SPC 4 - Minutes

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 4 (Climate Change) Meeting held on Wednesday 30th June 2021 at 11am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo/Virtual Meeting Room (V)


IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Sinéad Maguire (Chairperson)
  • Mr. Tom Kilfeather, A/Chief Executive, Sligo County Council
  • Ms Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Martina Casey, A/Administrative Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. Fineen O’Driscoll, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Mr. Pete Murtagh, Environmental Awareness Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Donal Gilroy
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey
  • Councillor Martin Connolly (V)
  • Councillor Paul Taylor (V)
  • Mr. Bernard Finan, PPN Agriculture/Farming Sector Representative
  • Ms. Yvonne Lang, PPN Environment/Conservation Sector Representative
  • Ms. Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council

 

APOLOGIES:

Councillor Tom MacSharry

 

1.  Minutes of meeting held on 31st March 2021

The minutes of the SPC 4 meeting held on 31st March 2021 were proposed by Councillor Donal Gilroy, seconded by Ms. Yvonne Lang and agreed.

 

2.  Matters Arising

It was agreed to amend Item 10 under A.O.B to read “It was suggested to contact Sligo PPN representatives and elected members of SPC 4 Climate Change to see if alternative representatives could be considered in light of committee members not being in a position to attend meetings”

It was noted that details of decarbonising zones would be circulated as soon as they are confirmed.

 

3.  Update on Work Programme 2020/2021

Mr. Pete Murtagh, Environmental Awareness Officer, took committee members through the Draft Work Programme which had been circulated in advance of the meeting.  A discussion on each Work Programme Item followed with the main points highlighted as follows:

  1. Climate Adaptation Strategy:~
    Actions in the Strategy will be reviewed on a quarterly basis with Climate Action and Sustainability being a standard item on all council agendas. 
  2. Energy:
    • A draft of the Corporate Energy Policy is in progress and will be presented to the council on completion
    • The lighting upgrades to 4 No. council buildings will commence in the next weeks
    • The OPW Scheme will recommence in Quarter 4
  3. Signing up to ‘Covenant of Mayors’:
    Commitments have been updated and the Covenant has been signed by the Cathaoirleach.  A Climate Action Plan must be completed within 18 months of signing up to the Covenant of Mayors, leaving a year to have the plan ready.
  4. Decarbonising Zone:
    Awaiting feedback from the Department on position paper submitted re: identification of decarbonisation zones.  An update will be circulated once received.
  5. Community Engagement:
    ‘Climate Conversations’ as facilitated through the PPN were successful and feedback was good.  Findings have been sent to the Department.  A link to future consultations is to be put on the council website.  It was agreed to put a discussion about the ‘Climate Conversations’ Report on the agenda for the next meeting.

    SCORE (Smart Control of the Climate Resilience in European Coastal Cities) Horizon 2020 Project – Mr P. Murtagh is representing SPC 4 on this project with IT Sligo being the lead partner.
  6. Smarter Travel:
    Work is ongoing and will be linked to the Active Travel Programme.  It was noted that the Active Mobility Charter is on the agenda of SPC 2 for its next meeting.
  7. Woodland Creation on Public Lands:
    Five sites have been identified throughout the County for planting of native woodland trees.

    An update will be circulated to committee members when available.
  8. EV Charging Points:
    Ten potential charging points have been identified with one proposed rapid charging point to be located at the Market Yard, Sligo.  A further update will be given at the next meeting as work progresses.

    It was suggested that SPC 4 could promote where the charging points will be through the council’s website, to include a link to the various sites.  A submission to the next County Development Plan was also suggested.
  9. Training:
    Six half days of training have been delivered to the CARO members over the past months.  All council staff are doing Climate Action Training at present, with outdoor staff commencing this training in Quarter 3.

 

4.  Update on Energy Efficiency/Climate Action Officer

A full time dedicated Climate Action Officer will be in place before the next SPC 4 meeting.  CARO are considering the development of an Energy Bureau to look at energy internally in the Local Authority.  Sligo Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) are considering setting up an Energy Agency.  This Agency would assist external organisations, businesses and communities to work on improving energy efficiency across the board.

 

5.  Climate/Sustainability Graduate Programme

Two full time graduates will be starting in SCC in two weeks’ time and they will be part of the Climate Action Team for two years.

 

6.  Decarbonising Zone

A position paper regarding the proposed decarbonised zones has been submitted to the Department for consideration.  It was emphasised that work on this is at Stage 1 only and that a public consultation has yet to be completed as part of this very lengthy process.  Mr. P. Murtagh will forward details to the SPC 4 members as they are available.  It was agreed to promote these zones once details have been confirmed and finalised.

 

7.  SEAI MOU – Funding of Sustainable Energy Communities

An MOU has been signed between SCC and the SEAI.  SCC will be able to pay for costs upfront and then be reimbursed by the SEAI.

It was highlighted that people are being quoted a waiting time for 18 months to avail of the  Warmer Homes Scheme. It was agreed to send a letter to the SEAI highlighting this issue and requesting a response.

 

8.  Issues highlighted by PPN Environmental Groups

  • Climate Conversation Reports – on the agenda for the next meeting
  • SCC Standing Orders – to be clarified if SPC 4 is now included in these
  • Agreed that Climate Action would be an underpinning theme across all SPC’s and therefore may lead to overlap at times
  • SPC 4 Climate Action is a new SPC set up to deal with policy
  • Sligo 2030 – agreed that a submission would be made based on the workplan, this submission is to be circulated to members prior to the deadline
  • Sligo 2030 – it was highlighted that individuals are also welcome to make submissions

 

9.  Proposed Climate Action & Biodiversity Workshop

Roscommon County Council facilitated this workshop which two committee members attended.  It was agreed that a follow on workshop would be arranged by SPC 4 .  Councillor Sinead Maguire agreed to take the lead on this, to be assisted by Mr. Michael Ewing, Environmental Pillar, Mr. Pete Murtagh, Environmental Awareness Officer and Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services.

 

10.  Date of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 29th September at 11am.

 

11.  Any Other Business

  • It was agreed by the members to send their good wishes to Ms. Lisa Moore
  • It was agreed to have a report on carbon sinks on the agenda for the December SPC 4 meeting
  • Greenways – a lengthy discussion ensued on the greenways. Tom Kilfeather, A/Chief Executive agreed to send out an update to Mr. Bernie Finan.  Both greenways are on the agenda of the next SCC meeting.
  • Use of Pesticides by SCC – it was confirmed that pesticides are only used when absolutely necessary. SCC works on a reduction or elimination best practice model in this regard.  It was suggested that SPC 4 would establish a policy for the use of pesticides, particularly by outdoor staff.  It was agreed that training and education were important to inform people about the use of pesticides.
  • It was agreed to look at the contacting of members re: attendance at a future date.

 

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance.

The business of the meeting concluded at 12.40p.m.

 


Meeting Date 30/06/2021