East Down Rural Community Network (EDRCN) welcomes the issue of the draft of Ards Borough Council's first corporate plan, and are delighted to have this opportunity to respond. Members, directors and staff of the network recognise the significance of the document and have been extensively involved in preparation of this response. The network has a broad range of members in rural areas of Ards Borough and works closely with many other groups and agencies in the borough.

THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

1. EDRCN has proven skills and experience in facilitating effective consultation with local communities. Because of the wide range of our members and our role in linking community, voluntary and statutory sectors who are active in rural Ards, EDRCN would be ideally placed to work with the council to support any future consultation process.

2. Timescale - While we welcome the action of the council in issuing the draft document for consultation, our members have found that the time frame for this process has not been adequate to allow proper discussion with members of their group or wider community. The lack of time afforded may also have caused disadvantage to those who have a disability and those with poor literacy skills. In addition most of our members were not on the original distribution list, which restricted further the time available to them. We are also concerned that, following consultation, the time allowed for any amendments to the Plan before publication is too short.

These are complaints expressed frequently in Northern Ireland by community groups who are asked to respond at short notice to complicated documents and is not restricted to this exercise alone. However we believe that the Council can lead by example in this regard and we are willing to assist wherever possible.

3. Review Process - We strongly support the idea of a review process, as detailed on page 9 of the draft document and further suggest that the input of key stakeholders should be a part of that process. The results of any review should be made widely available using existing resources such as the borough Magazine and the council's website, with due consideration given to equality issues.

4. Document Layout - With regard to the layout of the plan, our members felt it would assist clarity if the final document had numbered paragraphs, for ease of reference.

GENERAL COMMENTS

1. Equality - EDRCN notes the emphasis given within the plan to addressing issues of equality and supports the council in taking any action it may feel necessary to promote equality and good relations both within its corporate culture and throughout the borough. Demographic data indicates some facts which may require specific attention within the delivery of the proposed plan. These include the religious/political make up of the population which indicates a Catholic minority population of around 10% and the age profile which shows that from 1991 - 2001 there was an increase of 19.5% in the number of people aged over 65.

2. Partnership Working - The Network also welcomes the prominence given throughout the plan to the theme of partnership working. Further emphasis would be given to the council's commitment if this theme was explicit within the various strategic aims. We wish to reiterate EDRCN's commitment to supporting the delivery of common objectives through working with other agencies in the public, private, voluntary and community sector. We particularly welcome the council's stated objective of developing a 'closer partnership between the council and voluntary and community sectors' (Corporate theme 2, page 12). As central government policy requires increasing levels of cooperation and partnership across agencies, new skills are needed by all those who participate in cross sectoral working groups. In order to improve the effectiveness of this key aspect of the Council's work we suggest that appropriate training should be provided for everyone who has a partnership role including elected representatives, council officers and members of the community. Ideally this training should be carried out together so that partnership working is practiced during the training event.

CORPORATE THEME 1

1. Community Safety - EDRCN welcomes the Council's commitment to Community Safety and recognises the significant investments directed towards tackling crime and the fear of crime. Community Safety is an ongoing concern reflected by our member groups throughout the borough. The networks and other agencies working on the ground have considerable experience and skill to offer in the area of community safety and community cohesion. We would welcome opportunities to support the council in implementing the Community Safety Strategy through partnership and joint working approaches for instance: intergenerational projects and community education programs, youth/community dialogue, and local community safety plans. Investment in these types of proactive initiatives strengthens community infrastructure, builds capacity at grass roots level and reduces the need for punitive intervention.

2. Economic Development - Our members have suggested that continued consideration be given to the role of social economy enterprise as a necessary component of a healthy economy, and that this be included in the proposed Development Plan for the local economy. (pp 11-12) In addition members have highlighted the need for affordable childcare options for families as part of an overall economic strategy. As they are two important sources of employment in rural areas, the special needs of the Farming and Fishing communities should be given consideration in the development plan.

3. Integrated Development Strategy - The Network welcomes the proposal for an Integrated Development Strategy for the Ards area (p12). As the umbrella organisation for rural communities within the borough we are able to articulate the aspirations of local people for their communities and would welcome the opportunity to participate in the planning process.

