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Inspiring Regional Development

Constituency for Growth

Involving the community & business in regional development planning

Key Points

• Recognise demographic drivers. Regions and communities are losing young people, we need to do something about this.
• Local government can, but does not have to, provide a key role in creating 'interconnectedness'.
• Do not aim for huge consensus - seek critical mass and some key people.
• Look for opportunities that already exist but which are under developed - identify your comparative advantage.
• Work on the broader view e.g. careers not jobs, identifying youth talent in schools, getting youth into jobs.
• Consult wider where relevant. This is very important if people are to come on board.
• Think globally, act locally - work together with other agencies but do not let them distract you from your local needs.
• Growth needs a catalyst - which may or may not be an outside influence.
• Do not just limit consultation with the community to the start of your initiative, keep the community involved and talk their language: practicalities not theories. Bring people into the process by illustrating how they could benefit, then drive the process forward to deliver these benefits so that they stay involved.
• Differentiate between an 'initial scoping' exercise and in-depth consultation, so that people understand and do not feel left out.
• Provide clear communication about the process and objectives.
• To get consultation and community involvement, you may need to educate/equip people with the knowledge to participate properly.
• Seek a mandate to achieve outcomes rather than for individual specific actions.
• You have to be prepared to lead. You cannot just reflect back what the community wants to hear.
• Education and training is key for supporting economic development.
• Increase the level of understanding within communities about what you are doing.
• Get people to collaborate by sharing the benefits with them.
• You need to have one group willing to drive consultation and the planning process.
• Be prepared to ask for business funding support. Involved them in the process, get them on board.
• Get central government buy-in. Understand the 'customer'. Build networks, find the right people, and persist.
• If you are clear about what you want to achieve, it is easier to get others involved.
• Communities are not currently equipped to participate in the LTCCP (Long-term Community Council Plan) process - they do not have sufficient information.

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