2024 Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Sligo Local Community Development Committee Wednesday 17th July 2024 at 9.30a.m. (Council Chamber, City Hall)


Members Present

  • Councillor Donal Gilroy (Chamber), Local Government, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Nessa Cosgrove (Chamber), Local Government, Sligo County Council
  • Councillor Fergal Nealon (Chamber), Local Government, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. Martin Lydon (Chamber), Local Government/CE, Sligo County Council
  • Mr Liam Kiely (Chamber), Local Government / LEO, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. Aidan Doyle (Chamber), Business Interests, Sligo Chamber of Commerce
  • Ms. Cara O’Neill (Chamber), State Agency, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan HSE
  • Mr. John Feerick (Chamber), Local Development Sector, Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
  • Mr. Billy Gallagher (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Mr. Pat Fallon (Chamber), Trade Union Interests, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
  • Ms. Kathleen Henry (Chamber), Farming / Agriculture Interests, Farming / Agriculture Pillar
  • Mr. Pat Benson (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Mr. John Kennedy (Chamber), State Agency, Dept. of Employment Affairs & Social Protection
  • Mr. Peter Egan (Chamber), State Agency, MSLETB
  • Ms. Bernadette Maughan (Chamber), Social Inclusion, PPN

Apologies /Absent

  • Ms. Noelle O'Gara, Social Inclusion, PPN

In Attendance

  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Chief Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Margaret McConnell (Chamber), Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Aisling Smyth (Chamber), Administrative Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Mary Boylan (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Tracy Ferguson (Chamber), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Geraldine Timlin (Chamber), Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Geraldine Healy (Chamber), Clerical Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. June Murphy (Chamber), Programme Manager (SICAP), County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG

 

1. Welcome to new Members

Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Chief Officer, Sligo LCDC welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly new representatives of Sligo County Council, Councillor Donal. Gilroy, Councillor Nessa Cosgrove and Councillor Fergal Nealon.

 

2. Election of Chairperson of LCDC

Report on process and procedure for election of Chairperson / Vice Chairperson circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Overview of report provided by Ms. D. Clarke, including the role of Chairperson and the election process.
Ms. Clarke also advised members that she was required to remind them to consider gender balance during the election process. 
Ms. Clarke then invited members to put forward nominations for the position of Chairperson.

Nominations:
Councillor Nessa Cosgrove nominated as follows:

Proposed by: Cllr. F. Nealon
Seconded by: Mr. P. Egan

Councillor Donal Gilroy nominated as follows:

Proposed by: Mr. P. Fallon
Seconded by: Mr. B. Gallagher

As there was more than one candidate proposed for the position of Chairperson it was agreed that a poll be taken by secret ballot.
Prior to members casting their votes, Councillor F. Nealon spoke in favour Councillor Nessa Cosgrove and encouraged members to vote for Councillor Cosgrove as Chairperson.
Councillor D. Gilroy spoke about his experience and asked that members support his nomination as Chairperson.

Ballot papers were circulated to all members. The 15 LCDC Members present then cast their votes which were then collected and counted by LCDC Support Staff.

Results as follows:

Councillor Gilroy - 8 votes
Councillor Cosgrove – 5 votes
Abstentions – 2

Councillor Gilroy was deemed elected on a majority of 8/ 5 votes.

 

3. Election of Vice Chairperson of LCDC

Councillor Gilroy invited nominations for the position of Vice Chairperson.
Councillor Nelon nominated Councillor Cosgrove

Proposed by: Mr. P. Fallon
Seconded by: Ms. C. O’Neill and agreed.

As there was no other candidate proposed for Vice Chairperson this proposal was agreed by all.

Councillor Cosgrove was deemed elected as Vice Chairperson.

 

4. Review of Membership of Subcommittees

A list of the current membership of subcommittees was circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Ms. M. McConnell gave an overview of membership of each of the subcommittees and positions to be filled.  Ms. McConnell advised that the vacancy on the Rural Development Subcommittee should be filled with immediate effect and asked for nominations from the members. 

Councillor N. Cosgrove expressed an interest and was elected as follows:

Proposed by: Mr. B. Gallagher
Seconded by: Councillor F. Nealon and agreed.

 

5. Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

6. Minutes of meeting 23rd May 2024

Proposed by: Ms. K. Henry
Seconded by: Mr. B. Gallagher and agreed.

 

7. Matters Arising.

There were no matters arising.

 

8. SICAP

(a) SICAP 2024 Mid – Year review – for approval by LCDC

Reports submitted by Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG and circulated to members in advance of the meeting as follows:

  1. Action Progress Report / Lot Summary Report
  2. LCDC Checklist / Pobal Review / Financial Reports
  3. Recommendation of SI & SICAP Monitoring Subcommittee

Ms. Margaret McConnell advised Members that a meeting of the Social Inclusion & SICAP Monitoring Committee was held on 4th July to consider the 2024 Mid-Year review.
SLPCLG uploaded the Action Progress Report and the Lot Summary Report, as required by the DRCD and Pobal, and LCDC support staff undertook the Mid-Year review. Feedback from Pobal was incorporated into the LCDC Checklist Report, which was also circulated to members in advance of the meeting. It was noted that SLP CLG had achieved over 44% for Goal 1 and 66% for Goal 2 and are on track to meet all targets for 2024 and that feedback from Pobal was positive following their Mid-Year Review.

