Place Shaping and Infrastructure

Purpose

The purpose of the network is to support members and officers to influence the development of policy and legislation on planning and regeneration, and to build member capacity on these areas of work. The group and associated networks act as a regional mechanism for sharing good practice, knowledge and information between councils, and deliver capacity building events and resource materials on relevant issues.

Network Members
Network Partners
Role of Network (post COVID) & Priority Issues
Work Plan

Councillor Stevie Corr, Chair

Network Members - Cllr Stevie Corr (BCC) Chair, Cllr Julie Flaherty (ABC) Vice-Chair, Cllr Alison Bennington (A&N), Cllr Eddie Thompson (A&ND), Cllr Sam Nicholson (ABC), Cllr Shauneen Baker (BCC), Ald Joan Baird (CCG), Cllr Paul Fleming (D&S), Cllr Glenn Campbell (F&O), Cllr Jenny Palmer (LCCC), Cllr Robert Logan (MEA) & Cllr Wesley Brown (MU).

Network Partners

ROLE OF THE NETWORK

Democratic Scrutiny of: Departmental and partner organisation input in relation to priority planning, place-shaping and infrastructure issues, and to develop regional policy approaches on these and related issues.

Monitoring the progress of the relationship between government departments and councils on to priority planning, place-shaping and infrastructure issues, including relationships with arms-length bodies

Oversight of the partnership work between local and central government and partners on delivery of key issues impacting on councils, and on which council can have an influence.

Promotion of good practice: Development of collaborative approaches, development of elected member understanding and awareness of priority issues

Lobbying for improvements and for resources to deliver

COVID-19

Covid-19 has decimated local and global economies. The roles of councils are – and will continue to be - completely refocussed as a result. Local democracy and the councils upholding it have a renewed opportunity to make a case for localism, with powers and resources coming to communities via local authorities. After Covid-19, it is the case that there is a better appreciation that local government remains an under-utilised and markedly under-resourced part of our public services delivery and our democratic governance here in N. Ireland, despite councils meeting huge and increased challenges in terms of constituent, corporate, local and regional (NI) work.

Outcomes to be achieved by May 2023
Planning	Initiation and completion of DfI review of planning legislation including development of legislation to enable councils to set their own planning fees
	Initiation and completion of DfI review of planning policy including Strategic Planning Policy, renewable energy policy and policy on sustainable development in the countryside
	Completion of a satisfactory review of the Code of Conduct as it relates to planning matters
Place-shaping	Successful lobbying and collaborative work to achieve completion of the transfer of regeneration powers
	Initiation of central-local policy work towards transfer of further place-shaping powers and accompanying resources
	Elected members will be furnished with contemporary information on innovative work/thinking to develop approaches to housing supply, developer contributions, urban design and landscape architecture
Infrastructure	Appropriate and adequate central-local plans in place to address infrastructure deficits: water and sewerage, digital & broadband and energy
	Elected members will be furnished with contemporary information on the deficits listed above

PRIORITIES LIST

Addressing the Infrastructure Deficit, particularly water and sewerage
Housing supply – addressing the lack of acceptable, affordable and social housing
Housing location - choice of where to live, developing the right housing in the right place, tackling stigma in social housing
Climate change action infrastructure/addressing flood risk
Securing regeneration powers for councils
Rural infrastructure and connectivity
Digital Infrastructure/Broadband connections
Roads and Rail Infrastructure
Keeping up to date with progress on LDPs and community plans - the story so far/what next?
Improving urban design – exploring good practice from around the world
Linking infrastructure to community planning and well-being – active travel, greenways, green spaces etc
Community involvement in the planning of spaces
Practicalities - Communication of vision, delivery, costs

KEY DATES

2020	August	Conference and forward planning meeting
2020	October	Conference - Placemaking Post-COVID – powers and tools, design, quality, future-proofing
2021	January	As per workplan priorities set in August 2020
	April	As per workplan priorities set in August 2020
	October	Mid Term Review Regional Event
2022	January	As per workplan priorities set in October 2021
	April	As per workplan priorities set in October 2021
	October	As per workplan priorities set in October 2021
2023	January	As per workplan priorities set in October 2021
	Mar/April	Final meeting pre-election. Report on achieving outcomes

Key Documents, Information & Learning for Members

This section includes key documents, information, consultations and presentations from network focused events.

NILGA Support Officer

Please fill in the following form to get in touch with the NILGA support officer for this Network.

Place Shaping and Infrastructure

Purpose

DRAFT NILGA Response - Economy Committee Micro-enquiry re Energy Strategy [PDF]

NILGA Response - Energy Strategy - March 2020 [PDF]

NI Local Government - Cllr Code of Conduct [PDF]

NI Local Government - Cllr Code of Conduct (Planning).pdf [PDF]

NILGA Response - DfI Flood Risk Management Plan [PDF]

NILGA Response - DfE Petroleum Licence Applications [PDF]

Key Documents, Information & Learning for Members

NILGA Support Officer