ha he ou comes will make a di e ence. 32 Case s udy sou ces include A Re iew o Ru al Resou ce De elopmen L d. And LEADER II in Cla e 1999 Ban y Bay Coas al Zone Cha e , Ban y Bay Cha e LIFE p ojec , 2000 Web: hh p://www.ucc.ie/ucc/ esea ch/c c/li e.h ml Co k En i onmen al Fo um Web: h p://www.co ken i o o um.com Re e ences A ea De elopmen Managemen L d.(ADM) , 1996, Local De elopmen S a egies o Disad an aged A eas: E alua ion o he Global G an in I eland (1992-1995) A Repo p epa ed by T u z Haase, Kie an McKeown and S ephen Rou ke, Febu a y, 1996. Ce nea, M.M, 1985. Sociological Knowledge o De elopmen P ojec s, in Pu ing People Fi s : Sociological Va iables in Ru al De elopmen . Ox o d Uni e si y P ess. Collins, T. 1988. Communi y En e p ise: Pa icipa ion in Local De elopmen . Unpublished Phd Thesis, S . Pa ick’s College, Maynoo h. Depa men o En i onmen , 1997, Be e Local Go e nmen , Dublin. Depa men o En i onmen & Local Go e nmen , 1998, Repo o In e depa men al Task Fo ce on he in eg a ion o Local Go e nmen and Local De elopmen Sys ems, Dublin. Depa men o En i onmen & Local Go e nmen , 1999, P epa ing he G ound: Guidelines o he P og ess om S a egy G oups o Coun y/Ci y De elopmen Boa ds, Dublin. Gallaghe Pa , 2000, The Coun y De elopmen S a egy and he Coun y De elopmen Plan: The ole o he new Coun y De elopmen Boa ds, pape deli e ed o IPI Annual Con e ence, May 2000, Wes po , Co. Mayo. OECD, 1994, De elopmen Assis ance Commi ee Repo on De elopmen Co-Ope a ion. OECD, Pa is. Pla , I ene, 1996. Re iew o Pa icipa o y moni o ing and E alua ion, Repo p epa ed o Conce n Wo ldwide, Augus . P e y, Jules, 1995, Pa icipa o y Lea ning o Sus ainable Ag icul u e in Wo ld De elopmen , Vol.23, No.8. Reynolds, B igid, and Sean Healy, (Eds), 1993, Powe , Pa icipa ion and Exclusion, Con e ence o Majo Religious Supe io s (CMRS), Dublin Reynolds, B igid, and Sean Healy, (Eds), 2000, Pa icipa ion and Democ acy, Oppo uni ies and Challenges, Con e ence o Majo Religious Supe io s (CMRS), Dublin Thompson, John, 1995. Pa icipa o y App oaches in Go e nmen Bu eauc acies: Facili a ing a P ocess o Ins i u ional Change, in Wo ld De elopmen . Vol. 23, No. 9. pp 1521-1547. Uni ed Na ions De elopmen P og amme(UNDP) Annual Human De elopmen Repo . Ox o d and New Yo k: OUP. 33