SPC 1 - Minutes
Minutes of Meeting of Strategic Policy Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – Held on Tuesday, 21st March, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Councillor Arthur Gibbons (Chairperson)
- Councillor Declan Bree
- Councillor Gino O’Boyle
- Alan McMenamin (PPN Community & Voluntary)
- Trevor McDaid (Business Pillar)
- Pippa Black (PPN Social inclusion)
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mr Jim Molloy, Director of Services
- Joe Murphy, Senior Executive Officer
- Pamela Andison, Administrative Officer
- Marian O’Callaghan Senior Executive Architect
- Mary Farrell, Assistant Staff Officer
- Elaine Siberry, Clerical Officer
APOLOGIES:
- Sean Martin, Senior Architect
- Pascal Connolly, Trade Union Pillar
VOTE OF SYMPATHY
Councillor Arthur Gibbons expressed a vote of sympathy to Councillor Gino O’Boyle on the death of his grandmother Rose.
INTRODUCTION
Councillor Arthur Gibbons welcomed all to the meeting and then sought agreement for the meeting to be recorded for the purposes of minute taking, this was agreed.
1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 6TH DECEMBER 2022:
Proposed by Councillor Bree
Seconded by Councillor O’Boyle
AND AGREED
“To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of the Strategic Policy Group Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – held on 6th December, 2022.
2. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:
Councillor O’Boyle referred to a request at the meeting on 6th December 2022 regarding an Irish Water representative presentation.
In reply J Molloy said that correspondence had been received from Irish Water stating that they were unable to attend this meeting but would be holding ‘Councillor Clinics’ whereby elected representatives could raise queries.
Councillor O’Boyle asked that further correspondence be sent to them inviting them to attend an SPC 1 meeting or a full Council meeting and it was agreed that it would be more appropriate for them to attend a full Council meeting.
3. THE REPORT FROM HOUSING & DISABILITY STEERING GROUP FEBRUARY 2023
Ms P Andison read a report to the meeting which had already been circulated to members on Housing & Disability. She gave a report under the following headings:
- Delivery of Housing Units to Meet Disability Needs
- Update on the Implementation of the Disability Housing Strategic Plan 2021-25
In reply to a query from Councillor O’Boyle, Ms Andison stated that the Housing section are in regular contact with the HSE.
P Black stated that the Sligo Disabled Person Organisation were hoping to get a representative on the Disability Steering Group.
Councillor Bree thanked P. Andison for her detailed report and asked that a list of all members of the Sligo Housing and Disability Steering Group be forwarded to all members.
4. HOMELESSNESS
P Andison read a summary report to the meeting which had already been circulated to members on Homelessness. She referred to the North West Homelessness Action Plan which had been ratified by Sligo County Council and Leitrim County Council on 6th March 2023 and was due to be ratified by Donegal County Council at their next Council meeting on 27th March 2023. It was then due to be submitted to the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).
In reply to a query from Councillor Bree with regards to resources available in relation to homelessness, Mr J. Murphy stated the government have said that resources are available.
P Andison stated that a copy of the Northwest Homelessness Action Plan Northwest Region 2023-2028 would be circulated to all members on the request of A. McMenamin.
A McMenamin enquired regarding the approved housing body forum meetings which had been held in different counties in 2018/2019.
In reply, J Murphy said that these meetings had recommenced, and Sligo was now combined with Roscommon and Leitrim. He further stated that he would get further details with regard to proposed meetings for the members.
5. HOUSING FIRST
P Andison read a report to the meeting which had already been circulated to members on the Housing First Programme and the massive impact it has had since it launched three years ago. She said that the biggest challenge was the lack of one bed properties in the county.
Councillor O’Boyle, Mr T McDaid and Mr A McMenamin complimented the Housing staff on the success of the Housing First programme.
The chairperson Councillor Gibbons also thanked P Andison and her team for the report.
6. WORK PROGRAMME
P Black enquired regarding the appointment of a Vacant Homes Officer and the meeting was informed by J Molloy that a new Vacant Homes Officer had been appointed.
In response to A McMenamin query J Molloy stated that the Vacant Homes Officer is better suited to Planning as their works involve derelict buildings. J Molloy said that the Vacant Homes team would do a report for the next SPC1 meeting.
It was then agreed that Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and Vacant Homes be included on the agenda for the next SPC1 meeting.
7. UPDATE ON HOUSING DELIVERY
M O’Callaghan discussed the Housing Delivery 2022-2026 update and went through the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Guidelines on Submissions at Approval Stages for Local Authority Housing Construction Projects which had been circulated to the members in advance of the meeting.
