SPC 1 - Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Strategic Policy Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – Held on Tuesday, 6th December, 2022 at 10.00 Am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Declan Bree
  • Councillor Gino O’Boyle
  • Councillor Tom Fox
  • Pippa Black (PPN Social Inclusion)

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY:

  • Mr. Alan McMenamin (PPN Community & Voluntary)

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Joe Murphy, A/Director of Services
  • Sean Martin, A/Senior Architect
  • Jenny Burns, A/Administrative Officer
  • Sharon Malone, Assistant Staff Officer
  • Kate Barlow, Clerical Officer

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons (Chairperson)
  • Trevor McDaid
  • Pascal Connolly
  • Melinda Swann

 

As the Chair, Councillor Gibbons, was not in attendance it was:

Proposed by Councillor O’Boyle
Seconded by Councillor Fox

and agreed

“to elect Councillor Bree as The Chair for the meeting”.

Councillor Bree welcomed all to the meeting.

 

1.  MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 6TH SEPTEMBER 2022:

Proposed by Councillor O’Boyle
Seconded by Ms P. Black

AND AGREED

“To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of the Strategic Policy Group Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – held on 6th September, 2022.

 

2. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

Ms P. Black referred to a reference she made at the meeting on 6 September 2022 to the language used in the minutes of the June meeting under "Implementation of Housing and Disability Plan 2021-2025” where she noted that the minutes were written in person-first language, i.e. “persons with a disability”.  She had advised that disabled activists, and particularly those in the Independent Living Movement of Ireland and the Sligo Disabled Organisation (DPO), have a preference for identify-first language i.e. “disabled persons”.  She also stated that the neurodiverse community in Sligo had expressed the same preference.  She noted that this point had not been included in the Minutes and asked that they be amended to include it.  This was agreed.

 

3. PRESENTATION BY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FEDERATION:

A presentation was given to the meeting by Mr Justin Molloy of the Construction Industry Federation.

Mr Molloy advised the meeting that there had been very little variation between house completions between 2019 to 2021, averaging at 21,500 per year.  He further advised that Sligo was identified as a regional growth centre in the National Development Plan.

It was noted from the presentation that there had been a sharp increase in the cost of construction materials and labour costs and also sourcing skilled professional workers is difficult.  Mr Molloy also stated that the Sligo County Development Plan should be reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to meet its objectives and the needs of the County.

The Chair, Councillor Bree, thanked Mr Molloy for his detailed presentation and requested that a copy of the presentation be circulated to the Members of the Committee.

In response to issues raised by the Members, Mr Molloy stated that small contractors were disqualified from tendering for the construction of LA houses, due to the pre tendering criteria.  He further advised that Local Authorities require planning permission to be in place before considering purchase from landowners, which makes it more expensive.  He further stated that Local Authorities’ Development Plans need to be more flexible but he also recognised that LA’s were constrained by public procurement requirements.

In conclusion Councillor Bree stated that the economy is doing well but failing in the provision of houses and there is very little help from Central Government in this regard.

 

4. HOUSING GRANTS

Mr Joe Murphy, SEO, read a report to the meeting which had already been circulated to members on Housing Grants.  He gave a report under the following headings:

  • Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability
  • The Mobility Aids Grant
  • Housing Aid for Older People Grant

In reply to a query from Councillor O’Boyle, Mr Murphy stated that a budget of €2.35 m was provided for Housing grants by the Council.

In reply to a query from Councillor Bree, Mr Murphy stated that the Council have sufficient funds to cover all grants for 2022 and are in constant contact with the Department to provide extra funding.

In reply to a query from Councillor Tom Fox, Mr Murphy stated that the Department are undertaking a review of grants with a view to an increase next year in line with inflation.

Councillor Bree thanked the staff in Housing for their work on the Housing Grants and for always treating the members of the public with courtesy and kindness.

 

5. UPDATE ON THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021

Mr Joe Murphy, SEO, read a report to the meeting which had already been circulated to members on the Official Languages Act.

