SPC 3 - Minutes
Minutes of SPC3 - Planning Community & Economic Development, Arts and Culture Meeting held at 10.00 am on 25th April 2018 in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Quay Street, Sligo
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Councillor Sinead Maguire,
- Councillor Marie Casserly,
- Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady
- Councillor Chris Mac Manus;
- Councillor Hubert Keaney;
- Mr. Conor McCarthy,
- Mr. Gerard Queenan
OFFICIALS PRESENT:
- Ms. Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
- Mr. Donal Tinney, County Librarian
- Mr. Frank Moylan, Senior Planner
- Mr. John Reilly, Head of Enterprise
- Mr. Stephen Ward, A/Senior Executive Planner
- Ms. Aisling Smyth, Administrative Officer
- Ms. Janet Mc Namara, Administrative Officer
- Ms. Lenora Mc Conville, Executive Planner
- Mr. Martin Mc Andrew, Peace Forum Manager
- Ms. Sarah Wetherald, PPN Development worker
- Mr. Mark Tully, Meehan Tully Associates
- Mr. Michael Kirby, Meehan Tully Associates
- Ms. Tara Mc Gowan, Meehan Tully Associate
APOLOGIES:
- Councillor Paul Taylor
- Councillor Seamus Kilgannon,
- Councillor Tom MacSharry
- Mr. Anthony McCormac
ITEM NO. 1: CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 24THJANUARY, 2018
It was proposed by Councillor Marie Casserly seconded by Councillor Sinead Maguire and agreed that “The Minutes of the Strategic Policy Committee meeting held on 24th January, 2018 be confirmed”.
ITEM NO. 2: MATTERS ARISING
No issues raised.
ITEM NO. 3: TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY STRATEGY 2018-2022
The Draft Culture & Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 was presented to the members for their consideration and recommendation for approval and adoption by members at the May monthly meeting of the Council. (Copy of Draft Strategy circulated to members) The members were informed that the cultural and creative development of Ireland as a nation is now a national priority and Local Authorities have been asked to play a significant role in this and are required to plan and prepare a five year Culture and Creativity Strategy for each of their counties. A presentation was given by Meehan Tully Consultants, whose services were engaged to prepare the Strategy.
Ms. Tara Mc Gowan, Meehan Tully Consultants stated that Culture and Creativity are the greatest assets of any society and the Creative Ireland initiative calls on all of us, to play our part in placing our rich cultural heritage, and its potential, at the centre of our lives.
She stated that the vision in the national policy is to provide each person in Ireland with the opportunity to realise their full creative potential through collaboration and all working together to deliver on this.
This vision is pursued through the Five Pillars which are to act as a framework for the Creative Ireland National Strategy.
Pillar 1: Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child
Pillar 2: Enabling Creativity in Every Community
Pillar 3: Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure
Pillar 4: The Creative Industries: Ireland as a Centre of Excellence in Media Production
Pillar 5: Unifying our Global Reputation
The members were informed that Local Authorities have been tasked with the delivery of Pillar 2 Enabling Creativity in Every Community.
The members were informed that the Strategy will foster better and more innovative coordination and collaboration between the public and private sectors, between artists and creative’s and the wider community, to empower and enable every person living in Sligo to have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.
Mr. Mark Tully, Meehan Tully consultants outlined the overall national aims and the priorities and needs for Sligo.
He indicated that the Draft five years Culture and Creativity Plan for Sligo is intended to act as a guide to the development of five years of cultural programming from 2018 to 2022. It will be informed by the Sligo Corporate Plan, Local Economic & Community Plan 2016-2021 and budgetary parameters. Identifies specific cultural and creative priorities which have been informed by the unique characteristics of Sligo, its weaknesses, and the experiences and expressed wishes of its communities.
To inform the development of the Strategy and identifying of Strategic Priorities for the five year period, two public consultative meetings were held in both Tubbercurry and Sligo in January 2018. In addition extensive stakeholder engagement and consultations have taken place including an online survey in order to gauge the viewpoints of local stakeholders and communities.
The members were informed that the Plan is structured, concise and outlines the objectives and actions to achieve the priorities identified: talent and creativity, creative communities, connectivity and infrastructure, creativity and innovation, inspiring environment and unique heritage, resourcing and monitoring.
Mr. Donal Tinney, Co Librarian thanked the people who made on line submissions. A discussion then ensued regarding staff funding, administration and proposals for Capital funding for the provision of a new Central Library. In response to a query Mr. Donal Tinney indicated that while the new library was a priority there was no further information regarding funding from Government. Mr. Tinney informed the members that the Draft Sligo Library five year Plan would be presented to the next SPC3 Meeting to be held in September.
The members acknowledged the work and commitment of the Co. Librarian and staff.
Councillor Sinead Maguire suggested that the document should highlight the role of the Hawks Well in Drama.
Mr. Conor Mc Carthy emphasised that Pillar 2 was the role for the Local Authority.
Mr. Michael Kirby, Meehan Tully Consultants stated that the Brief for Local Authorities through Creative Ireland recognises that Local Authorities provide a function across all the other pillars.
It was agreed that Mr. Donal Tinney, the Creative Ireland Co- Coordinator be allowed the latitude to incorporate the opinions as voiced at the meeting.
It was proposed by Councillor Chris Mac Manus and seconded by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady that the Draft Sligo Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 be approved and submitted to the May Monthly Meeting of Sligo County council for the member’s approval.
