International Centre for Local 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

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

2. Research: Responding to the Policy-Practice Divide

2. Research: An All-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

2. Research: A Cross-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!

2. Research: The International 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

2. Research to Action: 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.

2006

2006

2009

2009

2010

2010

2011

2011

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?

4. ICLRD’s Models of 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.....

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

4. Other Aspects of 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!

5. Future Work Programmes• 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

Thank You.

www.iclrd.org

caroline.creamer@nuim.ie