P Black welcomed the contents of the report and stated that is important that the Irish language can be heard and seen nationally.

Councillor Fox stated that it was encouraging to see the use of the Irish Language being implemented in the Public Sector and we should be proud of our language.

 

6. WORK PROGRAMME

The proposed work programme for 2023, circulated to the members in advance of the meeting, was noted and agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Fox, seconded by Ms P. Black, that “right-sizing and down-sizing” be added to the list under Housing.  Councillor Fox stated that he had included this as a Notice of Motion on the January 2023 Plenary Meeting agenda.  It was agreed to wait for the outcome of the Council meeting before placing on an SPC agenda.

It was agreed that Homelessness and “Housing First” be included on the agenda for the next SPC1 meeting.

 

7. UPDATE ON HOUSING DELIVERY

Mr S. Martin summarised the report on Housing Delivery.

Councillor O’Boyle thanked S. Martin for his detailed report and sought clarification on the development at Finisklin and Maugheraboy and was advised by Mr S. Martin in relation to Finisklin that some units were complete, but there was a delay in relation to access roads etc. but all matters to be completed by March 2023.  In relation to the Maugheraboy development, Mr Martin advised that it is hoped commencement will take place in Q4 2024.

Ms P. Black stated that there seems to be discrepancy in our goals and what schemes are in the pipeline.  In reply, Mr S. Martin stated that there are other housing projects in the pipeline, at an early pre-submission stage, which are not reflected in the report circulated.

In reply to query from Councillor Bree regarding how many of the 12 turnkey houses will be delivered in 2022, S. Martin stated that none will be delivered in 2022.  Councillor Bree stated that it is concerning that there is a constant slippage what is being delivered each year.  Councillor Bree welcomed the fact that 73 houses will be delivered in Finisklin in 2023.

Councillor Bree requested that members be provided with a table outlining the different phases in relation to development of housing schemes.  Mr S. Martin outlined the four-stage process and agreed to issue a table to the Members.

In reply to a query from Mr A. McMenamin regarding development near the Ursuline College, Mr S. Martin stated that delays were due to Irish Water, and this appeared to be a national issue.  He stated that this was discussed with the LGMA.  The Members agreed to write to Irish Water requesting a representative to attend a meeting of SPC 1 to discuss this issue.

 

8. QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SPC MEMBERS

Submitted by Councillor Gino O’Boyle:
With emergency accommodation being full and people being refused, what’s the Council’s next action for emergency accommodation?

A report was given to the Members by Mr J. Murphy advising that the provision of emergency accommodation is under continuous review. The Members were advised that ten additional emergency homeless singles beds have recently been provided under the cold weather strategy from November 2022 to end of March 2023 in a property in Sligo town and, in addition the Residential Tenancies (deferment of termination dates of certain tenancies) Act 2022 has provided a temporary and conditional stay on tenancy terminations this winter.  It was noted that additional accommodation will be provided if required.

Submitted by Councillor Gino O’Boyle:
List of Council houses available

Mr. J. Murphy gave a report on the Council houses currently available for letting and agreed to update the report to include the number of bedrooms in each house to Members after the meeting.

Submitted by Councillor Gino O’Boyle:
A list of long-term council vacant houses   

Mr J. Murphy advised that there are no long-term vacant Council houses at present, other than a number in Geldof Drive, Cranmore, which are to be demolished as part of a new Housing scheme at that location.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence for noting.

In reply to a query from Councillor O’Boyle, J. Murphy undertook to ascertain if a letter had issued to the Minister to ask when the income limit thresholds for social housing would be increased as agreed at the previous SPC Meeting.  

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It was agreed the Cathaoirleach & Director of Services would agree a date for next meeting.  It was also agreed that a list of proposed meeting dates for 2023 would be brought before the next meeting.

 

END OF MEETING

The business of the meeting concluded at 11.25 am.

 


Meeting Date 06/12/2022