Kildare Local Community Development Committee

Background

The Local Government Act 2014, provided for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in all local authorities nationally. They replaced County Development Boards (CDB) and have an enhanced role and different structure. The Local Government Act gives legislative effect to the commitments in Putting People First. Kildare LCDC was established in May 2014 in line with national directives.

LCDC Role

The establishment of LCDCs is central to local government reform. LCDCs bring together local authority members and officials, state agencies, voluntary sector organisations and local community interests. Their role is to plan and implement agreed approaches to local and community development.  Key aspects of this role include:

• A more strategic, joined up approach to local and community development.
• Oversight and responsibility for local and community development related funding in the county (e.g. Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, Rural Development LEADER Programme, Healthy Ireland, Slaintecare, LGBTI+ Programme, Empowering Communities)
• 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 Kildare Community Response Forum to provide Forum members with an opportunity to share information, discuss challenges and agree on next steps to respond to the COVID-19 and Ukrainian emergency situations together.

Local Authority Role

• The Local Authority establishes the LCDC in their area. This occurred in Kildare in 2014
• Membership of the LCDC is approved by resolution at full council by the elected members.
• The Corporate Policy Group nominate the elected members to the LCDC.
• A local authority staff member is assigned as Chief Officer to have responsibility for supporting the work of the LCDC. The Chief Officer is not a member of the LCDC but can attend all meetings. This role acts to ensure that the committee runs effectively.
• The Chief Officer of Kildare LCDC is Marian Higgins, Director of Services, Community, Climate, Environment and Water
• 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.
• Unlike other local authority committees (SPC, CPG) the LCDC does not cease on the ordinary day of retirement of local authority members
• How functions are carried out and any decisions made by the LCDC are solely a matter for the LCDC.

Kildare LCDC Membership

• Kildare LCDC is based on a 19-member committee, in line with national directives. (Current membership of Kildare LCDC is outlined below)
• Nine members are statutory, and ten members are non-statutory representatives.
• The nine statutory representatives are drawn from elected members, statutory agencies and KCC officials
• The ten non-statutory representatives are drawn from community and voluntary, social inclusion, environmental, community development, farming, and employer interests
• Non-statutory representatives on Kildare LCDC were selected following an advertised expression of interests process in April 2014
• One of the ten non-statutory representative places is ring-fenced for County Kildare LEADER Partnership, in line with national guidelines
• Five of the non-statutory representatives are nominated through the PPN- community development (2), social inclusion (2) and environment (1).
• Gender balance is an important consideration and is strictly monitored by the Department and funders.
• Kildare LCDC has a current gender balance of 53% female and 47% male.

LCDC competency and skills

On establishing Kildare LCDC, it was agreed that the criterion for all members is:

• Extensive experience of local communities, social inclusion, or economic development at national, regional, or local level
• Significant strategic planning experience, and a track record in supporting the delivery of plans at local level
• Financial capabilities: experience in securing significant resources, managing programmes or financial management
• A strong track record in working collaboratively across sectors to progress agreed goals

These criteria were used to assess membership of the nineteen members of the LCDC and will continue to inform Kildare LCDC membership into the future. All new members must be approved by the local authority on the recommendation of the LCDC.

Conflict of Interest

It is important to consider potential for conflict of interests amongst members. No more than one board member or employee of any single community or voluntary organisation, community development body or local development body represented on the LCDC can be a member of the LCDC.

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 no represent their own body or interests on the LCDC.

Disqualification from Membership

People can be disqualified from being members of the LCDC if they are:

• Convicted or sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
• Convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty
• Disqualified or restricted from being a director of a company

Kildare LCDC work to date.

Kildare LCDC work to date includes.

• The development of the Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP). The process to develop the second LECP commenced in 2023 and is ongoing throughout the year.
• The development of data sets in conjunction with AIRO Maynooth University. Census 2016 reports will be updated later this year, when Census 2022 results are released.
• The procurement and ongoing oversight of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which is delivered through County Kildare LEADER Partnership (CKLP) circa €1.3 million annually.
• The development of the Kildare Local Development LEADER Strategy which is delivered through CKLP. Kildare LCDC act as the Local Action Group (LAG) who oversee and approve all aspects of the implementation of the Kildare LEADER circa €5m. Planning for the LEADER programme 2023-2027 is underway
• Developing the Healthy Ireland Programmes Strand 1, 2, 3 with HI 4 commencing in 2023. The LCDC play the oversight role in terms of the implementation this programme in the county.   
• Delivery of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Athy to roll out a range of evidence-based health programmes in addition to local supports to engage people in healthy activities.
• Overseeing the roll out of funding streams for communities including Community Support Funds, Community Enhancement Programme, LGBTI, Social Enterprise Funding, Community Activities Funding etc. as per national guidelines
• Supporting linkages between LCDC members to develop new services and supports e.g. Tusla and McVerry Trust
• Securing and supporting the successful delivery of the HeadsUp Programme an  initiative of the National Office of Suicide Prevention Programme
• Highlighting service gaps and resourcing e.g. ETB Youth Officer, Family Resource Centres
• Establishing emergency response forums such as Covid 19 Community Response, Ukrainian Community Response as requested nationally.

Meeting Times

• Kildare LCDC meets six times per year, with meetings scheduled in advance. These dates and times are set and cannot be changed
• They are held on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12pm, in Aras Chill Dara, Naas
• Kildare LCDC meet from 10am-11am, with the Local Action Group (LAG) (to oversee LEADER) meeting from 11am-12pm
• Attendance levels across the sectors is high approximately 75%
• All meetings start and finish on time.
• Sub-Groups are established to work on key areas of work identified by the LCDC
• A mechanism is in place to reimburse volunteer members of the committee for travel expenses.
• 2024 meeting schedule to follow shortly

Nominations Guidelines

• Nominating groups must be registered with Kildare Public Participation Network for at least 6 months.
• Groups must have full membership and be a member of the respective seat e.g. nominations for a Community and Voluntary seat must be a PPN member group from the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
• Nominations can only be made with the candidate’s knowledge and approval.
• Each Group can nominate one candidate only per seat. If groups nominate more than one candidate, the first nomination received will be accepted.
• If we receive more nominations than seats available, elections will take place through online voting.
• Nominees must have no political affiliations.
• Candidates are requested to submit a short profile (written in the first person) to accompany their nomination form (no more than 150 words, showing relevant experience). This profile will be made public for the purpose of elections. We also request a photo for the ballot paper (this is optional).