2024 Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of Sligo Local Community Development Committee Thursday 19th September 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 Liam Kiely (Chamber), Local Government / LEO, Sligo County Council
  • Mr. John Feerick (Chamber), Local Development Sector, Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG
  • Mr. Billy Gallagher (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Mr. Pat Fallon (Online), Trade Union Interests, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
  • Ms. Kathleen Henry (Online), Farming / Agriculture Interests, Farming / Agriculture Pillar
  • Mr. Pat Benson (Chamber), Community & Voluntary, PPN
  • Ms. Bernadette Maughan (Online), Social Inclusion, PPN
  • Mr. Amro Hamid (Online), Environment, PPN

Apologies /Absent

  • Ms. Noelle O'Gara, Social Inclusion, PPN
  • Mr. Martin Lydon, Local Government/CE, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Cara O’Neill, State Agency, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan HSE
  • Mr. Aidan Doyle, Business Interests, Sligo Chamber of Commerce
  • Mr. John Kennedy, State Agency, Dept. of Employment Affairs & Social Protection
  • Mr. Peter Egan, State Agency, MSLETB

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 (Online), Senior Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Ms. Marcella McGarry (Online), Healthy Sligo Coordinator, 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

 

Councillor Donal Gilroy, Chairperson of Sligo LCDC noted apologies and welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly Mr. Amro Hamid, representing the Environment Pillar of Sligo PPN. 

 

1. Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

2. Minutes of meeting 17th July 2024

Proposed by: Mr. John Feerick
Seconded by: Mr. Pat Benson and agreed.

 

3. Matters Arising.

There were no matters arising.

 

4. To consider format of holding LCDC meetings

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting regarding suggestions on how the operation and efficiency of the LCDC meetings could be improved.  An overview of the report was provided by Ms. M. McConnell, as follows:

  1. LCDC/LAG meetings are to be held in-person as the norm except in exceptional circumstances.
  2. Reports on agenda items will be taken as read, unless in circumstances where a decision is needed to be taken by the members and in such situations, it will be outlined briefly.
  3. Sub Committees of the LCDC will primarily deal with the detail of programmes.
  4. LCDC meetings shall be recorded for efficiency and accuracy of minute taking.

Discussion.

The Chair opened the discussion by advising that this was a fluid document and was not to force attendance in person but to strongly encourage where possible members should attend in person.  He also outlined the following:

  • Where discussions have taken place at subcommittee level it is not a good use of members time to begin discussions again at LCDC meetings.
  • If documentation is read in advance of meetings this will also save time at meetings.

Councillor N. Cosgrove offered that for members, and especially those who are new, it would be beneficial to have staff present at meetings to speak on reports and discuss queries with members.  Her position would be reluctance to remove this element from LCDC meetings as it was important for members to hear the ‘on the ground’ situation from the programme managers.  Councillor F. Nealon and Mr. B. Gallagher concurred that a balance is important but that the interpretation of the reports had a real value.

Ms. K. Henry sought that online attendance should remain as an option particularly in the interest of having a quorum for meetings.

Mr. P. Benson noted that he would be in favour of attending in person with reports read and circulated to members well in advance of meetings.

Ms. D. Clarke thanked members for their constructive comments.  She advised that this approach was being taken to ensure that meetings would run more efficiently, as there can be a lot of repetition.  She also noted that LAG meetings will become longer with the commencement of the new LEADER programme.  She confirmed that in relation to pt no 1 the Hybrid option would continue to be available, in exceptional circumstances and that members could request the meeting link.  In relation to point 2, she assured that staff would either be present at the meeting or online, should there be queries or further discussion required. 

It was agreed that points 3 & 4 of the report were in order and that an updated list of subcommittees would be circulated to members for information. 

The Chair agreed that considerations offered by members would be taken into account and the item would remain on the next for further discussion.

 

5. SICAP

Circulated to members in advance of the meeting and outlined by Ms. M. McConnell.

a) Update on SICAP 2024 to date

Report circulated to members in advance of the meeting.  Ms. J. Murphy advised members that as per the report, annual targets under Goals 1 & 2 are well underway towards being achieved.  Ms. Murphy also provided an overview of projects currently underway. 

b) Verifications/Site visits Q4: 2024

Ms. J. Murphy suggested the following site visits for LCDC members:

  • Menowell Project in Tubbercurry – November 2024
  • In conjunction with Kids Own Publishing the launch of a book developed with IPAS children – December 2024

c) Notification of Local Government Audit Services Audit of SICAP 2023

Ms. M. McConnell advised members that the Local Government Audit Service would be undertaking an Audit of SICAP 2023, date to be confirmed.

 

6. 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:

  • Welcomed Mr. A. Hamid as the new PPN Environmental representative on the LCDC
  • Under Power to Change, the PPN and ATU are working on the development of the Adaptation Games – a game based exploration of Climate Change that brings young people together to solve emerging local issues.
  • Sligo PPN hosted the North West Region PPN network on 9th September where we began preparation for the 2025 work plan.
  • Sligo PPN hosted the North West Region PPN network on 9th September where we began preparation for the 2025 work plan.
  • Housing Thematic Network launched their 5 paper series on key community housing issues on 18th September 2024

Discussion

Councillor N. Cosgrove asked if the PPN co-ordinator would be available to speak to elected members given their links with communities.  Mr. P. Benson queried if it would be possible for the PPN to make a presentation on the Housing Papers to SCC elected members as extensive research had been undertaken by Social Justic Ireland in preparing the papers.  He noted that the PPN is an important mechanism working at community level and is the statutory network representing the C&V sector. 

In response to Cllr Nealon the Chair, Councillor D. Gilroy asked that Housing Papers would be sent to elected members asap as Housing Policy will be on the agenda for the next meeting of SCC.  He advised that the PPN write to the Corporate Services section of SCC who will then bring the presentation request to the CPG.

 

7. 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, Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator, including an overview of progress on projects.  Ms. McGarry also highlighted work currently underway on the development of new programmes, as follows:

  • Extension of Stronger for Longer Programme into North Sligo.
  • Community Wellbeing programme with the Sligo Woodland School.
  • There are several potential programmes under the mental health indicator being considered to include, Menowell, Cycling, Junior Park Run, Outdoor Yoga, Stronger for Longer/Activator Poles.

 

8. To note update on the Sligo PEACEPLUS Plan

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

  • Approval of the PEACEPLUS Plan is expected before the end of September.
  • Cllr Dónal Gilroy is also now the Chair of the Sligo PEACEPLUS Partnership
  • Trevor Sweetman to represent MSLETB on the PEACEPLUS Partnership

Ms. D. Clarke advised members that Ms. T. Ferguson was moving on promotion, to the Local Enterprise Office and thanked her for all her hard work on PEACEPLUS.

 

9. Correspondence

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

Discussion

  • Councillor F. Nealon asked for additional information on the Activator Poles scheme with Sligo Libraries. M. McGarry provided an overview of the programme and the availability and use of the poles via Libraries.

 

10. Date for next LCDC/LAG meeting –

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 – 9.30a.m.

 

11. Any Other Business

None.

 

Meeting concluded at 10.43 a.m.


Meeting Date 19/09/2024