SPC 1 - Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Strategic Policy Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – Held on Tuesday, 13th June, 2023 at 14.00 pm in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons (Chairperson)
  • Councillor Gino O’Boyle
  • Councillor Martin Baker
  • Councillor Tom Fox
  • Alan McMenamin (PPN Community & Voluntary)
  • Trevor McDaid (Business Pillar)
  • Pippa Black (PPN Social inclusion)

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Joe Murphy, Senior Executive Officer
  • Mr Seán Martin, Senior Architect
  • Adrian Grandison, Vacant Homes Officer
  • Declan Noone, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Elaine Siberry, Clerical Officer

 

APOLOGIES:

Councillor Declan Bree

 

INTRODUCTION:

Councillor Arthur Gibbons welcomed all to the meeting.

 

1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 21st MARCH 2023:

Proposed by Councillor Tom Fox
Seconded by Councillor Gino O’Boyle

AND AGREED

“To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of the Strategic Policy Group Committee 1 – Housing & Corporate – held on 21st March, 2023.

 

2. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

None.

 

3. THE REPORT FROM REBUILDING IRELAND HOME LOAN:

Mr J. Murphy stated that a report had been circulated to members regarding the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan in advance of the meeting. The report was noted.

 

4. VACANT HOMES:

Ms P. Black thanked the Vacant homes team for the summary report on vacant homes that was circulated to members prior to the meeting.

The Vacant Homes officer Mr A. Grandison introduced himself to the members and was welcomed to the meeting by Councillor Gibbons.

Councillor Baker stated that with regards to the current grants in place in relation to vacant homes it is still impossible to bring houses to a living standard.

Councillor O’Boyle proposed that there should be more publicity around the housing grants that are currently available.

Councillor Fox stated that he had previously brought forward a motion at the last SCC ordinary meeting to increase the Croí Conaithe grant to €70,000 in both urban and rural areas. He advised that this figure doesn’t go far enough when refurbishing an old house, more needs to be done to help bring these properties to the market for people who need housing. Especially due to the increased cost and short supply of tradesmen and materials.

Ms P. Black referred to a question regarding the vacant homes list. She stated that Sligo Housing Action Group were concerned about the empty apartments above Supervalu Grange, they say they contacted the Council about the situation and were informed they were not on the list as they are not derelict.

Mr A. Grandison explained that once the house is derelict for 2 years you can apply for the Croí Conaithe grant. The house has to be older than 2007 and can receive up to €50,000 for a vacant property and €70,000 for a derelict house. The definition of a derelict house is structurally unsound or dangerous. In order to obtain the €70,000 grant a structural engineers report is required or else the property must be on the derelict site register.

Mr A. Grandison stated there has been over 100 applications in Sligo to date for the Croí Conaithe grant. He also stated that survey works will soon commence for the Department to confirm if the 1,500 properties registered as derelict or vacant in Sligo on the Geo directory are correct.

Councillor Fox and Councillor Baker thanked Mr Grandison and welcomed him.

In response to Councillor Fox’s query, Mr A. Grandison confirmed that you can receive the SEAI grant and Croí Conaithe grant together. He also confirmed that you can receive up to three funding sources for the one property in some cases.

Councillor Fox complimented the uptake of the scheme stating that it showed that the current system in place is working well.

Ms P. Black summarised the report circulated to members on the draft Sligo PPN Housing Thematic Network Vacancy paper.

In reply to Ms P. Black’s summary, Mr D. Noone stated that he had not fully read the report however he would provide feedback and noted a few corrections to be made at a later date.

Councillor Gibbons noted with thanks and confirmed that it can be brought up under the minutes of the next SPC1 meeting.

 

5. WORK PROGRAMME:

Ms P. Black proposed that the operations of SPC’s be discussed at the next SPC1 meeting as the PPN have been looking to bring SPC’s more in line with the original aspirations and goals outlined, Councillor Baker seconded.

Ms P. Black stated that the PPN are preparing a series of 5 papers. One on Home Heating Costs and another paper on Disability & Housing accommodation which are to be finalised shortly plus two more papers are due to be completed by the end of this year.

