Social Inclusion Measures Committee

• Endorsement of the plans/strategies of Local and Community Development sector;

• Credible attempts to arrive at the ‘Ladder Approach’* in Fingal by networking, integrating, collaborating, and changing the delivery of NDP programmes by statutory/government funded agencies;

• As before the SIMC will form an overview of all proposed new implementation structures of the Fingal Development Board from the point of view of Social Inclusion;

• Delivering on Social Inclusion principles in the FDB strategy by encouraging organisations to use the 3R method (see appendix 3, FDB Strategy).

Benefits

• Co-ordination and linkage of all new initiatives developed by Local and Community Development Sector**;

• Better co-ordination between agencies and with other sectors ultimately addressing gaps and overlaps;

• Change in organisations from a provider-centred perspective to that of the target groups and service users***;

• More socially inclusive and service development and delivery.

Sub Issues

• Finding a compromise on endorsement that allays fears of Local Development sector and adds value to their plans/strategies;

• Encouraging much more buy-in and commitment from state agencies;

• Organising events, commissioning research and writing policies which will promote best practice on social inclusion;

• Fingal County Council to join the Local Government Anti-Poverty Learning Network and create synergy with the SIMC.

* As outlined by the DoELG
** A specific task set down in the NDP/CSF evaluation
*** NDP/CSF Evaluation unit recommendation 1, p.66

Methodology

Maintenance of existing SIMC, however, much more scope for (non-standing, ad hoc) sub committees of the SIMC completing specific tasks needs to be done in the future membership of the SIMC needs to be reviewed so that a elected members and officials of FCC get involved

Main Stakeholders

Existing SIMC membership, however, wider membership invited to participate on temporary sub-structures for issues like endorsement.

Work Programme for 2004

• Tasks outlined in the NDP/CSF evaluation;

• Endorsement meetings;

• SIM integration day where state agencies present their plans;

• Commission a Poverty Profile of the county.

Resource Implications

• The focus here remains true to the original ‘bending the spend’ concept of CDBs;

• Tasks on co-ordination and endorsement will involve only staff time;

• Agency integration day in Fingal may require co-funding if venues, external expertise is required;

• External work involving consultants to be shared by all statutory and state funded agencies.

Link to original Strategy

The SIMC never had a role in implementing actions, however, a small number of actions like circulating Equality statistics could be absorbed into the work of the Committee.

Risks

Fears about endorsement and administrative implications
Perception that Social Inclusion is a luxury item in current financial climate
Relevance of the SIMC process to NGO members.