SPC 3 - Minutes
Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 3 – Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture Meeting held on Wednesday 23rd February 2022 at 3p.m. Venue: Council Chamber, City Hall and Virtually via Microsoft Teams
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, Cathaoirleach
- Councillor Arthur Gibbons (virtually)
- Councillor Gerard Mullaney
- Councillor Thomas Healy (virtually)
- Councillor Thomas Walsh (virtually)
- Councillor Tom Fox (virtually)
REPRESENTATIVES:
Mr Aidan Doyle, Business Pillar (virtually)
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mr Des Morrison, IFA Pillar
- Ms Patricia Gardener, PPN Environment Seat
- Ms Corena Ward, PPN Community & Voluntary Sector Seat (virtually)
APOLOGIES:
- Councillor Marie Casserly
- Councillor Tom MacSharry
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Ms Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
- Mr Frank Moylan, Senior Planner (virtually)
- Ms Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
- Ms Aisling Smyth, Administrative Officer (virtually)
- Ms Siobhán Gillen, Administrative Officer
- Ms Leonora McConville, Executive Planner
Introduction
Cathaoirleach Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady welcomed all in attendance.
1. Confirmation of Minutes
The Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 were adopted and
Proposed by: Councillor Gerard Mullaney
Seconded by: Councillor Tom Fox
2. Matters Arising
Ms Siobhán Gillen updated the meeting of action items (x2) from the previous meeting i.e.
- The provision of seating and bicycle racks for O’Connell Street was queried. It was agreed that an update would be provided at the next meeting. Ms Gillen informed the meeting that the Roads Dept have engaged the services of BDP landscaping architects to explore the area of landscaping and street furniture on the newly refurbished O’Connell Street. The Roads Dept are currently awaiting the first set of concept drawings.
- The figures captured regarding housing in the region was queried. It was agreed that KPMG would forward the name of the Dept report to Mr Aidan Doyle. Ms Gillen confirmed, that KPMG addressed this item by email to Mr Aidan Doyle following the last meeting of the SPC.
3. Update: Sligo 2030 LECP Process (Report circulated):
Ms Margaret McConnell presented her progress report, which was previously circulated to the
Members on the various stages of the Sligo 2030 LECP to date.
In summary, progress was reported as follows:
- The Revised Socio-Economic Statement will be published on the Council website.
- Revised objectives and actions are to be approved and agreement will then be sought from identified owners on approved actions and targets assigned in the coming weeks.
- Work is ongoing on the draft strategy which will be circulated to the Members for comment once completed. The target for initial completion of the draft is mid-March.
Comments:
- Ms Patricia Gardener queried whether or not there would be any further input from the public once the update has been provided on the Council website. Ms McConnell explained that the draft has already gone through the public consultation phase.
- Cllr Gerard Mullaney queried the level of government buy-in and funding available to deliver on the various actions. Ms McConnell explained that the strategy aligns with government plans and policies and will pick up on budgets available within the relevant programmes in this regard.
4. Presentation on the Sligo Brand Project:
Ms Margaret McConnell delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the Sligo Brand Project which is an initiative to promote Sligo involving various Sligo stakeholders and building on a future of Sligo under 3 main pillars: Live, Invest and Visit.
The project and the website www.sligo.ie was launched in October 2019 and focuses on a clear vision and ambition for Sligo, updated recently with the story behind the brand. The brand design reflects the 3 pillars and the strengths and ambitions unique to Sligo. Ms McConnell informed the meeting that the initiative includes collaboration with members of the Sligo Economic Forum as well as the Local Community Development Committee and this SPC in promoting Sligo on a regional and national stage. The branding is to be engaged with by all agencies promoting positive projects for Sligo.
Ms McConnell concluded the presentation by playing a newly launched video on living in Sligo entitled ‘Sligo not just a beautiful place’.
