SPC 3 - Minutes

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 3 Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture Meeting held on Wednesday 9th November 2022 at 11a.m. Venue: Council Chamber, City Hall and Virtually via Microsoft Teams


IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Tom Fox (Virtually)

 

REPRESENTATIVES:

Aoife O’Toole, PPN Community & Voluntary Sector Seat

 

IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Karen O’Hara, Trade Union Pillar (Virtually)
  • Sheila Scanlon, PPN Social Inclusion Seat

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Emer Knowles, PPN Environment Seat
  • Councillor Tom MacSharry
  • Aidan Doyle, Business Pillar

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Donal Tinney, County Librarian
  • Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
  • John Reilly, LEO (Virtually)
  • Siobhán Gillen, Administrative Officer

 

GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • David McGlinchey, KPMG-FA (Virtually)
  • James Chilton, KPMG-FA (Virtually)
  • Grainne Miller, GMI Strategic Consulting (Virtually)

 

Introduction

Cathaoirleach Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady welcomed all in attendance.  Apologies were noted and the Members were informed of notification received regarding new members i.e. Emer Knowles who was nominated to the PPN Environment Seat and Aoife O’Toole who will be replacing Corena Ward during her leave for the PPN Community & Voluntary Seat.

 

1.Confirmation of Minutes

The Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 14th September 2022 were adopted and

Proposed by: Councillor Gerard Mullaney
Seconded by:  Councillor Arthur Gibbons

 

2.Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

3.To consider the Draft Local Economic & Community Plan for Sligo (Sligo 2030 – One Voice, One Vision) incorporating detailed objectives, outcomes and draft implementation plan (Reports circulated):

D. Clarke and M. McConnell updated the meeting on the circulated reports before welcoming a presentation from D. McGinchey and J. Chilton, KPMG-FA.

Summary points:

  • The draft plan, prepared by KPMG-FA, follows consideration and endorsement by the Advisory Steering Group to the LECP/LCDC on 20th October 2022.
  • Stages 1 and 2 have been completed and adopted by the relevant committees.
  • Stages 3 and 4 have been completed and are currently going through the adoption process by the relevant committees. Stage 3 involved the development of detailed objectives and outcomes linking the high-level goals to the economic and community elements.  Stage 4 involved the development of the overall draft framework.
  • Updates to the final draft included additional detail added to the Executive summary, Smart model and the Monitoring & Evaluation Section.
  • There are 61 Actions included in the initial implementation plan supporting the 6 goals, 18 objectives and 35 desired outcomes of the LECP framework.
  • The next steps involve sign off by MDs, to conduct SEA and AA screening, finalise the plan followed by formal adoption of the Council.
  • It was agreed that the implementation plan would be reviewed and revised after 2 years which will give an opportunity to review progress and to identify underperforming or misaligned actions.

Comments:

Councillor O’Grady thanked KPMG for their comprehensive presentation and she welcomed the opportunity to review the plan after 2 years.  Councillor Mullaney queried how the LECP will feed into the CDP.  D. Clarke explained the framework/hierarchy in this regard i.e. the LECP is an overarching framework for economic/community development and the new CDP would have to reflect the vision/aims and objectives of the LECP.

The Draft LECP for Sligo was:

Proposed by: Councillor Arthur Gibbons
Seconded by: Councillor Gerard Mullaney

 

4. To consider the Draft Sligo County Council Culture & Creative Strategy (Report circulated):

D. Clarke and D. Tinney updated the meeting on the last 5 year strategy and the proposed new/draft strategy 2023-2027 which is funded through the Creative Ireland programme under the Dept. Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.  The aim of the strategy is to support people’s participation, inclusion and expression within communities and to further strengthen local creative economies.

G. Miller, GMI Strategic Consulting, presented the draft strategy to the Members.  A summary as follows:

  • Draft strategy is shaped by the key learnings and successes of the 2019-2022 plan.
  • Key focus for the new strategy is the integration with existing local authority strategies as prioritised by SCC in relation to wellbeing, biodiversity, climate change, tourism and economic development.
  • The new strategy will be guided by a variety of Sligo County Council’s policies and plans as outlined in the document and will be underpinned by Sligo’s vibrant cultural, heritage, arts and creative sectors.
  • The new Strategy will focus on 5 key priority areas as follows:
    1. Creative Place
    2. Creative Economy
    3. Creative Communities
    4. Climate, Biodiversity and Environment
    5. Creative Youth

Comments:

Successes of the previous strategy were highlighted, in particular The Book of Sligo.  Councillor O’Grady, Councillor Fox and Councillor Gibbons all commended the work associated with the publishing of this book and it was queried if further copies would be made available.  D. Clarke confirmed that it is intended to be reprinted. 

The Draft Sligo County Council Culture & Creative Strategy was:

Proposed by: Councillor Arthur Gibbons
Seconded by: Councillor Tom Fox

 

5.AOB:

Councillor O’Grady thanked all present for their time and contribution to the meeting.  She advised that meeting dates for 2023 will be issued in due course.  The meeting concluded at 12.05pm.

 

 


Meeting Date 09/11/2022