SPC 3 - Minutes

Minutes of SPC3 Meeting (Planning Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture) held virtually at 3 pm on 4th March 2021


MEMBERS PRESENT IN CHAMBER:

  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Chair),
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney,
  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons,
  • Councillor Thomas Walsh,
  • Councillor Thomas Healy,
  • Councillor Marie Casserly,
  • Corena Ward,
  • Aidan Doyle,
  • Karen O’Hara and
  • Patricia Gardiner

 

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
  • John Reilly, Head of Enterprise
  • Frank Moylan, Senior Planner
  • Mihaela Davidescu, Senior Executive Planner
  • Donal Tinney, County Librarian
  • Mary McDonagh, Arts Officer
  • Siobhan Gillen, Administrative Officer
  • Suzanne Siberry, Senior Staff Officer (Minute Taker)

 

APOLOGIES

  • Councillor Tom MacSharry

 

ITEM NO. 1:  WELCOME AND CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 10TH DECEMBER, 2020:

Councillor R. O’Grady welcomed all Members to the meeting and in particular Patricia Gardiner who has replaced Ms. Suzanne Tynan.

It was proposed by Councillor A. Gibbons and seconded by Ms. Corena Ward and agreed that the “Minutes of the Strategic Policy Committee meeting held on the 10th December, 2020 be confirmed”.

 

ITEM NO 2:  MATTERS ARISING:

There were no matters arising.

 

ITEM NO 3:  UPDATE ON THE PREPARATION OF COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN / SLIGO AND ENVIRONS LOCAL AREA PLAN

Ms. Mihaela Davidescu updated the Members. Planning legislation requires that the Development Plan be varied to incorporate changes in national and regional policy (National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy).

The Variation no. 1 of the Sligo CDP 2017-2023 was adopted by the Council in October 2020. Sligo’s new designation as a Regional Growth Centre, the corresponding Strategic Plan and the updated population targets set out in the Variation were meant to serve as a basis for the preparation of the Sligo and Environs Local Area Plan.

Following the publication by the DHLGH of a Housing Supply Target Methodology (Section 28 Guidelines) just before Christmas 2020, it became evident that future zoning decisions must be based on housing demand instead of population targets.

A total County housing demand figure needs to be calculated for the period of the next County Development Plan. This total figure will then be apportioned to the County’s towns and village starting at the top (Sligo Regional Growth Centre) and then down through the settlement hierarchy.

It was decided that the best option would be to commence the review of the County Development Plan as soon as feasible. The pre-draft consultation will take place in summer 2021. This will be carried out via an online consultation portal which will allow submissions to be published and viewed by all users.

Councillor O’Grady thanked Mihaela for her comprehensive report.

Councillor G. Mullaney thanked Mihaela for the report. It was raised whether there would be any changes to the designated rural housing policy areas. The response was that the existing areas are fully compliant with the provisions of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and therefore no change would be proposed.

It was also raised about the expected increase in the County’s population over the new Development Plan period (2023–2029), which was calculated to be circa 3,900. The response confirmed that the target seemed ambitious, but the new CDP will be nonetheless required to incorporate the population targets set out in the National Planning Framework and in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.

 

ITEM NO 4:  LEO’S PROMOTION OF ICT FOR BUSINESSES

Mr. John Reilly outlined the Council’s ambitions around developing Sligo as a smart city and smart region. He went through the various outputs in 2020 including training/management development, financial assistance and infrastructure. The Digital Manufacturing Futures Centre project, to be anchored in the Council buildings in the Market Yard is well underway. The entire digital area will remain a key focus for the Local Enterprise Office in 2021.

Councillor O’Grady thanked John for his report.

 

ITEM NO 5:  NEW PUBLIC ARTS PROGRAMME

Ms. Mary McDonagh updated the Members on the reactivation of the Public Art Programme. The Per Cent for Art Scheme has become available for the commissioning of public art. A new Public Art Project manager has been appointed, Ms. Joeleen Lynch. Her role will involve setting up a new Public Art Steering Group and supporting the Group in developing and delivering a Commissions Plan. The Commissions Plan will set out how the Per Cent for Art Scheme funding will be allocated and identify the number and type of commissions that will be developed.

