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Sessions

Module 5: An Action Agenda

3:15-3:30pm Module registration: tea/coffee available on arrival
3:30-3:45pm Welcome; Reflections on Modules 1-4; Introduction to Module 5: defining the challenges for developing the Twin-City and wider region
3:45-4.45pm Working Group presentations (20 minutes per group followed by 10 minutes for panel discussion)

  • Green / sustainable / renewable energies
  • Tourism and Recreation
4:45-5:00pm Coffee break
5:00-6:00pm Working group exercise

Delivering an action agenda for the Twin-City and wider region

See enclosed exercise and consider the following questions:

  • What are the vital ingredients of an over-arching vision for cooperation in the Twin-City and wider region?
  • Does this three-tiered structure provide the necessary framework for initiating, supporting and growing future projects in the Twin-City and wider region?
  • Does it allow for local leadership within the public and private sectors to advocate for and champion an action agenda?
  • Can it address short-term actions and also provide longer-term guidance on strategic initiatives?
  • Should the preparation of a regional agreement, outlining key areas for joint working including more formalised structures, be considered?
6:00-6:30pm  Plenary session

Making it Happen: A Road-Map for Action

Facilitated by ICLRD; based on presentations, responses from panel and working group exercises

6.30-6.45pm Evaluating the Executive Training Programme
6:45-7:00pm Reflections on Module 5; Future review of progress; Presentation of Certificates; Module 5 close

Presentations – Module 5 An Action Agenda

1. Neale BlairBringing Together an Action Agenda

2. Working Group presentationTourism and Recreation

3. Working Group presentationGreen / Sustainable / Renewable Energies

Module 4: Engaging the Community

Tuesday 13th April: 3.30pm-7pm, Clanrye O’Hares Room, Canal Court Hotel, Newry

3:15-3:30pm Module registration: tea/coffee available on arrival
3:30-3:45pm Welcome; Reflections on Module 3; Defining the task for Module 5
3.45-4.00pm Reflective questions (consider the selected Module 3 themes: Tourism and Recreation; Cross-border Enterprise/Trade Strategy; and Green/sustainable/renewable energies):Who are the key stakeholders in the Twin-City Region and beyond?

How can these stakeholders be engaged in an action agenda for the region?

What specific role can local authorities, business, including chambers of commerce, and others play in harnessing greater community involvement?

  • Feedback from each table
4:00-4:30pm Case study (s) of Community Participation:In the Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Region, local governments and the respective chambers have been closely involved in developing the concept and strategies for the Twin-City Region. Engaging a wider community of stakeholders is a crucial step to furthering the concept and initiating/sustaining action around key projects and programmes. The cross-border context adds a layer of complexity when engaging the community given different types of social networks.

Brendan Bartley, drawing on his research and case studies in Ireland will highlight key issues for engaging community/local govt/private sector partnerships and developing a programme of sustained engagement among key stakeholders including the role for local authority leadership – Brendan Bartley, Research Associate, National Institute for Regional & Spatial Analysis, NUI Maynooth

  • Q&A with Brendan Bartley
4:30-5:00pm Putting the Community in Planning and Service Delivery: lessons from the UK for the Twin-City RegionWithin in Northern Ireland, the RPA proposes to devolve planning responsibilities to the new councils and encourage a more integrated community planning process to shape and implement local and regional development strategies. Under RPA, local councils will have increased discretion in linking a family of services, among them economic development, services, housing and planning.

Prof Greg Lloyd will provide insights on experiences from the UK on community participation to highlight the key issues and opportunities under RPA and the potential application within a cross-border context – Prof Greg Lloyd, Head of the School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster

  • Q&A with Prof Greg Lloyd
5:00-5:15pm Coffee break
5:15-6:30pm Working GroupsDeveloping an action agenda for community engagement

To consider two inter-related but discreet tasks:

  • How to cement the concept of the Twin-City Region in the eyes of the community (community in its broadest sense: businesses, NGOs, community groups, cross-border networks, centres of learning etc.)
  • How to ensure community involvement in taking forward a future action agenda
6:30-6:50pm Plenary – Bringing it all together – with input from expert panel comprising Prof Greg Lloyd and Brendan Bartley (facilitated by ICLRD)Report back from working groups, response and discussion from panel
6:50-7:00pm Engaging the Community in Shaping and Delivering Local Strategies (link to Module 5); Module 4 close; confirmation of arrangements for Module 5

Presentations – Module 4 Engaging the Community

1. Neale BlairEngaging the Community in Shaping and Delivering Local Strategies

2. Brendan BartleyCase study(s) of Community Participation

3. Prof Greg LloydPutting the Community in Planning and Service Delivery: lessons from the UK for the Twin-City Region

Module 3: Making it Happen

Tuesday 9th March: 3.30pm-7pm, Clanrye O’Hares Room, Canal Court Hotel, Newry

3:30-4:00pm

Module registration: tea/coffee available on arrival

4:00-4:10pm

Welcome; Reflections on Module 2 and the importance of indicators/evidence to drive a regional agenda; Schedule for Module 3

4:10-4:25pm

Reflective questions posed to participants (facilitated by ICLRD):

What will the Twin City region economy look like in 3-5 years time?

What are the critical elements that will shape this economy?

