Local Economic and Community Plans LECP | Guidelines 2021
Once commenced, this provision will offer Local Authorities a key measure to support specific objectives within their LECP to promote community, social and economic development. Actions The specific actions and practical measures by which the Sustainable Economic Development Objectives (SEDO)s are to be achieved, identified in conjunction with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and the Regional Enterprise Plans(REPs), and relevant economic development agencies, should be set out in the LECP Implementation Plans Timeframes. Other relevant metrics (performance indicators and progress milestones) should also be detailed to enable monitoring of progress towards achievement of the SEDOs, should also be specified. While it is for each Local Authority and other economic partners to determine, in the context of the 6 Economic Action Areas and the particular actions required to achieve the SEDOs. General Principles to Guide Formulation of the LECP In formulating the strategic, high-level economic elements of the LECP a baseline and related projections should be constructed, planned objectives determined and actions to achieve the objectives identified. The Plan should be evidence- based and informed by certain broad principles, including:- Analysis : It is necessary to identify factors which are liable to impact positively or negatively on economic performance (“externalities”). It is also important to assess what actions are likely to work well towards achievement of objectives – it cannot be assumed that a particular measure will have the desired effect or is the correct means to achieve a particular objective. It is necessary to identify potentially conflicting factors and to avoid aspirations that are not likely to be achievable, or actions which will not contribute to desired objectives. The nature of factors influencing economic activity in particular locations needs to be analysed, recognising that some (for example, scale of population and conditions that arise only with large urban centres) are not capable of being addressed by a local plan. Ideally, the identification of relevant factors should be based on sound theoretical foundations or similar, where there is evidence that outcomes are impacted by identified actions.
This can be difficult in complex socio-economic environments, so it is also appropriate that best likelihood approaches are also adopted where that is necessary. Coherence: Possible conflicts in objectives should be addressed or minimised, for example by ranking objectives in terms of priorities, and feasibility, and also by allowing for possible trade-offs between objectives. Consistency: The LECP should be internally consistent as far as possible but, it is essential there are no conflicts in the actions that are taken to achieve objectives. Where an approach that will have positive impacts for one objective but may have negative implications for another, mitigation of the negative impacts should also be identified where possible. Areas Relevant to the Economic Elements of the Plan Section 66C of the Local Government Act 2001 provides for general matters to which Local Authorities must have regard in preparing the LECP. More specific factors influencing economic development which it would be desirable to consider in formulating the economic element of the LECP include:- current and on-going national policy developments, including the National Economic Recovery Plan (NERP) which provides a roadmap for a resilient and sustainable economy and sets out the priorities and objectives for Ireland’s medium- term economic recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; current and on-going national and European initiatives to support economic development including: Initiatives under Project Ireland 2040, which is the Governments long-term overarching strategy that aims to make Ireland a better country through creating new jobs, new homes, heightened cultural and social amenities, enhanced regional connectivity and improved environmental sustainability; The Economic Strategy of the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES);
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