Introduction
The Regional Development Strategy "Shaping
our Future" carries a commitment to review the RDS to ensure that it remains appropriate over time
and that it continues to be effective in delivering the agreed strategic objectives. Changes to the
RDS should be clearly supported by evidence.
The Strategy will be subject to
a review after 10 years to consider if major changes of direction are required in the light of new trends
and circumstances. The nature and extent of the review would be a matter for political decision, at
the time, in the light of needs highlighted by the monitoring process. After 5 years (around 2005/6),
there will be a focused assessment to identify any aspects where 'in-course' adjustments might be appropriate.
The
Department started preparations for this work with an announcement on 6 May 2004 that it sought views
on the Regional Housing Growth Indicators. The period for providing views has now closed and these are
now being assessed. Other monitoring work is being carried out on an annual basis but the Department
considers that it is important to capture qualitative evidence, especially where quantitative evidence
may not paint a full picture.
Public Consultation on the First 5-Year Review of
the Regional Development Strategy
EXTENSION TO CONSULTATION PERIOD ON THE FIRST
REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND 2025
The Department
for Regional Development published the consultation document on the first Review of the Regional Development
Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 on 31 May 2006.
The consultation period
has been extended and comments should now be received no later than 4.00pm on Friday 29 September 2006.
This
first 5-year review of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) is to assess the need for any in-course
adjustments to the Strategy.
Some minor adjustments are proposed to Strategic
Planning Guidelines and their supporting measures for Rural Northern Ireland and the Environment sections.
External
Working Group
The Department has invited a range of people from a wide background
in public and private sectors to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues around the RDS for the purpose
of assisting the Department to identify the range of topics that should form the scope of the 2005/2006
focussed assessment.
This group, termed the "External Working Group"
will meet on a monthly basis. Reports of the Meetings will be published on this website. The Group will
not be asked to arrive at any decisions. That rests with the Department. Group Members have been selected
on the basis of their expertise and experience and not to represent any particular constituency. There
will be an opportunity at a later date for all groups or individuals to record formal comments during
a public consultation period.
Terms Of Reference
Terms
of Reference were agreed with Members of the Working Group. These terms set out the mutual concern that
Members, in attending Meetings, did not represent a constituency of any form but provided advice to
the Department on the basis of their expertise and experience. This advice will be used by the Department
at a later date to determine the scope of the Focussed Assessment of the RDS.
External Working Group Minutes
The
9th Meeting took place on Tuesday 22 March 2005. The Group considered the RDS Chapter "Strengthening
Regional Cohesion in a Global Context" and also reviewed the totality of the points made in the
meeting series. The Department is grateful for the contribution made by members. While there will be
no further monthly meetings members agreed to meet again if the Department requested.
The 8th Meeting
took place on Wednesday 16th February 2005. The topic under discussion was "The Belfast Metropolitan
Area". The Group also heard a presentation from the Rural Development Council on their Response
to the Policy Review Consultation by Price Waterhouse Coopers on behalf of the Department of Agriculture
& Rural Development.
The 7th Meeting of the External Working
Group took place on Wednesday 12 January 2005. The topic under consideration was "Londonderry:
Regional City of the North West"
The 6th Meeting took
place on Wednesday 25th October 2004. The topic under discussion was "Caring for the Environment".
The 5th Meeting
of the External Working Group took place on Tuesday 19 October 2004. The topic under consideration was
"Developing a Regional Transportation Strategy".
The 4th Meeting
of the External Working Group took place on Wednesday 29th September 2004. The topic under consideration
was "Supporting Economic Development".
The 3rd Meeting
of the External Working Group established for the purpose of assisting the Department to identify the
range of topics that should form the scope of the 2005/2006 focussed assessment of the Regional Development
Strategy took place on Wednesday 25 August 2004. The topic under consideration was "Meeting Housing
Need".
