Council seeks members for targeted open call of ‘Local Community Growth Partnerships’

by Gráinne Connolly

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) is seeking nominations for a targeted open call, for what's knwon as the 'Local Community Growth Partnerships’, which will oversee the coordination and delivery of 8 local community plans within the Council District.

The scheme is seeking people who will help drive the transformation of their area. 

The application process will be open for two weeks beginning on Monday 17th September 2018 and closing on Friday 28th September 2018.

Council published its Strategic Growth Plan, the Community Plan, for the City and District in November 2017, and is now forging ahead with its delivery as part of a wider strategy for growth in the North West.

The Strategic Growth Plan provides a framework for the transformation of the City and District, and Council is working closely with a wide range of statutory and strategic partners on its delivery.

At a local level, work has also been progressing on the ‘Local Community Growth Partnerships’.

DCSDC is one of only two Councils in Northern Ireland, taking community planning to a local level. 

A comprehensive, co-design consultation process has already been carried out by Council and the implementation of this innovative process will ensure social, economic and environmental interventions are achieved for local people by working collaboratively through effective partnerships to achieve long term results.

The process has also ensured that residents and communities have been central to the development of the local growth plans, enabling them to give their views on how public services can be better provided in their areas.

The key objectives of the ‘Local Community Growth Partnerships’ will also be to bring decision-making closer to communities and citizens, creating a stronger and more effective local democracy and improving service delivery by influencing place shaping and facilitating greater integration.

The partnership framework also aims to improve the connection between national priorities and those at regional, local and neighbourhood levels.

NICVA’s social enterprise ‘Sector Matters’ will be supporting the targeted nomination process. Nomination forms and information packs are available to download at www.growderrystrabane.com

Completed forms must be returned to Sector Matters before the deadline of 4pm on Friday 28thSeptember 2018.