SPC 3 - Minutes

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 3 Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture Meeting held on Thursday 30th March 2023 at 11a.m. Venue: Council Chamber, City Hall and Virtually via Microsoft Teams


IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Tom Fox (Virtually)

 

REPRESENTATIVES IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Aoife O’Toole, PPN Community & Voluntary Sector Seat (Virtually)
  • Karen O’Hara, Trade Union Pillar (Virtually)
  • Sheila Scanlon, PPN Social Inclusion Seat (Virtually)
  • Des Morrison, IFA Pillar

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Emer Knowles, PPN Environment Seat
  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Marie Casserly
  • Councillor Thomas Walsh
  • Aidan Doyle, Business Pillar

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Brian Flynn, Town Regeneration Officer
  • Leonora McConville, Executive Planner
  • John Reilly, LEO (Virtually)
  • Liam Kiely, LEO Administrative Officer
  • Siobhán Gillen, Administrative Officer

 

Introduction

Cathaoirleach Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady welcomed all in attendance. Apologies were noted.

 

1. Confirmation of Minutes

The Minutes of Meeting held on 9th November 2022 were adopted and

Proposed by: Councillor Tom Fox
Seconded by: Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady

 

2. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

3. Wayfinding Strategy (Reports circulated):

L. McConville gave a power point presentation and update on the circulated report regarding the Wayfinding and Interpretation Strategy for Sligo town. The aim of the Strategy is to better promote Sligo, orientate visitors, improve wayfinding around the town and enhance the overall visitor experience.

The key objectives were highlighted as well as the 3 stages of implementation i.e. Stage 1: Survey Research & Consultation, Stage 2: Development of the Strategy and Stage 3: Final Design & Signage Plan. The next step is to seek contractors to manufacture and install the scheme which cannot commence until final approval to proceed with the implementation of URDF Call 2 from the DHLGH has been received.

Comments:

  • Councillor Fox suggested inclusion of signage at the ATU due to the high number of people in attendance and are new to
  • D. Morrison outlined the importance of this initiative at the Train Station.
  • L. McConville informed the meeting of the 13 locations throughout the town which will have these maps and signage. The project focuses on the town centre.

 

4. E-Planning Project & Update (Report circulated):

S. Gillen updated the meeting on the circulated report. E-Planning rollout (Project Lead is the LGMA) commenced in Sligo on 15th December 2022 and to date almost 70% of planning applications are now received electronically. To date, 12 of the 31 local authorities are now live with E-Planning. She informed the meeting of the positive benefits this new initiative will have on the planning authority i.e. reduced paper consumption, postage cost savings, is less labour intensive, will improve efficiency, allow for better quality documents on the public system, is less labour intensive and will reduce the potential for invalid applications.

Comments:

  • Councillor Fox gave credit to all involved and queried where people can go if they have any problems or comments to make regarding online applications. S. Gillen informed the meeting that any queries can be directed to email planning@sligococo.ie and these in turn will be relayed to the
  • D. Morrison highlighted the improvements this will make on HR.

 

5. Town Centre Regeneration Programme (Report circulated):

B. Flynn updated the meeting on the circulated report. He informed the meeting that the Government published policy ‘Town Centre First – A Policy Approach for Irish Towns’ aims to create town centres which function as vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit. It further aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breath new life into urban centres so they may function as social, cultural and recreational hubs for local communities.

B. Flynn explained that this is a 5 year programme whereby the DRCD have invited each Local Authority to nominate towns (population <10,000) for consideration under the first tranche of Town Centre funding. Tubbercurry has been selected as the first town within Co Sligo to kick start the process. The forthcoming process is to:

  • Establish a multi-stakeholder Town Team of local businesses, community representatives and other stakeholders to assist in the development of the Town
  • Engage an urban design led multi-disciplinary team to work with the TRO and Town Team to prepare a Town Centre First Plan for Tubbercurry

It is proposed to have a draft plan developed by September 2023. Further updates to issue in due course.

Comments:

  • There will be a focus on repurposing commercial
  • Councillor O’Grady welcomed the plans for Tubbercurry and looks forward to the positive
  • Councillor Fox outlined the importance of having the youth involved in this important
  • Well wishes were extended to B. Flynn on his recent appointment to the role of Town Regeneration

 

6. Update on Local Enterprise Office Activities (Report circulated):

L. Kiely updated the meeting on the circulated report. Items updated included:

  • Local Enterprise Week (6th-10th March 2023 – 60 participants),
  • Sligo Women in Business Network (Over 400 members to date),
  • 2023 Training schedule (covering 25 categories),
  • Mentoring (Provision of mentoring to over 300 is planned for 2023),
  • Financial supports
  • Productivity supports (LEAN, Green and Digital Start supports)
  • LEO role expanded to over 10s in 2023
  • Creative Industries (Additional €90k support for 2023)
  • Student Enterprise Programme 2023 (Held on 23rd March 2023 – 11 schools)
  • AIM: Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing and Supply Chain (Located: Market Yard)
  • Gaming Hub at Strand Campus (To open in mid 2023)

Comments:

  • Councillor Fox outlined the great work and progress carried out. He expressed concern over the current lack of accommodation in the Tourism Industry and the knock-on detrimental impact this will have on business in the county. He also highlighted how encouraging it was to see such numbers in the ‘Sligo Women in Business Network’.
  • D. Clarke informed the meeting that the accommodation issue currently being experienced is one which goes beyond the county and country but is one that is a European issue due to the war in Ukraine. She expressed the importance of remaining optimistic and provided examples of reasons why tourism will flourish in this region i.e. the appointment of a Tourism Officer in 2023, new surf centre which has opened in Strandhill, new performance space which finished in 2022 and the launch of Yeats Trail. She outlined the importance of focusing on the positives in the Tourism sector in Sligo and one which is progressively building.
  • D. Clarke also outlined the importance of the new AIM Centre which she described as a ‘Game changer’ for Sligo and Leitrim – new age/technology driven enterprise landscape.

 

7. Any Other Business:

D. Clarke updated the meeting of the Co Sligo Heritage Plan which is currently being reviewed by Sligo Heritage Forum with the support of the Heritage Office. A pre-draft public consultation process is underway, with the closing date for receipt of submissions on 31st March 2023. It is anticipated that the new draft Heritage Plan will be presented to the SPC at its next meeting, for consideration and noting ahead of its presentation to the Council. Thereafter, the new draft Heritage Plan will undergo a second phase of public consultation over the summer. It is expected to have a new Heritage Plan in place by the end of the year.

Councillor O’Grady thanked all present for their time and contribution to the meeting. The meeting concluded at 12.10pm.


Meeting Date 30/03/2023