(iii) Recommendation Report of the Social Inclusion & SICAP Monitoring Committee Circulated to members in advance of the meeting and outlined by Ms. M. McConnell.

Approval of the 2024 Mid-Year Review:
Proposed by: Mr. P. Fallon
Seconded by: Mr. P. Benson and agreed.

(b) Update on SICAP 2024 to date

Ms. J. Murphy advised new members that she would be happy to meet with them separately to discuss SICAP and any queries they may have.  She then provided an overview of the SICAP report circulated to members in advance of the meeting, which included:

  • Budget versus spend
  • KPI’s – targets and process of working with groups / individuals
  • A large portion of work is ongoing with New Communities which will contribute to overachievement of targets by the end of 2024
  • In terms of LPTG’s the annual target of 18% has been exceeded and is currently at 23% - the communities of Ballytivnan and Caltragh are being specifically targeted.
  • Overview of projects and ongoing work with New Communities

(c) Site Verification Visits – Q3 2024

Two site visits suggested as follows:

  • Enniscrone Beach Camp, 13th August 2024
  • Sligo Woodland School, 21st August 2024

Full details to be circulated to members closer to the proposed dates.

Ms. M. McConnell encouraged members to attend.  This was endorsed by Mr. P. Benson who advised that the project organisers and participants appreciate the visits which are also a learning experience for members.

 

9. To note update on PPN

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Mr. P. Benson provided an overview of ongoing projects and events which Sligo PPN are currently involved in / working on, as follows:

  • An inventory of community space project has commenced; the facilitator is in the process of arranging a schedule of site visits.
  • Sligo PPN Secretariat agreed to open up the environment seat on Sligo LCDC to all colleges of the PPN – with the caveat that any interested nominee demonstrate an understanding and commitment to positive environmental and climate action. Call is open until mid-July.
  • Partnering with the other PPNs in the North West region to hold a regional training event on 8th October for all newly elected SPC representatives.
  • The PPN has produced a half year report which has been circulated to all PPN members and the elected members of Sligo County Council.
  • Power to Change initiative:
    • A programme re-launch event will take place on 13th September in the ATU.
    • The SDG workbook for primary schools is in the final design stage; it has been developed in partnership with schools across Co. Sligo.
    • On 12th October, the initiative will be partnering with PEACEPlus, Sligo County Council and other local organisations to host a Repair Café Expo in the ATU.
  • In response to a query from Councillor F. Nealon, Mr. P. Benson provided a more detailed explanation of the work being undertaken on the Power to Change Initiative.

 

10. To note update on the Sligo Healthy Ireland Programme Round 4

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Key elements of the report were highlighted by Ms. M. McGarry, Health Ireland Co-ordinator this included an in-depth overview of projects, including lead agency and costs and progress on projects / activities to date. An overview of Programme Background and Context was also provided for the benefit of new members.

Discussion

Ms. B. Maughan noted that there was an increase in Autism nationally and queried the availability of funding for Autism projects for the remainder of 2024.  She also noted that there is an Autism focused Horse Riding project in Mayo and queried if similar could be funded in Sligo.  Ms. M. McGarry confirmed that she would bring this HI Subcommittee and noted that CYPSC have submitted a funding application to the HSE, for a PT worker to work with young people with Autism.

Ms. C. O’Neill advised that the HSE will be delivering a Healthy Food Made Easy Programme to Older People. She also noted that the HSE are currently in discussions with Government around developing 19 Slainte Care Healthy Communities, nationally.  Ms. O’Neill provided an overview of the criteria required for a Slainte Care Healthy community and advised that a Business Case is to be submitted based on areas of disadvantage. 

In response to a query from Mr. P. Benson, she also confirmed that Physical Activity and Mental Health will be considered along with deprivation stats when submitting the Business Case.

Ms. B. Maughan shared that STSG and the ATU are planning a roadshow, in Q4 2024, to highlight programmes available in Sligo.  Dates to be circulated to LCDC members when available. 

Ms. D. Clarke agreed that there are a number of different programmes in Sligo and stressed the importance of not duplicating and highlighting the need to communicate programmes to groups / communities.  Mr. J. Feerick advised that the ILDN will be hosting Local Development week, nationally, the week beginning 23rd September during which they will be engaging will all groups / communities.

 

11. To note update on the Sligo PEACEPLUS Plan

Report circulated to members in advance of meeting.  Ms. T. Ferguson provided an overview as follows:

Members were advised that the PEACEPLUS Plan is currently in an interim phase, but happy to discuss it in greater detail with members if they wish.  The Chairperson thanked members of the PEACEPLUS subcommittee and staff for their work to date.  

 

12. Correspondence

Correspondence was outlined by Ms. M. McConnell and noted by members.

 

13. Date for next LCDC/LAG meeting

Thursday 19th September 2024 – 9.30a.m.

 

14. Any Other Business 

  • Councillor N. Cosgrove thanked staff for reports to the meeting.
  • P. Egan advised that the ETB are developing a cross-border Youth PEACE Project to be launched in Q4 2024. Update to be provided at the next meeting.
  • C. O’Neill advised that the HSE have submitted 6 cross-border funding proposals to include a Healthier Futures project focusing on obesity in children and young people and including a Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver services to Families and young people.

Meeting concluded at 11.05 a.m.


Meeting Date 17/07/2024