2023 Minutes
Minutes of Meeting of Sligo Local Community Development Committee Thursday 6th April 2023 at 9.30a.m. (Council Chamber, City Hall & MS Teams)
Members Present
- Councillor Dara Mulvey (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
- Councillor Tom Fox (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
- Councillor Joe Queenan (Chamber), Local Government Member, Sligo County Council
- Martin Lydon (Chamber), Local Government/CE, Sligo County Council
- John Reilly (Online), Local Government / LEO, Sligo County Council
- Cara O’Neill (Online), State Agency, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan HSE
- Peter Egan (Online), State Agency, Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB
- Aidan Doyle (Chamber), Business Interests, Sligo Chamber of Commerce
- John Feerick (Chamber), Local Development Sector, Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
- Ms Connie Nell (Online), Environmental Interests, Environmental Pillar (PPN)
- Mr Billy Gallagher (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
- Kathleen Henry (Online), Farming / Agriculture Interests, Farming / Agriculture Pillar
- Pat Fallon (Online), Trade Union Interests, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- Patrick Benson (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
Apologies /Absent
- Brendan Lynch, Social Inclusion, PPN
- John Kennedy, State Agency, Dept. Of Employment Affairs & Social Protection
In Attendance
- Dorothy Clarke (Chamber), Chief Officer, Sligo County Council
- Margaret McConnell (Chamber), Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council
- Aisling Smyth (Chamber), Administrative Officer, Sligo County Council
- Mary Boylan (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
- Geraldine Timlin (Chamber), Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
- Emer McGrath (Chamber), Clerical Officer, Sligo County Council
- Kate Gibbons (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
- Marcella McGarry (Chamber), Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator, Sligo County Council
- June Murphy (Chamber), Programme Manager (SICAP), County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
Councillor Dara Mulvey opened the meeting and welcomed everyone, particularly Ms. Cara O’Neill who is replacing Ms. Patricia Garland as the HSE representative on the LCDC. The Chair also took the opportunity to thank Ms. P. Garland for her work and contribution to the LCDC.
1. Declarations of Interest
Mr. P. Benson declared a conflict of interest in relation to Item 9. Approval of the allocation of funding under the Community Support Fund.
2. Minutes of meeting 23rd February 2023
Proposed by: Councillor. T. Fox
Seconded by: Mr. J. Feerick
and agreed.
3. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Update on LECP – Sligo 2030
Ms Dorothy Clarke gave a brief update on progress of the LECP – Sligo 2030. She advised members that it was adopted at the April meeting of Sligo County Council and had also undergone the Statutory Environmental Screening process. The next step is to design, print and launch the Plan.
Ms. Clarke acknowledged and thanked everyone who had contributed to the development of the LECP and accompanying action plan.
5. SICAP
(a) Update on SICAP 2023 to date
Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting. Ms. J. Murphy gave an overview as follows:
- Update on spend to date on Administration Costs and on Goal 1: Supporting Communities and Goal 2: Supporting Individuals.
- Members were given an update on progress under the various actions associated with each Goal, and a sample of activities undertaken under each Goal.
- Update on SICAP Grants – Ms. Murphy advised that 4 SICAP grants would be launched over the coming weeks to include: Grants for groups supporting SICAP Target Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds, Social Enterprise and Social Circle Grants.
C. Nell interjected at this stage to note that the online sound level was poor. (9.55a.m)
(b) Verification Visits
Visits to be confirmed after Easter and circulated to members mid-April 2023.
Jimmy O’Brien, Head of Information Systems, SCC joined the meeting online, to troubleshoot the sound levels (10.00a.m.). It was agreed that the meeting would adjourn for 5 minutes to see if the issue could be rectified. Meeting resumed at 10.06a.m.
(c) Correspondence
Circulated to members in advance of the meeting. Outlined by Ms. M. McConnell and noted by Members.
6. Update on PPN
Report circulated to members in advance of meeting. Mr. P. Benson outlined the report and brought the following work / collaborations to the attention of the members:
- The PPN is currently working with Sligo Disabled Persons Organisation, Sligo Autism Friendly Committee and ATU Sligo, on initiatives
- Working with stakeholders in Sligo to hold a joint community expo, in Sligo on 4th May 2023
- PPN Biennial re-registration process due to commence shortly
- Participated in SLPCLG led consultations on Social Inclusion and Community Engagement and will be working with Sligo Volunteer Centre and SLPCLG to progress issues arising.
