Minutes - SPC 3

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 3 Live Invest Visit Meeting held on Tuesday 25th February 2025 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside,


In Attendance:

  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney (Chair) 
  • Councillor Fergal Nealon 
  • Councillor Declan Bree 
  • Councillor Liam Brennan 
  • Councillor Marie Casserly 
  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons 
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey 
  • Councillor Thomas Walsh 
  • Paula Scallon Business / Commercial National Pillar - (Chambers Ireland)
  • Stephen Barker Community/Voluntary - PPN Nominee (Cliffoney CF)
  • Ruth Flood, Social Inclusion – PPN Nominee (Sligo DPO)

Officials in Attendance:

  • Dónal Tinney, A/Director of Services
  • Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
  • Tracy Ferguson, Economic Development Officer
  • Patricia Keane, A/County Librarian
  • Aisling Quinn, Festivals and Events Officer

Guests:

  • Angela Bane and Bernadette Mullarkey, Presenting consultants (Online)

Apologies:

Denise Curran, Trade Union National Pillar - (MANDATE) (ICTU)

 

Introduction

Cathaoirleach Councillor G. Mullaney welcomed all in attendance. As this is the first SPC 3 Meeting of under the Adopted SPC Scheme 2024-2029, all in attendance were invited to briefly introduce themselves.

As Bane Mullarkey Tourism Consultants are guests to the Meeting and presenting on Item 7. - Update on development of a Draft Festival & Events Strategy for County Sligo – Cathaoirleach Councillor G. Mullaney advised that Item 7 would follow procedural item no. 3 to facilitate guest presenters to leave the meeting.

 

1.  To note remit of the Live Invest Visit SPC

Tinney, A/Director of Service, updated the Members on the remit of Strategic Policy Committees in General, referring to the documents provided. He highlighted the role of the SPC being to advise and assist the with formation of policy through the Corporate Policy Group.

Documents provided:  

  • Adopted SPC Scheme 2024-2029
  • 3 x Brief Overview of Policy Areas – Enterprise and Economic Development, Community and Tourism, and Library and Arts.

Noted.

 

2.  To agree calendar of meetings for 2026

Suggested dates for 2026:

  • 8th April
  • 8th July
  • 7th October

Proposed by: Councillor A Gibbons
Seconded by: Councillor D. Mulvey

 

3.  To consider multi-annual work programme / annual work programme

Tinney, A/Director of Service, outlined the requirement for each SPC to adopt a Multi-Annual and Annual Work Plan that would consider areas of Policy and revert to Corporate Policy Group. The members are asked to consider the Draft Plan provided and Policy Overview briefs and advise on agreed areas of consideration. This agreed Draft Multi-Annual and Annual Work Plan will then be issued to the Corporate Policy Group for approval.

Agreed

 

7.  Update on development of a Draft Festival & Events Strategy for County Sligo

M McConnell introduced a presentation from Bane Mullarkey Tourism Consultants providing the context of the strategy’s development, being delayed by Covid 19, and acknowledging the related strands of tourism, economic development and community. Fáilte Ireland’s Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) is the overarching guide and festival & events are defined in the DEDP as key tourism enablers.

Bane Mullarkey outlined by an on-line power point presentation the context to the draft strategy, the consultation undertaken and the main outcomes, and consequent actions recommended.

A discussion took place and questions were facilitated in relation to the classification of the new hierarchy of festivals and related funding, the importance for Sligo of outdoor activity-based festivals, the importance of collaboration and shared resources, acknowledging community input, and long term sustainability of festivals.

The importance of consulting with Disabled People’s Organisations for proofing strategies re access was emphasised and the Council’s policy position in regard to the use of Artificial Intelligence for festival marketing and associated training was queried.

A request was made that C&V organisations are given access to the centrally held Sligo Co Co resources that will support future Festivals and Events. 

Noted.

Queries raised in relation to the operation of the Queen Maeve Square were deemed to be more appropriate for direction towards the Festivals and Events Oversight Committee .

Adoption of the draft strategy and referral to the full March plenary meeting of the Council was 

Proposed by: Councillor Thomas Walsh
Seconded by: Councillor Marie Casserly

And agreed.

 

4.  NOAC Performance Indicators 2023 – report

Dónal Tinney summarised the results of Sligo County Council’s NAOC indicators for 2023 across the Departments, and providing detail for the indicators relevant to SPC 3. To maximise the benefit to the organisation of the performance indicator data, Sligo County Council’s Management Team will keep the indicators under review. The annual publication of the NOAC performance report will be used to better inform policy and organisational decision making by the Management Team, Audit Committee and Elected Council into the future.

Proposed by: Councillor Dara Mulvey
Seconded by: Councillor Arthur Gibbons

 

5.  Corporate Plan 2024 – 2029

D. Tinney summarised the relevant elements of the Sligo County Council Corporate Plan 2024-2029 as adopted by the Elected Members at the Plenary Council meeting on 10th February 2025. The alignment of objectives and policy areas under consideration was highlighted.

Noted and agreed by all.

Proposed by: Councillor Fergal Nealon
Seconded by: Councillor Arthur Gibbons

 

6.  SPC Training

D. Tinney advised members that Training for SPC Members was being arranged. Details to follow.

Noted.

 

8.  Update on Sligo Food & Drinks Strategy 2026-2030

T. Ferguson, Economic Development Officer, provided brief update on Food & Drinks Strategy currently being developed for County Sligo. The process is on target with consultations and stakeholder meetings, and compilation of producers’ database almost completed. Planned research on exploring the potential for a Food Hub for Sligo was also outlined.

Development of Sligo Food & Drinks Strategy welcomed by Councillor. Marie Casserly and Mr. Steven Barker, who will also requested that a representative sample of local (micro) producers are included in the producers’ database and this should extend to local community led food markets.

Noted

 

9.  AOB

None.

 

Cathaoirleach Gerard Mullaney thanked all present for their time and contribution to the meeting.

Apologies were noted.

The meeting concluded at 11.55 p.m.

 


Meeting Date 25/02/2025