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Westmeath Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)

‌The report on local government - Putting People First – An Action Programme for Effective Local Government – Oct 2012, - envisaged a range of reforms including an enhanced role for local government in community development. This enhanced role for the Council in community development was provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014 which was enacted on 1^st June 2014 and included for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees. Regulations and Guidance have also being issued by the DECLG in respect of these LCDC’s. The Westmeath LCDC was formally established on 30^th June 2014.

Membership of Westmeath LCDC

The membership of the LCDC and the mechanism for selecting these members is prescribed in the legislation and guidance. This membership comprises of a range of statutory and non-statutory socio-economic partners drawn from the Councils administrative area. The LCDC membership is constituted so as to ensure an appropriate representational balance between public and private interests, while also facilitating an appropriate mix across the broad range of sectors across the county.

Westmeath LCDC has 17 members (8 statutory members and 9 non-statutory members), membership details for 2024 are outlined below:

STATUTORY MEMBERS	NON - STATUTORY MEMBERS
Cllr. Tom Farrell - Westmeath County Council Elected Member	Mr. Vincent Bagnall - PPN Community & Voluntary Rep.
Cllr. Alfie Devine - Westmeath County Council Elected Member	Mr. Hugh Farrell - PPN Community & Voluntary Rep.
Cllr. Bill Collentine - Westmeath County Council Elected Member	Ms. Anne Drury - PPN Social Inclusion Rep.
Mr. Barry Kehoe - Westmeath County Council Chief Executive (Vice-chairperson of Westmeath LCDC)	Mr. Joe McEvoy - PPN Environmental Rep.
Ms. Christine Charlton - Head of Local Enterprise Office	Ms. Cathryn Whelehan - PPN Social Inclusion Rep. (Chairperson of Westmeath LCDC)
Ms. Marie Flynn - Dept of Social Protection	Mr. Frank Murtagh - Westmeath Community Development Ltd.
Ms. Maria Fox - Education and Training Board	Ms. Bernie McCarthy - Farming/Agriculture
Ms. Teresa Kennedy - Health Service Executive	Suzanne McEvoy - Business/Employers
	Mr. Noel Maguire - Trade Union

Contact for LCDC

The Chief Officer for Westmeath LCDC is:

Annette Barr Jordan, Senior Executive Officer , Community Development & Corporate Services, Westmeath County Council, Aras an Chontae, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Email: ajordan@westmeathcoco.ie

Tel: (044) 9332138

Role

The LCDC is a committee of the Council and its primary role is to develop, co-ordinate and implement a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development. The primary work of the LCDC to date has been in advancing the following initiatives:

CLICK HERE for GRANTS

Main Achievements of the LCDC in 2024

In 2024 the primary achievements of the LCDC have been in advancing the following initiatives:

1. Development and adoption of the Westmeath Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 – 2028 on the 23rd February 2024.

2. SICAP sub-committee managed tender process for SICAP 2024 - 2028

3. Monitoring and oversight of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme annual plan 2024 to meet its KPIs .

4. Development and adoption of Local Development Strategy 2023 – 2027 in conjunction with Westmeath Community Development.

5. In conjunction with our Implementation Partner, Westmeath Community Development, and the LEADER sub-committee of the LCDC, continued delivery of LEADER in the County under the Transitional and EURI programmes, as set out in Westmeath Local Development Strategy (LEADER) 2014-2020 and extended into 2024.

6. Launch of LEADER Programme 2023 2027

7. Oversight of Empowering Communities Programme.

8. Advancement of community support initiatives including the following:

LGBTI dormant accounts funding project delivered by Midlands Regional Youth Services.
Community Recognition Fund.
Community Support Fund

9. Healthy Ireland (HI) Programme.

10. Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.

11. Election of new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

LCDC Meetings

In general the LCDC meets every 2 months and the business of the meeting is transacted in accordance with adopted Standing Orders:

Meeting Minutes can be viewed HERE