Local Economic and Community Plans LECP | Guidelines 2021
Introduction The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides a stronger and clearer role for local government in economic development and community development.
This is a key element in achieving the vision set out in Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government: that “local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level, leading economic, social and community development”. For the first time, the legislation required the integration of local economic and community objectives, other relevant cross-sectoral plans and the establishment of new structures such as the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and Public Participation Networks (PPNs). The aim was to facilitate collaboration between partner agencies, business and the community and voluntary sector, to drive synergies and align with regional, national and European policy to leverage funding streams. All Local Authorities published their first Local Economic and Community Plans in 2016/2017 and the process to develop new LECPs provides the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of all stakeholders in the intervening period. The processes to support the development of a new LECP described in these guidelines should be fully informed by the learning and experiences of all relevant stakeholders through both internal and public consultation to ensure a robust LECP for the next 6-year period. The purpose of the LECP, as provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is to set out, for a six-year period, the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of the relevant Local Authority area, both by itself directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. The development of each LECP is informed by the overall vision for Local Government as set out in Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government, the need “to promote the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities”.
As the framework for the economic development and local/community development of the Local Authority area, the LECP should also be the primary mechanism at local level to bring forward relevant actions arising from national and regional strategies and policies that have a local remit. One of the main strengths of the structures that support the roles of Local Authorities with regard to local and community development is the collaborative nature of their work. It is important that the LECP provide an enabling framework that supports collaborative working both in the structures that support the LECP and in the interventions that the LECP seek to support. Research looking at the Community Call initiative implemented as part of the national response to COVID 19 provides lessons in this regard. The research indicates that changed working practices in, and between, statutory, community and voluntary organisations delivered improved outcomes and inter-agency structures made a significant difference to the ability to coordinate and deliver rapid responses 1 . the overall vision for Local Government,
“to promote the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities”
1 Community Call: Learning for the Future, NESC Secretariat Papers, Paper No.22, February 2021, http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_secretariat_papers/ No_22_CommunityCall.pdf
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