SPC 4 - Minutes

Minutes of the Strategic Policy Committee 4 - Climate Change Meeting Held on Wednesday 30th March 2022 at 11.00am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside,Sligo/Virtual Meeting Room (V)


IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Sinéad Maguire (Chairperson)
  • Councillor Martin Connolly (V)
  • Councillor Paul Taylor (V)
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey (V)
  • Councillor Donal Gilroy (V)
  • E. Concannon, A/Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Fineen O’ Driscoll, (V) A/Senior Engineer, Sligo County Council
  • Pete Murtagh, Energy Efficiency & Climate Action Officer,
  • Sligo County Council
  • Lorraine Fitzgerald, Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Roisin Curran, Climate Action Graduate, Sligo County Council (V)
  • Daniel Conway, Climate Action Graduate, Sligo County Council (V)

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Yvonne Lang, PPN Environment/Conservation Sector Representative
  • Lisa Moore, PPN Community and Voluntary Representative

 

1. Minutes of meeting held on 10th December 2021

The minutes of the SPC 4 meeting held on 10th December 2021 were proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey and seconded by Councillor Sinead Maguire and agreed.

 

2. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

3. Energy Bureau

The Energy Bureau will assist each Local Authority with their own internal energy management issues. One Regional Co-ordinator will be appointed, with a staff member being allocated to assist each Local Authority. There will be an approximately 50k contribution from each Local Authority for an initial three-year period. Local Authorities will be able to avail of 50% funding from SEAI for the improvement of internal energy management.

 

4. Energy Agency

Once set up, this agency will assist people, communities & business in Counties Sligo and Leitrim with their energy issues and will operate similarly to a One Stop Shop for energy related work. Annual support of 12k will be required. Members welcomed the establishment of the agency given the rising costs of energy nationally.

 

5. Climate Action Plan

As part of the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act 2015, a Climate Action Plan is to be developed by each Local Authority. The process will start this year and it must be completed within 12 months. This will include a review of the Adaptation Strategy, the preparation of an Energy Management Plan and the preparation of an Emissions Baseline.

The Plan will also incorporate the work associated with the Decarbonisation Zone, as well as fulfil the requirement to produce a Sustainable Energy Climate Action Plan as per the Covenant of Mayors. It was highlighted that a response from the Department regarding theidentified Decarbonisation Zones has yet to be received.

 

6. Community Climate Action Fund

This fund for community groups will be administered by Sligo County Council and is to be announced soon. The fund will be rolled out twice over an 18-month period. Details will be circulated when they become available. It was suggested to put the delivery of this fund on the agenda for the next meeting for discussion. The Climate Adaption Strategy Report is to be circulated to members.

 

7. Work Programme 2022

An overview of the work programme was given as follows:

  • SCORE Project - a number of successful workshops were held recently
  • FASTER Project – two locations have been identified for the rapid charging EV points – Tubbercurry and Sligo Town
  • CNWPL Scheme – two areas identified for this scheme – Forthill and Finisklin
  • Smarter Travel – an internal initiative to promote the benefits of walking and cycling to staff members.
  • Climate Training of staff is ongoing
  • Terms of Reference for Community Climate Action Fund to be discussed atthe next meeting
  • Draft Corporate Energy Policy to be adopted at the next meeting
  • Measuring and Reporting – organisational energy audit to be completed
  • OPW Energy Consultant has been visiting Sligo County Council regularly providing advice and expertise
  • An EV Fleet Audit is to be carried out before year end with a view to expanding the EV fleet
  • There was a discussion on the location of EV chargers and what role the Local Authority had in their locations. The recently published Draft National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy will inform these decisions. Consideration was requested for charging points for Strandhill and Ballymote. It was confirmed that there will be an additional two charging points located in the Teach Laigne Car Park in Tubbercurry. A network of charging points is being developed.
  • Building lighting upgrades are almost completed
  • Strandhill SEC has been established. The South Sligo Energy Partnership is being developed
  • It is hoped to have the Energy Bureau in place by Q3 2022 and the Energy Agency in place by Q4 2022
  • Correspondence – to be dealt with at the next meeting

 

8. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th July at 11am.

 

9. Any Other Business

There was no other business. Councillor Sinead Maguire thanked the two graduates for their

contribution to the work and for attending the meeting.

 

The meeting ended at 11.50am. 


Meeting Date 30/03/2022