Councillor Fox proposed that the paper on Disability & Housing accommodation be discussed at the next meeting, Councillor Gibbons seconded.

Councillor Baker suggested to put forward a motion for the next Council meeting to increase Disability & Adaption grants due to the increase in rising costs. Ms P. Black seconded the motion.

Mr S. Martin suggested that Housing Disability Strategy be the selected item on the agenda and that the PPN paper on Disability & housing Accommodation be included for comment under this item, this was agreed by P Black.

Mr J. Murphy sought clarification with regards to the item on operations of SPC’s. Ms P. Black stated that if the adapted SPC scheme for Sligo plus the Corporate policy group paper was circulated prior to the meeting, it could then be discussed at the meeting what steps would help bring the meetings more in line with current goals.

It was then agreed that Housing Disability Strategy and SPC procedures and guidelines be included on the agenda for the next SPC1 meeting.

 

6. UPDATE ON HOUSING DELIVERY:

Mr S. Martin discussed the Housing Delivery 2022-2026 update which had been circulated to the members in advance of the meeting. He stated that all projects are progressing as expected with the delivery of 111 units on target to be delivered in 2023.

Councillor Fox thanked S. Martin for the report and praised Council staff for the hard work being done behind the scenes.

Councillor Baker also complimented Seán Martin and his team on the quality of the work being delivered.

Councillor Baker expressed his disappointment in the recent national figure of 1 in 5 people rejecting housing offers nationally.

Councillor Gibbons thanked Seán Martin for his report and agreed with Councillor Baker regarding the serious questions that need to be answered with regards to people not accepting council housing offers.

Councillor Gibbons read out Councillor Baker’s motion to be included on the agenda of the next council meeting “to increase Disability & Adaption grants by 25% to bring in line with rising costs”. The motion was seconded by P. Black and agreed.

 

7. QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SPC MEMBERS:

All questions submitted by PPN Reps SPC1:

 

“The PPN Thematic Housing Group having put together a position paper on Vacant Homes and would like to table a draft of it as part of the Vacant Homes agenda item”.

The paper was provided to members before the meeting and the item was discussed under item no. 4 Vacant homes.

 

“In conjunction with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, a one page summary of all available loans and housing assistance is requested”.

It was noted that a report had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

 

“To ask if Housing officials would be prepared to give a presentation to a wider audience about the Housing Department of the Council”.

Mr Joe Murphy asked Ms P Black to forward the topics she would like to be included in the presentation. Ms P. Black agreed that she would email the relevant topics to the Council.

 

“Update on the status of the Disability Consultative Committee and review of the Access Plan”.

It was noted that a response had been provided to the members prior to the meeting.

Ms Pippa Black queried if the Disability Consultative Committee is now included under a different SPC to which it was confirmed.

In response to P. Black’s query regarding the inclusion of the Disability Persons Organisation (DPO) as a member of the Disability Consultative Committee, J Murphy confirmed that the DPO should reapply under SPC 3 in relation to Community.

Mr J Murphy confirmed in relation to P Blacks query that since the lifting of the eviction ban 14/15 properties are being negotiated for purchase between Sligo County Council and AHB’s. He stated that some purchases are at the very early stages and may not be successful due to conditions and cost, and that a further three houses have been bought for individuals with termination notices, with others being accommodated in Seaville.

Ms P. Black thanked J Murphy and said it was nice to be able to tell people what work has been done.

With regards to Ms. Pippa Black’s query in relation to a landlord not being able to sell an apartment when owning a building, Mr Joe Murphy confirmed that he had not come across the situation before and that it may be in relation to a specific apartment complex in Dublin.

It was confirmed that P Black should refer her query with regards to the inclusion of the PPN in establishing a collaborative working group in the area of housing directly to the Local Community Development Committee.

 

8. CORRESPONDENCE:

None.

 

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Councillor Gibbons mentioned that the September meeting may be mainstreamed in line with other meetings, but this would be confirmed.

 

END OF MEETING

The chair thanked all for attending the meeting. The business of the meeting concluded at 14.53pm.

 


Meeting Date 13/06/2023