5. Update: RRDF Projects for Strandhill & Rossespoint (Report circulated):
Ms Leonora McConville delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the RRDF projects to date. Ms McConville highlighted the existing key issues and the feedback from an online survey carried out for both locations in July 2021, which received a high number of responses i.e. 305 for Rossespoint and 485 for Strandhill. A second, more detailed phase of public consultation was carried out in October 2021 of which 44 written submissions were received in relation to the Rossespoint consultation and 28 written submissions received for the Strandhill consultation. The key points raised for Rossespoint were speed and traffic volume, footpaths and crossing points, parking provision, cycling provision and protecting green space. For Strandhill, the key points included access for disabled parking permit holders, design of the pedestrian link, to consider green travel, impact on parking provision and creation of a civic space. Ms McConville informed the meeting that she is currently engaged with the consultants involved in the project, in the development of an overall concept masterplan and presented various proposals for each area which are currently at discussion stage. For the next steps, it is proposed to engage in further consultation with businesses and residents in each village, followed by progressing the Part 8 Consultation process, apply to the RRDF for Category 1 status, followed by Detailed Design.
Comments:
- Strandhill – provision of parking spaces at the promenade was queried. It was confirmed that 20 places on the opposite side of the promenade is being considered for age friendly spaces and disabled parking permit holders. How this was to be policed was highlighted as well as the increased demand this change will place on the main carpark. It was also outlined the concerns raised by residents with members of proposed ‘pay and display parking’ to be introduced, however, it was confirmed that this measure was not something Sligo CoCo was considering. It was also suggested that the ‘Bus Shelter’ area is enhanced in an effort to promote and encourage active travel.
- Rossespoint: It was requested that the provision of a footpath beside the school to be included in any proposed plans for the area. It was also highlighted that the lighting from the village to the seashore should also be reviewed, given its importance as a touristdestination.
- The realistic timelines for completion were queried. It was confirmed that given the lengthy process involved in each step, including staffing resources, it was expected that it will take 1-2 years before any submission was made to the RRDF department seeking the funding to proceed to the next stage, i.e. detailed design.
- It was agreed that a copy of the PowerPoint presentation would be circulated to the Members.
- It was agreed that further public consultation would be carried out, given the fact that the 2 phases of consultation to date were carried out on-line due to covid lockdowns.
- It was requested that provision is made in the plans for each village to allow for parking of campervans.
6. Summary of recently published Planning Circulars issued by Dept. of Housing, Planning & Local
Government (Report circulated):
Mr Frank Moylan presented his report, which was previously circulated to the Members. Updates were provided on the following items:
- Circular NRUP 06/2021 – Active Land Management Measures
- Residential Zoned Land Tax
- Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones
- Circular PL 13/2021 – Large Scale Residential Development Provisions (LSRD)
Comments:
- It was queried if the requirement for pre-planning would still apply for LSRD. Mr Moylan confirmed that pre-planning would take place in the first instance before an application is lodged.
- It was outlined that LSRD is intended to accelerate the provision of housing by introducing a more streamlined planning process. It was further added the importance of completing the Eastern Bridge which would also improve vehicular and pedestrian linkage in this part of Sligo.
7. AOB:
Ms Patricia Gardener submitted the following item:
“That the Council will, in accordance with commitments made as signatory to the Local Authority Climate Charter 2019, commit to not taking forward decisions, approvals or investments relating to major transport programmes and projects (including investments in transport infrastructure), until a process for carbon proofing the major decisions, programmes and projects on a systematic basis has been completed and as demonstrated that the plan, programme or investment is aligned with a low carbon pathway reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. This will include a determination of the carbon or climate change emissions that would be produced by programme or project were it to proceed and a determination of how such emissions fit into the Council’s carbon/greenhouse gas reduction programme.”
Ms Dorothy Clarke informed the meeting that this item would be referred to the relevant section and SPC for consideration. She also agreed to review this request and to seek an update/presentation to be made at a future meeting of the SPC3.
Cathaoirleach Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady thanked all present for their time and contributions to the meeting.
The meeting concluded at 4.45p.m.
Meeting Date 23/02/2022