The Local Government Act 2014, provided for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in all local authorities “for the purposes of developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development”. They replaced County Development Boards (CDB) and have an enhanced role and different structure. The LCDC brings together local authority members and officials, state agencies, voluntary sector organisations and local community interests.
Membership of the LCDC is approved by resolution at full council by the elected members. The LCDC is a committee of the local authority, however unlike the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) or Strategic Policy Committees (SPC), the LCDC is independent from the local authority in the performance of its functions.
Key aspects of the Committee’s role include:
- A more strategic, joined up approach to local and community development.
- Oversight and responsibility for core local and community development related funding in the county (e.g. Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, Rural Development LEADER Programme)
- The development of a six year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). To agree the strategic framework for economic and community development for the county.
- The LECP informs community and local development, resource allocation and informs other planning processes
- The LCDC oversees implementation of local and community development programmes approved and monitors the implementation of the community aspects of the LECP
- In more recent years, LCDCs have played an increasing role in overseeing the allocation of new funding schemes such as the Community Enhancement Programme, Social Enterprise Funding, Community Activities Programme and the Community Support Fund.
- Establishment and Co-ordination of the Roscommon Integration Forum to provide Forum members with an opportunity to share information, discuss challenges and agree on next steps in response to the war in Ukraine and the settlement of new communities in the county.
Role of PPN Representatives on LCDCs
Nominees are required to represent the PPN as a whole on the LCDC. Accordingly, they are accountable to the PPN membership and do not represent their own body or interests on the LCDC.