In response to a query from A McMenamin, M O’Callaghan stated that the current HDAP programme does take into account future projections for the Sligo area however it does not fully future proof.
Councillor Bree thanked M O’Callaghan for the report and summary of the Approval Stages for Local Authority Housing Construction Projects.
In reply to a query from Councillor Bree regarding the stage 3 approval at Robbers Lane Maugheraboy (62 units), M. O’Callaghan stated that the project was originally to be delivered by an in-house team but is now being delivered by the OGP with stage 3 due to be submitted to the Department in June and construction projected to start on site at the end of this year with delivery over two phases in 2024 and 2025.
Councillor Bree also asked for an update on the Carrowbunnaun (42 units) project with M O’Callaghan stating that the stage 2 submission is due to be submitted to the Department within the next month by the OGP team.
In reply to a query from Councillor Bree regarding the DHLGH willingness to speed up the process, J Molloy stated that the DHLGH are in regular contact with regards to pushing forward with various housing projects and looking at different models in order to progress projects.
M O’Callaghan responded to a query from A McMenamin with regards to testing blocks and delays regarding new build projects. She replied that no testing of blocks has taken place and there has been no delays due to this.
8. QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SPC MEMBERS
Submitted by Councillor Declan Bree:
“That a report be provided in regard to complaints/representations received by the Council in respect of the replacement of a central heating boiler in a local authority house, the report to include:- the date each complaint/representation was made to the Council; the date the Council issued a response to each complaint/representation; the date Housing Maintenance staff called to the house to inspect the central heating boiler; the date the work was placed on the Planned Maintenance list and its place on the said list; the reason why the work was described as “routine”; the reason why no indication was provided as to when the work would be carried out?
A report had been provided to the Members by J Murphy prior to the meeting.
Submitted by Councillor Declan Bree:
That a report be provided in regard to complaints/representations received by the Council in respect of a water leak in a local authority house and the subsequent response to the complaints /representations
A report had been provided to the members by J Murphy prior to the meeting.
Councillor Bree thanked the executive for the response but expressed dissatisfaction with the way the complaint in respect of the water leak was dealt with. He said that a leak should be seen as an emergency and that it should not take a period of two months to be resolved.
He also referred to a tenant who was waiting on housing adaptations to be carried out and would provide the details to J Murphy for investigation.
J Murphy informed the meeting that it was not clear from the initial complaint that it was a leak as it appeared to be a problem with the heating. He said that Council staff did attend a number of times in December 2022 and January 2023.
He said that how complaints are reported is challenging and a clear procedure of the steps involved is to be outlined to councillors. He further advised that each complaint must be logged on the iHouse system in order for it to be dealt with.
Mr J Molloy reiterated the importance of communication with tenants and following correct procedures.
Submitted by Councillor Declan Bree:
A list of households availing of homeless services on the 1st Oct 1922, 1st November 2022, 1st December 2022, 1st January 2023, 1st February 2023 1st March 2023; with a breakdown of those in hotels, B&B’s Hotel rooms, Focus Accommodation
A report had been provided to the members prior to the meeting by J Murphy.
9. CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence had been received by Irish Water but this was discussed under Matters Arising.
10. DATES FOR SPC1 MEETINGS
The Cathaoirleach & Director of Services agreed the proposed dates for the next three meetings: 13th June, 12th September and 12th December.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
- P Black referred to a notice of motion on downsizing and right sizing submitted by Councillor Fox which was to be placed on the agenda for the January 2023 plenary meeting of the Council. She was informed that there was no update but when there was it would be added to the agenda for the SPC1 meeting
- P Black stated that Melinda Swann has resigned from her role as PPN Environment and will be replaced as soon as possible. She felt that there was still a continued role for an environmental rep on this committee. The chair complimented M Swann on her input to SPC1 meetings but that it was more appropriated for the environment SPC meetings.
- In reply to a query from Councillor O’Boyle regarding an update on the delivery of houses at Finisklin, M O’Callaghan stated that phase 1 is due for completion in the next two weeks, with phases 2-4 due for completion at the end of this year.
- A McMenamin raised a query with regards to attendance at SPC meetings. J Molloy stated that the current standing orders in relation to attendance would be reviewed and further action would be taken depending. A list of the members of SPC1 meetings was read to the meeting by the chair and it was agreed that contact would be made with the members who had not been in attendance at meetings regularly.
END OF MEETING
The chair thanked all for attending the meeting. The business of the meeting concluded at 15.23pm.
Meeting Date 21/03/2023