Arising from the review of structures employed in the delivery of local and community development programmes, responsibility was given to city and county development boards, CDBs, for the endorsement of plans by community and local development agencies.
This requirement promotes an integrated approach to service provision at local and community level. It makes sense that the work in which local communities are engaged should inform the development of city and county strategic plans and vice versa. In many regions across the country, this simply puts a formal structure on already established links. For others, this represents an opportunity to forge beneficial connections with the broader policy arena. The objective is to enable the CDBs build up a picture of the range of services, activities and priorities of the various community and local development bodies within each of their areas. In this way, improved coherence of the delivery of services and more effective use of resources to the benefit of local communities can be pursued.
I am aware that those involved in some community development projects, CDPs, have expressed reservations regarding the process. Such reservations are perhaps to be expected in the initial stages of any new process. It is the Government's expressed intention that respect for the work carried out by those in all projects and agencies should characterise the endorsement process. Given that the process is new for all concerned, its operation will continue to be examined throughout the country with a view to improvement, where appropriate. However, I am satisfied that the long-term benefits of this process to local communities, as already outlined, will justify the requisite input and co-operation of relevant community groups, including CDPs.
