What are the likely differences between Local Area Working and Community Planning?

Community Planning is one of our new responsibilities being proposed under the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland (RPA). It is about creating a city-wide plan that creates an agreed direction for the future of Belfast to which citizens and organisations can contribute.

Under the current RPA recommendations, we would be responsible for working with all of the other statutory organisations to coordinate 'themed' partners in creating and delivering the plan across Belfast.

One particular aspect of Community Planning, which already exists in England, Scotland and Wales, is local area planning. Local communities become involved in agreeing the specific needs and priorities of their local areas and these form a local plan. These local plans influence and contribute to the overall city plan.

Local Area Working, by contrast, is a purely internal council programme which makes sure our own services can respond and adapt to the specific needs of local areas. The programme will make it easier for us to contribute to the development of a Community Planning model.