Councillor O’Grady thanked Mary for her report and welcomed the appointment of Ms. Lynch.

 

ITEM NO 6:  NEW LECP/SLIGO 2030 STRATEGY

Ms. Dorothy Clarke presented the update to the Members. The Sligo Local Economic and Community Plan, which aims to improve the wellbeing of the people and the economy of the County expires in 2021. A new LECP is to be put in place. The focus of the new Plan will be to develop Sligo’s role as a regional growth centre for the North West, to safe guard our environment for future generations by supporting sustainable economic and community development and being pro-active in the area of climate change. The Plan will also aim to develop Sligo as a smart city and smart region. KPMG-FA have been procured to assist with the preparation and the stakeholder engagement/public consultations elements of the Plan. Work is due to commence on the Plan shortly. Members will be kept informed of progress on a regular basis.

Councillor O’Grady thanked Dorothy for her report.

 

ITEM NO 7:  THE HEALTHY IRELAND PROGRAMME AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

Ms. Margaret McConnell presented the Members with the Report. The Healthy Ireland Framework which runs from 2019 to 2025 aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the Irish population through a wide framework of actions. Under Round 3 of the Healthy Ireland Fund, Sligo LCDC was awarded €246,010 for the development and delivery of a Healthy Sligo Programme. A Healthy Sligo Co-Ordinator, Ms. Marcella McGarry, has been appointed to deliver 6 main projects under the themes: Physical Health, Mental Health, Nutrition and Space and Places for Health and Wellbeing. Projects funded under the Programme are currently underway, or to be delivered in 2021.

Councillor O’Grady thanked Margaret for her report and welcomed the appointment of Ms. McGarry.

Queries on incorporating active travel components and resting areas into the Healthy Sligo Programme & Community Resilience Plan was raised.

Active travel initiatives including the provision of cycle ways and walk ways along with their promotion are being encouraged by SCC and have also been included in the Council’s Climate Action Plan. Further expansion of these initiatives will continue into the future.

The importance of having adequate resting areas incorporated into the development of infrastructure and encouraging cycling and walking into our everyday lives was highlighted. Councillor O’Grady welcomed the encouragement of seating areas or resting points in urban areas and felt that this should be encouraged going forward.

 

ITEM NO 8:  UPDATE ON THE TRANSITIONAL RURAL LEADER PROGRAMME

Ms. Margaret McConnell updated the Members. Details of a transitional LEADER Programme has been announced that will come into effect from April, 2021. The Transitional Leader Programme will bridge a gap between the windup of the current 2014 – 2020 LEADER Programme. Ms. McConnell outlined the key features of the Transitional LEADER Programme and its priorities.

Councillor O’Grady thanked Margaret for the update.

A query was raised as to what kind of funding is available to Digital Remote Hubs. In response this will depend on the applicant and criteria. Concern was expressed at the inability of groups to fundraise at this particular time in order to provide matching funding. Ms. Patricia Gardiner raised concerns about Sligo LEADER’s corporate governance. In response Ms. Dorothy Clarke felt that it was inappropriate to discuss same in this forum. She stated that Sligo County Council and Sligo LEADER had a good working relationship and had no issue whatsoever with the executive of Sligo LEADER Partnership. Ms. Gardiner also asked about how climate change was being addressed in future funding of projects. In response Ms. Clarke advised that the National Climate Action Plan is being adhered to.

Both Councillor T. Walsh and Mr. John Reilly stated that Sligo County Council had a good relationship with Sligo LEADER and supported Ms. D. Clarke in what she had said earlier.

 

ITEM NO 9:  AOB

Date of Next Meeting: A Schedule for the year to be agreed at the Quarter 2 meeting.

Councillor O’Grady thanked all who had attended.

 

 


Meeting Date 04/03/2021