Title of Report:

Sperrin Mountains Future Search Conference

Officer presenting: Director of Business & Culture

Author: Mid Ulster Council

1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations

To seek Members approval to undertake a Future Search Conference on the Sperrin Mountains.

2 Background

The Sperrin Mountains cover an area of 1181km2 that is contained within a boundary zone which runs from Strabane to Dungiven to Maghera to Magherafelt to Cookstown to Omagh, incorporating parts of the four district council areas of Causeway Coast and Glens, Derry City and Strabane, Mid Ulster and Fermanagh and Omagh. The Sperrin Mountains are the largest and least explored mountain range in Northern Ireland.

2.1 Designated in 2008, the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) encompasses a largely mountainous area of great geological complexity with an abundance of natural tourism resources, such as lakes, rivers, valleys and forests. It provides an attractive destination for a wide range of outdoor activities including cycling, walking, fishing, golfing, parachuting, micro-light flying and quad biking to name but a few. The area is rich in historic and archaeological heritage and folklore.

2.2 The Sperrins AONB occupies a total area of 1181km2 broken down across the four respective Councils as follows:-

Derry City & Strabane District Council – 447km2 (38%)

Fermanagh & Omagh District Council – 301km2 (25%)

Mid Ulster District Council – 256km2 (22%)

Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council – 177km2 (15%)

The boundary of the Sperrins AONB is showin in Appendix 1.

Sperrins Tourism Ltd (STL) was established in 1999 as the regional tourism body responsible for marketing and development of tourism activities in the Sperrins region. The company’s remit was to market and promote the Sperrins region to potential local, national and international visitors; and provide relevant specialised training and support for the tourism industry.

Selected as one of five delivery agents for the Natural Rural Resource Tourism Initiative, STL was at one time responsible for a budget in the region of £3.4 million for some 138 projects across seven council areas.

2.3 STL received core funding of £63,925 towards staff salary costs and office overheads from the five legacy Councils of Strabane, Cookstown, Omagh, Limavady and Derry. In addition the organisation received financial support through its membership scheme for private, community and public industry providers. The membership grew to 270 members across a range of tourism providers.

2.4 The Board was made up of 36 Directors from the legacy council areas. In total 50% of the Directors were from the public sector with the other 50% being made up of private and community/voluntary representatives. The organisation employed 2 full time staff members who acted as Joint Managers and one part time staff member, a Project Co-Coordinator in place for the delivery of a Rural Development Programme.

2.5 STL worked in partnership with TNI on the development of a “Sperrins Destination Management Plan” and engaged with private, public and community stakeholders to identify short, medium and long term actions. Actions included various marketing activities, product development and enhancement, industry development and industry intelligence.

2.6 The role and responsibilities of the organisation developed over the course of time in line with some significant changes, most notably through STL becoming the delivery partner for the NRRTI programme in the Sperrins. Moreover, there was a partnership with the Western Regional Partnership (WRTP) which was then set up in 2009 by TNI and included Sperrins Tourism, the legacy councils of Derry City, Dungannon, Magherafelt, Strabane, Fermanagh and Omagh. This group dissolved in 2011.

In 2011, STL were in receipt of a letter of offer from Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to employ an AONB Officer for the Sperrins Region who would draw up an AONB Management Plan for the Sperrins area. This offer of £104,696 for the three year project was to be match funded by Sperrins Gateway Landscape Partnership (SGLP) at £34,898.66. This position never was appointed as following a review of its financial viability in 2012 the company went into liquidation and eventually wound up in 2013.

2.7 The Sperrins region was previously recognised by Tourism NI as one of nine designated tourism destinations in the ‘Draft Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2020’. This subsequently led to the establishment of Tyrone and the Sperrins Working Group in 2013, which consisted of Tourism officers from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and Mid Ulster District Council working together with a budget of £15k to market the region collectively.

2.8 It is widely acknowledged that the Sperrins has huge potential in terms of tourism, recreation and natural heritage. The absence of a management structure has contributed to this potential not being realised.

3 Key Issues3.1 The reform of local government in 2015 has presented an opportunity for the new

councils to lead and co-ordinate discussions with the various stakeholders with a view to realising the potential of the Sperrins while protecting and enhancing the natural heritage of the region.

Elected Members from across the four Sperrins Councils have expressed concern about the lack of a joined up approach to our largest AONB. Senior representatives from the four Sperrins councils have had a number of recent discussions on the best way to address the complex range of issues that pertain to the Sperrins. These discussions have been informed by engagement with Tourism NI and Sport NI.

3.2 The officer team have concluded that the best way to advance matters would be to undertake a Sperrins Future Search Conference.

What is a Future Search Conference?

Future Search is a unique planning method used world-wide by hundreds of communities and organizations. The method enables large diverse groups to validate a common mission to take responsibility for action and to develop commitment to implementation.