ITEM NO. 4: PUBLIC REALM PLAN FOR SLIGO CITY CENTRE UPDATE
Ms. Leonora McConville informed the members that an International Design Consultancy –Building Design Partnership (BDP) have been engaged to prepare a Public Realm Plan for Sligo. The aim of the Plan is to propose improvements to Sligo’s public spaces, including streets and car parks and to enhance the town as an attractive place in which to live, work and visits. The Plan will also propose a palette of materials to be used on the City’s streets over the coming years to ensure consistency and improve the look of our public spaces.
The members were informed that the initial stage of the project would involve a consultation process with various relevant stakeholders. This had already included a series of workshops which were held with the Consultants, relevant internal personnel as well as elected members of Sligo County Council. An evening facilitated stakeholder workshop had also taken place where 24 invited stakeholders from the arts, education, heritage, and environment and business sectors attended. Ms. Leonora McConville stated that the Consultants would address the Municipal District Members and it was also proposed to hold a further round of public engagements. She confirmed that the Public Realm Plan will form part of the forthcoming Sligo City and Environs Local Area Plan and will be used to attract funding for improving the public realm in the city centre.
ITEM NO 5: UPDATE ON ADOPTION OF NEW DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION SCHEME 2018-2024
Mr. Frank Moylan updated the members with regard to the Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2018-2024. He stated that the Draft Scheme was considered by the elected members at the February Meeting and it was agreed by the members that the Draft be put on public display from 13th February to 28th March 2018 inviting submissions from interested parties. In addition a copy of the Draft scheme was forwarded to the Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government. He informed the members that a total of €3.9m was generated from financial contributions between 2012 and 2017.
Residential development being the main contributor accounting for approximately 80% of the amount. Mr. Moylan outlined the main changes incorporated into the new scheme and the projects enabled by development contributions.
In preparing the new scheme, the Planning Authority sought to achieve the right balance between funding necessary infrastructure and promoting economic activity and job creation by reducing costs to businesses. The members were informed that a submission was received from the Department but no submissions or observations received from the public. The Department welcomed the proposed inclusion of an exemption from the requirement to pay development contributions for broadband infrastructure (masts and antennae). They also noted that the Draft scheme incorporates measures to support revitalisation and redevelopment within town and village centres, including reduced rates of development contributions to incentivise the development of brown field sites, sites included on the vacant sites register, derelict sites and redevelopment projects.
The members were then informed of the adoption process.
In response to a query Mr. Moylan indicated that both the reduction provisions incorporated in the Draft Development Contribution Scheme and the vacant sites register had the purpose of trying to activate development on vacant undeveloped lands.
He also confirmed that the levy for residential development increased based on the floor area but had reduced for commercial property.
The members were supportive of the Draft scheme and it was proposed by Councillor Hubert Keaney and seconded by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady that the “Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2018-2024” be approved and submitted to the May monthly meeting of Sligo County Council for the member’s approval.
ITEM NO. 6: UPDATE ON THE REGIONAL SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC STRATEGIES (NPF)
Mr. Frank Moylan informed the members that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government directed that the three Regional Assemblies commence the preparation of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) for their individual regions, as a replacement to the Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022. He stated that the Strategy will provide a long term regional development level strategic planning and economic framework in support of the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF).
The preparation of the RSES are required to take account of existing spatial plans (e.g. County Development Plans) and local economic plans (e.g. LECPs) of local authorities to ensure that the RSES is informed by identified local and regional needs.
The NPF indicates that the preparation of the RSES will involve the relevant local authorities working collaboratively to agree a distribution of future population at a more detailed and regional level than the NPF but working broadly within its parameters. The NPF envisages the population of the northern and western region to grow by up to 180,000 people, of which between 40,000 and 45,000 are to be located within Galway City and its suburbs.
The members were informed that following a pre-draft consultation by the North and Western Regional Assembly on the RSES Four separate thematic stakeholder workshops was held in Sligo in January under the headings: 1. Vibrant Place; 2. Connected Place; 3. Inclusive Place; and 4. Natural and Low Carbon Place.
Mr. Moylan stated that the report summarising the outputs of these workshops was provided to the Elected Members of the North West Regional Assembly at their February 2018 meeting and is available on their website.
It is expected that the Draft RSES will be placed on public display sometime over the summer.
ITEM NO. 7: UPDATE ON INVESTMENT PEACE IV PROGRAMME
An overview of the Peace IV Programme was provided by Martin McAndrew, Programme Manager. This included details on all Projects and initiatives under the three themes of Building Positive Relations; Children & Young People; and Shared Spaces & Services. Projects and initiatives to be delivered via tender and partner delivery methods. He indicated that the Programme valued at
€860,505 will run until end of 2019. The Programme being promoted via social media, Sligo County Council website, newsletter and press releases to local media. The Programme was officially launched on 10th April, and the keynote speaker was Linda Ervine of the Turas Project with East Belfast Mission.
Councillor Sinead Maguire acknowledged the contribution made by Ms. Linda Ervine and wished them continued success.
ITEM NO. 8: ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Councillor Sinead Maguire on behalf of the Committee extended her condolences to Councillor Hubert Keaney on the death of his mother.
The matter regarding the poor attendance by members was raised by Councillor Chris Mac Manus and it was suggested that Councillor Tom Mac Sharry be contacted again bringing the matter to his attention.
Ms. Margaret Mc Connell informed the members that proposals were being put in place regarding the filling of the casual vacancies arising from the resignation of two members from the Committee.
Meeting Date 25/04/2018