SPC 4 - Minutes

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 4 (Climate Change) Meeting held on Wednesday 29th September 2021 at 11am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo/Virtual Meeting Room (V)


IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Sinéad Maguire (Chairperson)
  • Councillor Paul Taylor (V)
  • Bernard Finan, PPN Agriculture/Farming Sector Representative
  • Yvonne Lang, PPN Environment/Conservation Sector Representative
  • Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council
  • Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Fineen O’Driscoll, Senior Executive Engineer, Sligo County Council
  • Pete Murtagh, Energy Efficiency & Climate Action Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Roisin Kirwan, Climate Action Graduate, Sligo County Council
  • Daniel Conway, Climate Action Graduate, Sligo County Council
  • Mel Gavin, IT Sligo (V)

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Councillor Dara Mulvey
  • Councillor Martin Connolly
  • Lisa Moore, Community and Voluntary (PPN)

 

1.  Minutes of meeting held on 31st March 2021

The minutes of the SPC 4 meeting held on 30th June 2021 were proposed by Mr. Bernard Finan and seconded by Councillor Sinead Maguire and agreed.

 

2.  Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

4.  Update on Work Programme 2020/2021

This item was taken before Item 3.

Mr. Pete Murtagh, Energy Efficiency & Climate Action 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:

Staffing

Mr. Pete Murtagh has been appointed the Energy Efficiency & Climate Action Officer. 

Two graduates have been employed in the area of Climate Action and will be with Sligo County Council for three years.

 

Climate Adaptation Strategy

The implementation of actions is ongoing. A progress report is due to the CARO in October and this will be circulated to the SPC members. 

 

Internal Energy

Work on the LaaS Project has commenced in four of the six designated buildings. A partnership with ESB Smart Energy Services is ongoing. Additional projects have yet to be identified and progressed.

 

Decarbonisation Zone

A proposal has been submitted to the Department, still awaiting correspondence and guidance from them before work can commence.

 

Covenant of Mayors

Awaiting guidance from the Department to progress work on this. A letter from the President of the EU to all Mayors was distributed to SPC members.  The outcome of a funding application to the European Union City Facility in relation to energy management at leisure centres should be known by October.

 

Support for local SEC’s

Sligo County Council have begun to support local SEC’s by providing them with bridging financing while they get their Energy Master Plans drawn up.  This process is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding with the SEAI, with Sligo County Council paying any consultancy fees which are then reimbursed by SEAI grant funding.  Strandhill SEC have started this process.

 

EV Charging Points

The FASTER Project was recently launched.  Possible sites have been identified and work with partners is ongoing to determine where the best locations are and to link these to the Wild Atlantic Way.  EasyGo/Eir have identified a possible site for one of their units in the Market Yard.

 

CNWPL Scheme

It is hoped to get the application process started for some sites before the end of the year.  Sligo County Council have signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan which will include wildflower meadows, Bee Corridors and Don’t Mow, Let it Grow initiatives.  A discussion on the use of pesticides ensued during which some examples of best practice were highlighted e.g. Kildare County Council are currently looking at alternative methods.  It was agreed to wait for the outcome of the pilot projects and to take the learning from them. 

 

SCORE Project

This is a three-year European Project being led by IT Sligo which seeks to develop the concept of Coastal Living Laboratories in several cities across the continent.  One potential area of work will be the protection and restoration of sand dunes in Co. Sligo

 

Air Quality

Details regarding the monitors on the Inner Relief Road can be found on the EPA website.  The use of smokeless was discussed in the context of Fuel Poverty.

 

Training

Training is ongoing.

 

Smarter and Active Travel

It is intended to look at over the coming months.

 

Green Procurement

The EPA have issued guidelines with regard to green procurement practices.

 

Field Trip

This has been moved to Quarter 1 of 2022 given Covid 19 restrictions and considerations.

 

Work Programme 2022

This will be on the agenda of the next meeting for an update.

 

3.  Presentation on Warmer Homes Scheme – Mr. Mel Gavin – IT Sligo

Mr. Mel Gavin gave a presentation on the Warmer Homes Scheme as follows:

  • The Scheme is free to homeowners who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments
  • Homeowners apply directly to the SEAI who assign a contractor/assessor
  • There is no deadline to apply for the Scheme
  • There is a backlog currently due to a change in the framework contract and the impact of Covid 19
  • Sligo Town has been identified as being a high risk area for fuel poverty in the Sligo Energy Masterplan 2020
  • It is intended to work with the PPN to inform members of the public about the Scheme – Inform, Application, Liaise with SEAI and Contract
  • It is hoped to set up Information Clinics when possible
  • It is hoped to have North West Energy Agency up and running next year with staff in place

Members welcomed the presentation and update and requested that the presentation be circulated to SPC 4 members.

 

5.  Update on Energy Efficiency/Climate Action Officer

Mr. Pete Murtagh has been appointed the Energy Efficiency & Climate Action Officer. 

 

6.  Discussion on ‘Climate Conversations’ Report

Draft report from the Department was circulated to SPC 4 members.  The Department have to finalise this report.  Ms. Yvonne Lang to discuss topics to be put on the agenda of the next meeting with Mr. Pete Murtagh i.e., Biodiversity Officer, Communications and Education/Awareness.

to send a letter to the SEAI highlighting this issue and requesting a response.

 

7.  Date of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 15th December at 11am.

 

8.  Any Other Business

  • It was agreed to send a letter to members re: attendance
  • PPN Reps – a discussion took place on the possibility of an Interim Rep if reps could not make meetings. Yvonne Lang to follow this up with the PPN.  It was suggested that a sub could observe rather than a member
  • It was suggested from a participation perspective that having an observer would be useful

 

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance.

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 12.35p.m.

 


Meeting Date 29/09/2021