The method is especially useful in uncertain, fast-changing situations when it is important that everyone has the same large picture in order to act responsibly. Because it is largely culture free, Future Search is used in North and South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and India to create an umbrella for social, technological and economic planning.

3.3 A Future Search may involve 60 to 80 people. People work in small groups as “stakeholders” (shared perspectives), and in mixed groups that are a cross-section of the whole. Every person has a chance to speak and listen. This makes possible a shared picture based on the experience of all those present. The meeting also is managed so that the entire group can be in dialogue when necessary. The minimum length is five sessions of half a day each, spread across three days to allow for “soak time.”

3.4 Future Search follows tested principles derived from six decades of research and experimentation with what it takes to enable people to act cooperatively without having to defend or sell their own agendas or give up cherished values. The first principle involves "getting the whole system in the room"--meaning people with authority, resources, expertise, information and need. The second involves putting the focal issue in global perspective, helping each person to see a bigger picture than usual. The third requires seeking common ground and desirable futures, while treating problems and conflicts as information, not action items. The fourth asks people to manage their own small groups and take responsibility for acting on what they learn.

There are five sessions labelled Past, Present, Future, Common Ground, and Action. Each involves creating a data-base, sharing understandings in small groups, reports to the whole, and large group dialogues. Sessions are cumulative and the product is an action plan and follow-up structure.

3.5 Many Future Search participants come with justifiable skepticism based on past experiences in unproductive meetings. In Future Search they often will set aside stereotypes and untested assumptions as they discover what can be accomplished in this new setting. Most Future Search participants when given access to information, resources, and people in authority who usually are not available all at once, will create effective action plans none of them thought were possible.

3.6 The Future Search Methodology was co-developed by Sandra Janoff, PhD. Sandra is an international consultant who has worked with global corporations and communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, North & South America, Australia and New Zealand. Information on a number of case studies is included in Appendix 2.

Sandra, who is based in Philadelphia, also has extensive experience of working in Northern Ireland since 1999. She helped develop integrated economic development plans in County Fermanagh, Derry-Londonderry, Strabane, Coleraine, a strategy for the departments of DCAL and DEL and a vision and integrated community plan for Tearfund Foundation and Lough Neagh.

3.7 Sandra has delivered these events in conjunction with Aideen McGinley. Aideen has 37 years local and central government experience in Northern Ireland including her roles as the first female CEO in local government and the first female Permanent Secretary. She was CEO of ILEX, the Urban Regeneration Company for Derry-Londonderry, where she was instrumental in developing the £400m 10-year regeneration plan, building the £14mil symbolic Peace Bridge and successfully securing the inaugural and transformational UK City of Culture 2013 title for the city.

3.8 Biographies for Sandra and Aideen are included in Appendix 3.

Progress to date

The Sperrins Councils have met to discuss the possible content for a Future Search Conference, the potential groups and organisations that should attend and when the event could be scheduled. Initial scoping has also estimated the costs of holding a Future Search Conference.

3.9 The preferred title for the Future Search Conference is,

“The Sperrins – Reaching New Heights, Realising Our Potential”

It is suggested that the conference takes place from 27-29 September 2017.

The Future Search methodology usually involves eight stakeholder groups, spanning the diverse range of interests with eight participants in each group. The initial scoping exercise has identified that, in order to capture the views of young people in the arear that a ninth group should be included. The proposed stakeholder groups are listed below:-

Community

Land Owners/Farmers

Departments & Statutory Agencies

Tourism

Heritage & Environment

Outdoor Recreation

Business & Industry

Elected Representatives

Young People

4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR and Other Implications

Costs of hosting a Sperrins Future Search Conference are estimated to be approximately £40,000, broken down as follow:-

• Venue hire, accommodation, catering, AV etc. - £15,000

• Consultancy support for event planning and facilitation costs - £13,500

• Animation - £3,000

• Recording discussion and Report Preparation - £5,000

• Contingency - £3,500

It is proposed that the costs of the Sperrins Future Search Conference are equally shared by the four Sperrins Councils. Discussions have commenced with the Department for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs regarding co-funding the event with Councils.

4.1 A small team of officers from the Sperrins Councils will be required to plan the event and provide logistical support.

Basis for Professional/ Consultancy Support

As detailed above.

Sport NI had considered hosting a conference in May 2017 on outdoor recreation within the Sperrins and had sought contributions from each council towards the cost of the event. It is considered that while this event would be beneficial, there is a clear need for a more holistic approach covering much wider issues. A Future Search Conference is considered to be the best option to advance the wide and complex range of issues at hand and to realise the potential of our largest AONB.

5 Recommendations

5.1 That a Future Search Conference be undertaken on the Sperrin Mountains as detailed above.

Background Papers

Appendix 1 – AONB Map

Appendix 2 – Future Search Examples

Appendix 3 – Sandra Janoff & Aideen McGinley Biographies