Potential and possibilities

Friday 23 November 2007

Friday 23 November 2007

9.00am

1.30pm

NICVA- 61 Duncairn Gardens Belfast

Free

Event

The current Northern Ireland Executive review of the Review of Public Administration has clouded some the of the developments around local government in uncertainly. With no one really sure yet about the future structure and roles of local councils it would be all too easy to allow the RPA to fall of our agenda.

However voluntary and community organisations can use this extra time to discuss some of the recommendations that are relevant to them.

NICVA, Community Technical Aid and Rural Community Network have organised this seminar in order to discuss the potential of community planning in relation to providing better services and how voluntary and community organisations can get involved in the process.

NICVA and CTA have also produced a Guide to Community Planning

Agenda

The agenda for the day is:

9.00 - Registration

9.30 - Presentations, questions and discussion

Background to conference and issues for voluntary and community sector
Colm Bradley, Community Technical Aid.

The impact/outcomes of community planning – what can it realistically deliver?
Brian Cavanagh Former Chair of Social Work, Edinburgh City Council and former Chair of Lothian and Borders Health Board.

Local government's role in community planning.
Kevin Wilson, expert in local government reform, Idea.

Voluntary and community sector's experience of community planning.
Bryan Poole, Manager of Fife-wide Council for Voluntary Service.

Questions and Discussion

11.00 - Local Community Planning Workshops.

1. Experiences of local community planning.Colm Bradley, Community Technical Aid, and Stuart Fairweather, Dundee County Council & representative from community sector in Dundee)
2. SPAN – a model for local community planning in rural areas. Michael Hughes, Rural Community Network; Gareth Harper, Rural Community Network; Mickey Murray, Queen’s University
3. SNAP – a local community planning in urban areas. Siobhan Watson, Belfast City Council

12.00 - Political Party Panel Discussion.

1.30 - Close

Register for the event

If you would like to attend the conference please contact Cathy Breslin on cathy.breslin@nicva.org indicating which workshop you would like to attend and any access or dieatry requirements you have.