What would prevent this economy from taking shape?

Feedback from each table

4:25-4:45pm

Right Here, Right Now: understanding possible economic futures based on current realities on the island of Ireland generally and the Twin-City Region specifically – Professor John Bradley, Economic Consultant and former Research Professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute

4:45-4:55pm

Q&A with John Bradley (facilitated by InterTradeIreland)

4:55-5:10pm

Coffee break

5:10-6:20pm

Working Groups (facilitated by ICLRD)

Exercise 1: – Visioning the Twin City Region economy (25 mins)

  • Revisit reflective questions on basis of John Bradley’s presentation
  • Discussion –

Why develop a Twin-City Region economy?

What is the basis for practical areas of collaboration?

Who are the stakeholders and what are their roles?

Exercise 2: – a sustainable economy in practice (45 mins)

  • World Café: development in the Twin-City Region

6:20-6:50pm

Plenary – Bringing it all together – with input from an expert panel comprising Padraic White, Chairman of the Louth Economic Forum, entrepreneur and former Managing Director of IDA-Ireland; and Fergal McCormack, Managing Partner of FPM Accountants and Chairman of ICLRD (facilitated by InterTradeIreland)

Report back from working groups, response and discussion from panel

6:50-7:00pm

Creating a short-term action agenda for the Twin-City Region economy (link to Module 5); Module 3 close; confirmation of date for Module 4

Presentations – Module 3 Making it Happen

1. Neale BlairMaking It Happen – A Sustainable Economy in the Twin-City Region

2. John BradleyRight Here, Right Now: Understanding Possible Economic Futures Based on Current Realities on the island of Ireland and the Twin-City Region

Module 2:Evidence Informed Planning

Preliminary Schedule

Tuesday 9th February: 4pm–7pm, Clarye O’Hares Room, Canal Court Hotel, Newry (dinner available from 7pm)

INTRODUCTION
4:00-4:10
Introduction to Module 2; Prologue on indicators and the policy cycle
TRAINING SESSION 1 – Understanding the spatial planning policy agenda
4:10-4:25
Demographic realities and environmental directives: Locating the environment in current policy: Niall Cussen, Senior Planning Adviser, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
4:25-4:35
Q&A with Niall Cussen
4:35-4:50
Promoting local economic development strategies in the context of a severe economic recession Locating the regional economy in current policy: Conor Patterson, Chief Executive of Newry & Mourne Co-operative & Enterprise Agency and President of the Newry Chamber of Commerce
4:50-5:00
Q&A with Conor Patterson
COFFEE BREAK
5:00-5:20
TRAINING SESSION 2 – Making it happen: spatial planning policy into practice
5:20-5:40
Mapping evidence in spatial planning: Justin Gleeson, Project Manager of the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) based in the National University of Ireland Maynooth
5:50-6:25
Identifying indicators for prioritising action in spatial planning: working groups
6:25-6:45
Evidence-informed planning in the Newry-Dundalk region: key indicators and action agenda for sharing information and addressing gaps: plenary discussion
6:45-6:55
Observations on making cross-border spatial planning happen in the Newry-Dundalk region: Tom Hanney, Southern Joint Secretary, North-South Ministerial Council
6:55-7:00
Closing remarks; confirmation of arrangements for Module Three.

Presentations – Module 2 Evidenced Informed Planning

  1. Neale BlairIndicators and the Policy Cycle
  2. Niall Cussen, Demographic Realities and Environmental Directives: Indicators and Planning Policy
  3. Conor Patterson, Making a Cross-Border Economic Development Strategy in a Recession
  4. Justing Gleeson, Mapping Evidence in Spatial Planning

Summary

  1. Nov. 20, 2009  Development Corridors

Development Corridors

Shaping and Managing Cross-Border Development

Professional Executive Training Programme for Councillors and Public/Private Sector Representatives in Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Region

PROGRAMME

Module 1:

Development Corridors and the Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Region

20th November 2009: 2pm – 5pm, Carrickdale Hotel (lunch available from 1pm)

Session 1 –

Introducing the Executive Training Programme

2:00-2:30pm

Chair: Dr. Neale Blair, assistant Director, ICLRD

Introduction to CroSPlaN: Andy Pollak, Director, CCBS
Setting the context – opening remarks from North-South Ministerial Council: Kevin Lyons, Sectoral Officer, NSMC
Explaining the Executive Training Programme: Neale Blair
Delegate introductions: Delegates
Session 2 – Setting the context for cross-border development

2:30-3:30pm

Chair: Mr. John Driscoll, Director, ICLRD

Exploring international examples for corridor development and inter-jurisdictional cooperation: John Driscoll
Round table discussion on the potentiality of corridor development, challenges and opportunities: Delegates

Coffee Break: 3:30-3:45pm

Session 3 – Understanding spatial dynamics and the Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Region

3:45-4:45pm

Chair: Dr Neale Blair

Spatial planning on the island of Ireland – RDS and NSS: Jim Hetherington, Principal Planning Officer, DRD
Round table discussion and reporting back on living and working in the Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Region: Delegates
Closing observations and comments on Cross-Border Initiatives: Martin Fraser, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach

Closing remarks and confirmed dates of modules two to five: 4:45-5:00pm