Minutes 2017

Minutes of Special Meeting of Sligo County Council (Re. Submission To National Planning Framework) held on Monday, 15th March, 2017 at 11.30 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Bree,
  • Councillor Henry,
  • Councillor Keaney,
  • Councillor Kilgannon,
  • Councillor Lundy,
  • Councillor MacManus,
  • Councillor MacSharry,
  • Councillor Mulvey,
  • Councillor O’Boyle,
  • Councillor O’Grady,
  • Councillor Taylor.

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillor Baker, Councillor Henry, Councillor Keaney and Councillor Maguire.

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Deputy Chief Executive
  • Mr. Frank Moylan, Senior Planner
  • Mr. Kevin Colreavy, Meetings Administrator
  • Ms. Jo-Anne McGonigle, Assistant Staff Officer

 

LEAS-CATHAOIRLEACH:

Leas-Cathaoirleach, Councillor Tom MacSharry, presided.

 

SUBMISSION FROM SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL TO THE NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK – IRELAND 2040:

At the outset, Director of Services Ms. Clarke referred to the submission from Sligo County Council for the “National Planning Framework – Ireland 2040”.  This is now out for consultation for the purpose of putting in place a draft National Planning Framework (N. P. F.).  The deadline for the submission was to be the 16th March but that had been extended to the 31st March.  It is the intention to get the Council’s submission to the Department as soon as possible.

Ms. Clarke advised the meeting that the request for submissions is part of the pre-consultation phase of the N. P. F. The Government are committed to putting in place a document to shape the future development of Ireland with a focus on where there should be investment.  It is, in effect, the second Spatial Plan further to the National Spatial Strategy (N.S.S.) published in 2002. 

In the National Spatial Strategy, Sligo had been designated as one of eight “Gateways” to be recognised as centres of growth and development.  The impact of that Strategy did not happen and investment did not flow before the recession happened.  This is a new attempt to put in place a Spatial Plan.  The Council will be putting Sligo forward as a regional growth centre.  It is an area that has potential for growth and development. 

Ms. Clarke indicated that Mr. Moylan would outline the submission in a presentation to the Meeting, followed by a discussion on any issues the Members wished to raise.

Mr. Moylan referred to the draft submission that had been previously circulated to the Members.  This had been discussed at the Meeting of SPC3 which had taken place prior to this Special Meeting and had been given the Committee’s approval with one minor amendment that will be incorporated, subject to approved by the Members.

The Members were advised that the report circulated earlier in the week consisted of the base text.  The final version for the Members’ approval included additional design work and images.  Sligo is seen as the economic driver with concentric circles from Sligo town.  This is the key message and focus of the submission.

The submission, was entitled “Sligo – ready to grow Submission to the National Planning Framework by the Members and the Executive of Sligo County Council 16th March, 2017”

and was set out under the following headings:

 

  • Sligo:  N.S.S. Gateway
  • Sligo Vision 2040
  • Functional Area
  • Growth Potential
  • Place-making
  • Education and Enterprise
  • Capacity to deliver
  • Progress to date and planned actions
    • Compact city
    • Liveable city
    • Green city and
    • Creative city.

‘Existing and planned major transit routes’ together with the ‘Housing land reserve and transport framework’ were identified in maps in the submission.

 

The issue raised earlier at the SPC Meeting had been that emphasis should be placed on the catchment area of 40,000 people.  This, however, grows to 100-200,000.  This will be re-examined in the context of emphasising the wider catchment that Sligo sustains and serves. 

The Leas-Cathaoirleach thanked Ms. Clarke and Mr. Moylan and asked the Members for their questions and comments.

Following discussion concerning a range of issues, including catchment area, tourism potential, educational facilities, report title, the following amendments to the submission as presented, were agreed:

*On page 3 of the submission, the following sentence “400,000 people reside in catchment area of the northwest of which Sligo is its core” to be inserted in the paragraph as set out below:

“Sligo’s functional area extends far beyond the county boundary, as demonstrated by the thousands of people who travel daily for work from

North-East Mayo, South Donegal, North Roscommon and County Leitrim.  400,000 people reside in catchment area of the northwest of which Sligo is its core.  It has been estimated that the daytime population of Sligo City can be as high as 40,000.

  • The title of the submission to be amended from “Ready to Grow” to “Ready to Grow with capacity to deliver”.
  • The addition of the N17 route on the maps referred to above.
  • The addition of Ballinode College into the section on Education.

Mr. Moylan sought clarification as to whether the updated submission would need to be brought back before the Members for their approval but it was agreed this would not be necessary.

Councillor D. Bree enquired if the submission to the N.P.F. is a Reserve Function on behalf of the Elected Members and, if so, why the reference to the “Executive” was on the cover of the submission.  Ms. Clarke confirmed that it was and Mr. Moylan explained that it was there to show that it is a unified message from Sligo County Council and can be entitled “Submission by Sligo County Council”.  This was agreed by the Members.

 

APPROVAL OF SUBMISSION TO THE NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK – IRELAND 2040:

Proposed by Councillor M. Clarke
Seconded by Councillor S. Kilgannon

AND AGREED

“To approve submission to the National Planning Framework – Ireland 2040, subject to amendments agreed at Special Meeting”.

 

VOTE OF SYMPATHY:

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor M. Gormley

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the families and colleagues of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick and the Crew of the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter (R116) lost off Blacksod in County Mayo on Tuesday morning”.

 

PERMISSION FOR USE OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL CREST:

The Meetings Administrator advised the Members that a request had been submitted to him earlier that morning from Sligo Arsenal Supporters’ Club for use of the crest.  Due to the time-frame involved, it was not possible to deal with this request at the Ordinary April Meeting.

Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree

AND AGREED

“That the Sligo Arsenal Supporters’ Club be granted permission to use the Sligo County Council crest on a banner to be displayed at the Emirates Stadium in London on 2nd April and on club publications/printed matter”.

 

CONCLUSION OF MEETING:

The meeting concluded at 12.35 p.m.

 


Meeting Date 15/03/2017