CORPORATE THEME 2

1. Community Development & Volunteering - We welcome the Council's aim of encouraging and engaging all its communities. The Network, on a day to day basis, is involved with and provides support to many volunteers who are working hard to improve life in their area. Increasing levels of involvement in the various aspects of community life is a key factor in strengthening local communities. We suggest that the Council, in continuing to work closely with its voluntary sector partners, should adopt a strategic position with regard to the promotion of volunteering within the borough. Key aspects of any strategy should include the promotion of best practice and the acknowledgement and celebration of individual and group achievement.

2. Community Development & Low Community Infrastructure - EDRCN also welcomes the council's stated objective of 'supporting community development with an emphasis on areas of low or weak community infrastructure' (p12) and its commitment to 'take an active role in the development of local communities'.

Areas within the borough have already been recognised as suffering the effects of poverty and social exclusion, including high density areas within Newtownards town and some small rural communities supported through the Rural Community Estates Programme (RCN Programme). However, as over 40% of the population of Ards lives in rural areas, East Down Rural Community Network continues to provide much needed support and advice to a wide range of groups, including, but not restricted to, our members.

It is our experience that levels of capacity and development of community infrastructure within rural communities in Ards varies significantly from place to place. We would hope that in seeking to identify need within the rural sector, Council will give adequate recognition to the dispersed nature of the population and to the mixed nature of income/lifestyle.

The impact of poor health, low educational achievement and geographic isolation are proportionately greater in rural communities and distribution of resources should take account of these factors. Wards within Ards Borough are among the most isolated in Northern Ireland with regard to access to services. EDRCN is committed to building capacity within individual groups and to strengthening community infrastructure as a whole through out the rural parts of the borough in order to offset this disadvantage.

3. Village Regeneration Plans - In considering the production of regeneration plans for each town and village within the borough(p13), we commend to the council a Community Planning approach, which will take account of Social Capital models and encompass the economic and physical regeneration of the area. In our experience, a participative approach is likely to strengthen community infrastructure and engender greater ownership of the proposed regeneration plans, thereby considerably enhancing the sustainability of any initiative at local level.

CORPORATE THEME 3

1. Our members have requested that the council ensure social economy businesses are fully included in economic development initiatives and service delivery plans.
2. The Network welcomes the strategic approach to developing a regional tourism partnership. I n particular, some members have asked us to draw attention to the need for development on the east side of the peninsula, where some small communities are lacking in basic amenities, for example public toilets, or a seating area for visitors. It has also been suggested that the development of a coastal path would considerably enhance the tourism potential of the eastern coastline.

CORPORATE THEME 4

Community Consultation - EDRCN would emphasise again its commitment to partnership working and would seek to work closely with the Council in liasing with local communities and articulating their needs. As previously stated, consultation requires an adequate timeframe in order to be effective. In addition we would suggest the Council ensure that those consulted receive feedback. Our members' experience would suggest that lack of feedback engenders disillusionment with consultation processes and public bodies in general.

The Area Plan - The network would encourage the council to seek the views of local communities with regard to the proposed Ards and Down Area Plan, some of whom are involved in the forthcoming Public Enquiry.

CORPORATE THEME 5

1. EDRCN welcomes the council's aim of being 'an innovative,dynamic and responsive organisation'(p16).
2. Website - In particular the Network welcomes the development of the council's website (p16) as a method of enhancing service delivery. We suggest the council investigate, in partnership with other voluntary and statutory agencies, the potential of web based technologies for enhancing community infrastructure and improving access to information for as broad a range of people as possible. Our members suggested the council consider the provision of public access points for the internet in council facilities where possible, and in other public places in rural communities. In addition, the council should continue to bear in mind the needs of those who do not or cannot use the internet.
3. Resources - In making resources available to local groups (p16) the Network would suggest that the council provide clear information to local groups about the resources and support which are available to them. This should include the application process, amounts of grants available and any criteria used in the allocation of resources.
4. Service Quality - The Network's members have expressed concern that Council Officers' ability to act responsively, that is, in a timely and appropriate manner, may be hampered by the level of their administrative workload. Time, as well as cost, should be a factor in improving quality of service.
5. Procurement - In developing a procurement strategy(p17), our members have suggested that the council take into account the added value to the community of the proactive use of social economy enterprises.

CONLUDING REMARKS

To conclude, East Down Rural Community Network would wish to reiterate our desire and our ability to work with the Council towards achieving the aims set out in the Corporate Plan, with particular reference to the rural areas of the borough.