COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 08, 2012
HEADED ITEM NO. 15
LG SECTORAL STRATEGY – Supporting economic recovery and jobs locally
REPLY:
LG SECTORAL STRATEGY – Supporting economic recovery and jobs locally
As part of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan’s Action Programme for Local Government Reform, Putting People First, Local Authorities will have a new enhanced role in Local Economic Development and as outlined in the local government enterprise and jobs strategy launched by the Minister on 27th September 2012.
The document outlines the important role Local Authorities have in identifying infrastructural and other deficits and providing much of the physical infrastructure essential to support enterprise and promote employment. They deliver essential services to business and are geared to respond to the needs of local communities, employers and entrepreneurs speedily and efficiently and sets out the measures being implemented and planned by the sector under Action 6.5 of the Action Plan for Jobs. Attached to this report are a series of actions/supports delivered in the County by this Authority
Members are aware of the Sustaining Business Programme which is updated on a Monthly basis. . In order to bring these policies/actions/supports together and secure maximum value from them this Authority is in the process of drafting a local economic stragegy for the County and the first draft will be brought to the October CPG meeting for consideration.
Plan for Jobs.
The Local Government sector has recently published a key report on business supports across all authorities. This includes a database of best practice for use by all local authorities in the development, in consultation with local business and other stakeholders, of their supports for enterprise and employment and complementary Strategies at local level in support of the Action Plan for Jobs.
The strategy complements that recent publication of the best practice report on Local Authority Support to Enterprise and Business – Analysis of Economic Templates by the County and City Managers’ Association.
The Councils press release dated 17th September 2012 is available at:
http://www.sdublincoco.ie/index.aspx?pageid=939&pid=23913
The strategy indicates the contributing role of local authorities in supporting local enterprise and employment, labour activation supports, development of necessary infrastructure, economic promotion, innovation and best practice approaches to business support, promotion of tourism, heritage and culture, procurement support, local development and community based initiatives and the green economy.
As Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are created in local authorities, the capacity of the sector to support local businesses and deliver national policy in support of micro-enterprises will be enhanced.
It is expected that improved alignment of the community and local government sector, along with the forthcoming reform of the local government sector, will provide additional opportunities to continue to develop and utilise untapped potential from within local communities. It will refocus on community based economic development and business support, as well as broader social inclusion initiatives.
The document “Supporting Economic Recovery and Jobs – Locally” is available at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad,31194,en.pdf
The press release is available at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/LocalGovernmentAdministration/News/MainBody,31195,en.htm