SPC 3 - Minutes

Minutes of SPC3 Meeting (Planning Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture) held at 10.00 am on 25th September, 2020 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.


MEMBERS PRESENT IN CHAMBER:

  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Chair)

 

MEMBERS PRESENT VIRTUALLY:

  • Corena Ward,
  • Suzanne Tynan,
  • Stephen Ward,
  • Councillor Tom Fox,
  • Aidan Doyle,
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney,
  • Councillor Thomas Walsh,
  • Brendan Lynch,
  • Karen O’Hara and
  • Des Morrison.

 

IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services,
  • Frank Moylan, Senior Planner,
  • Donal Tinney, County Librarian,
  • Mary McDonagh, Public Arts Officer,
  • Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer

 

APOLOGIES

  • Councillor Thomas Healy,
  • Councillor Marie Casserly and
  • Sanja Ivandic

 

ITEM NO. 1.  WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Councillor R. O’Grady welcomed all members to the meeting.  Members and staff introduced themselves.

Ms. D. Clarke gave a brief introduction to the meeting and outlined the remit and focus of the SPC in terms of policy development.

 

ITEM NO 2:  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 11TH MARCH, 2019

As these Minutes related to the previous SPC they were noted and signed off on by Councillor R. O’Grady (Chair) and Ms. D. Clarke, Director of Services.

 

ITEM NO 3: MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising

 

ITEM NO 4: TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL ARTS PLAN 2020 - 2025

Mary McDonagh from the Arts Office introduced the item and introduced Ms. Liz Culloty Kelly, independent arts consultant, who worked on the preparation of the new draft Arts Plan entitled Sustain, Renew and Collaborate, in conjunction with Arts Office 

Ms. Culloty-Kelly presented the Strategic Priorities and Actions set out in the draft Plan under five headings:

  1. Resources,
  2. Arts Practitioners,
  3. Public Participation,
  4. Arts Infrastructure, Ecosystem and Economy,
  5. Art in the public realm.

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked Ms. Culloty-Kelly for her presentation and thanked Arts Office staff for all the work carried out on a limited staff/budget. 

The Draft Plan was proposed by Councillor Thomas Walsh and seconded by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady.

 

ITEM NO 5:  PREPARATION OF A FESTIVALS & EVENTS STRATEGY FOR COUNTY SLIGO - UPDATE

Ms. Margaret McConnell gave an update on the development of a draft Festivals and Events Strategy for County Sligo in accordance with the objectives and ambitions of the Tourism Strategy.  A considerable amount of consultation had taken place with all stakeholders and festival promoters in relation to the support and co-ordination of the large festival offering which takes place annually throughout the county.  It had been intended to bring a draft to the SPC in March however this meeting was cancelled due to the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic.  In the mean time it is considered necessary to have the draft strategy reviewed due to the severe impact that the pandemic and associated restrictions is having on the operation and delivery of festivals, events and gatherings. This work is currently ongoing.

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked Ms. M. McConnell for the update.

 

ITEM NO 6: THE CULTURE PLAZA (STEPHEN STREET CAR PARK) – UPDATE

Mr. Brendan Lynch gave an update on current progress on the Cultural Plaza project.  Detailed design work has been completed and the project has now been advertised for tender.  The closing date for receipt of tenders is 28th October 2020.   

It is anticipated that construction work can begin on the Plaza in Qtr 1 2021

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked Mr. Lynch for the update.

 

ITEM NO 7: PROPOSED DRAFT VARIATION NO. 1 TO THE SLIGO CDP 2017 - 2023

Public Consultation Update

Mr. Frank Moylan gave an update on the proposed draft variation.  Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires that our County Development Plan shall be varied to incorporate the recent changes in national and regional policy.  The main changes to be made to our County Development Plan to make it consistent with the NPF relate to the reclassification of Sligo as a Regional Growth Centre as opposed to the Gateway designation contained in the NSS.  With regard to the new policies at regional level, the main changes involve amending our core strategy to bring it into line with the population growth targets set out in the RSES.

The Draft Variation had been has been subject to public consultation from 27 July to 24 August 2020 with a total of 11 submissions received.  All submissions will be summarised and responded to in a Chief Executive’s Report which will be submitted to the members for consideration at their October monthly meeting.

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked Mr. Moylan for the update

 

ITEM NO 8:  SLIGO & ENVIRONS LOCAL AREA PLAN – UPDATE

Mr. Stephen Ward gave a brief update on the timeframe and process.  It is hoped to commence the process by the end of the year and to have the draft plan published in Quarter 1 of 2021. 

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked Mr. Ward for the update.

 

ITEM NO 9: ANY OTHER BUSINESS

No other business

 

Councillor R. O’Grady thanked all who participated and thanked Mr. Jimmy O’Brien, IT and Ms. Suzanne Siberry for their input.  She also thanked Mr. Colin Dunne for sanitising the Chamber.

 


Meeting Date 20/09/2020