Kilkenny's Draft Local Economic and Community Plan is open for Consultation
Your opinion is valuable - Please take this opportunity to have your say!
Kilkenny County Council and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for Kilkenny are preparing a Local Economic and Community Plan for the county. We would like to hear your views on the Draft plan and actions which is now open for consultation until 30th November 2015.
All local authorities must prepare a six-year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for their area by the end of December 2015. The County Kilkenny LECP will consist of a series of actions based on the views of organisations, communities and people like you. This plan will influence the economic, social and community development of County Kilkenny until 2021.
The LECP will have two main elements:
- economic development elements, developed by Kilkenny County Council's Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Economic Development. These will include goals and actions to help boost job creation and to promote the county as a great place to invest, set-up and develop a business; and
- local and community elements, developed by the Kilkenny Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). These will include goals and actions to address issues such as education provision, energy efficiency, poverty and social inclusion, and research and innovation.
Kilkenny County Council has a number of Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) which develop, monitor and review Council policies. The SPC for Economic Development will develop the economic elements of the LECP for County Kilkenny.
The Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) which is a public-private partnership made up of representatives of:the local authority, State agencies, Community & Voluntary sector and economic and social partners, is responsible for supervising the delivery of local and community development programmes, managing/overseeing the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, and developing the local and community development elements of the LECP.
The SPC has prepared a draft economic statement and main goals and the LCDC has prepared a draft community statement and main goals.
The SPC has developed 9 main economic goals :
Goal 1: Support for Enterprise Economy
Goal 2: Facilitate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Goal 3: Enhance the Visitor Experience
Goal 4: Provide for Enhanced Education Attainment and Skills Development
Goal 5: Develop the Rural Economy
Goal 6: Improve Access and Communication Infrastructure
Goal 7: Foster Leadership and Local Capacity
Goal 8: Protect and Utilise the Natural, Built and Cultural Environment
Goal 9: Contribute to Regional Growth and International Potential
The LCDC has developed 4 main community goals as follows:
Goal 10: Address Area based Poverty and Disadvantage
Goal 11: Address Poverty and Social Exclusion (targeted approaches)
Goal 12: Enhance Community Facilities and Participation
Goal 13: improve Health and Well-being
These goals provide a broad framework to guide the development of more specific actions for inclusion in the plan.You can read the draft statements and main goals at:
- County Council Headquarters, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny;
- Council Area Offices;
- County Council Libraries; and
- on the web at http://consult.kilkenny.ie.
It is important that as many local communities and people as possible take part in the preparation of the LECP. We will consider everyone's views and take on board the feedback from organised public meetings that were held in:
- Castlecomer: Castlecomer Community Hall on Tuesday 23rd June 2015 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
- Piltown: Piltown Community Centre on Thursday 25th June 2015 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm
- Kilkenny City: Rivercourt Hotel, John Street on Monday 29th June 2015 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
You can also submit your views in writing to: Local Economic and Community Plan, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny or submit online at http://consult.kilkenny.ie.