Discussion
Mr. J. Feerick thanked the PPN for attending the consultations and for their input.
Mr. M. Lydon noted that in relation to Sligo Autism Friendly Committee, Ballymote Library have a sensory room and suggested that the group contact the library.
7. Update on Healthy Ireland – Round 4
Report circulated to members in advance of meeting. Ms. M. McGarry, Healthy Sligo Co-ordinator provided an overview as follows:
- McGarry advised that an update from Pobal on the outcome of the Sligo funding application remains outstanding
- A number of meetings have been held with potential lead partners to progress to the next stage of developing the local activities plan.
- Mental Health and Physical Activity programmes are under consideration and are due to be finalised after Easter
- McGarry gave an overview of 2 Healthy Ireland Indicators which have been selected for Sligo i.e., Lifestyle and Behaviour Risk and Wellbeing Factors, and of the target groups and examples of project outcomes and outputs.
Discussion
Ms. C. O’Neill noted that tabaco control is a big issue, which is not just a health issue but also a societal issue in general. She queried if the Healthy Ireland co-ordinators in the region had met with the HSE Regional Programme Manager. Ms. McGarry confirmed that tabaco control arose during public consultations, specifically in relation to vaping and young people and this will be addressed in the Healthy Ireland Sligo Plan. Ms. O’Neill advised that ATU Sligo are developing an initiative around young people and vaping and agreed to forward contact details to Ms. McGarry.
8. Update on PEACEPLUS Partnership
Report circulated to Members in advance of meeting. Ms. A. Smyth provided an overview as follows:
- A number of community information sessions have been held to provide communities with an understanding of the Co-Design process and the way in which it will inform the Local Community Peace Action Plan, alongside the parameters of the fund and how it is delivered.
- Smyth provided an overview of progress on the development of the Sligo PEACEPLUS Action Plan. 6 x Public Co-Design Workshops are planned for the end of April and will be supported by an online survey / meeting. A social media campaign to promote attendance at consultations is being run via the Council’s Social media over the Easter weekend to coincide with the Good Friday Agreement and members were encouraged and asked to share posts to encourage the community to see the relevance of participating in the Co-design of the Plan.
- In terms of the call for funding this is now expected in late May / early June 2023.
Discussion
Mr. P. Benson advised that he had attended a consultation session which was very informative and that more people should be encouraged to attend.
Ms. D. Clarke noted that it was significant that sessions were taking place during this week which is the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Members were asked to promote sessions as widely as possible.
Cllr. D. Mulvey and Mr. M. Lydon both noted that there is a significant cohort of young people who are not aware of the Good Friday Agreement, what it entails, and has achieved. This is an issue which possibly may surface through the consultation process.
Ms. C. O’Neill advised that the HSE is very supportive of PEACEPLUS and will be making a submission under Theme 4 as appropriate.
P. Benson left the meeting at this stage as he had declared an interest in Item 9.
9. Approval of the allocation of funding under the Community Support Fund
Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting. Ms. A. Smyth provided an overview as follows:
- Background, structure and implementation of the fund, and funding allocated to Sligo
- An initial fund of €282,702 was provided by the DRCD. It is now being supplemented by an additional €25,904.75 which represents the value of under claim amounts across a number of previous funding calls under the Community Enhancement Programme.
- Smyth gave an overview of the breakdown of the operational costs based on a hierarchy of needs, which was outlined in full in the report circulated to members.
- 126 applications were received, and all were recommended for funding – the list of applicants and funding allocations was circulated to members.
- It was noted that as per the DRCD, LCDCs are not permitted to notify approved groups, as the DRCD will be issuing a press release nationally.
Approval of funding allocation:
Proposed by: Cllr. J. Queenan
Seconded by: Mr. M. Lydon
P. Benson re-joined the meeting.
10. Correspondence
Correspondence was outlined by Ms. M. McConnell and noted by members.
11. Date for next LCDC/LAG meeting – Thursday 25th May 2023.
12. Any Other Business
Ms. M. McConnell advised members that the Creative Sligo Open call for applications was underway with a closing date of 28th April 2023. An e-mail in this regard and with additional information to be forwarded to Members after this meeting.
Meeting concluded at 10.45a.m.
Meeting Date 06/04/2023