Agenda - February 2006 County Council Meeting

CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES

a)  Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 9th January 2006

 

(circulated herewith)

• Minutes of 9th Jan 06

Report of the Area Committees

      

a) Terenure/Rathfarnham Area Committee (1) - 10th January 2006

Dealing with Roads, Planning (1 report - Draft Ballyboden Village Plan), Development and Corporate Services

(circulated herewith)

b) Terenure/Rathfarnham Area Committee (2) - 10th January 2006

Dealing with Community, Parks, Environment and Housing

(no report)

c) Tallaght Area Committee (1) - 16th January 2006

Dealing with Environment, Parks, Community (1 report - Grants) and Housing

(circulated herewith)

d) Tallaght Area Committee (2) - 23rd January 2006

Dealing with Roads (1 report - Extinguishment of Right of Way) , Planning,  Development and  Corporate Services

(circulated herewith)

e) Lucan/Clondalkin Area Commmittee(1) - 17th January 2006 

Dealing with Development, Planning, Corporate Services and Roads

(no report)

f) Lucan /Clondalkin Area Committee (2) - 24th January 2006

Dealing with Environment, Parks, Community  and Housing 

(no report)

• H2(a) Draft Ballyboden Village Plan
• H2(a) Draft Ballyboden Village Plan Map
• H2(c) Grants TAC
• H2(d) Extinguishment TAC

Standing Committees - Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee, 19th January 2006

a) Calendar of Meeting Dates

(circulated herewith)

• Calendar of Meeting Dates

Strategic Policy Committees

a) Environment SPC 1st February 2006

b) Housing and Social Development SPC, 2nd February 2006.

c)Transportation SPC 9th February 2006

(all circulated herewith)

• H4(a) Report from Environment SPC Feb 06
• H4(b) Draft Affordable Housing Scheme
• H4(b) Hsg & Social Dev SPC Mins Nov 2005
• H4(b) Report of Hsg & Social Dev SPC Feb 06
• H4(C)Transport SPC

Reports Requested by Area Committees

(no report)

To ask the Manager to establish as a matter of urgency a task-force to deal with litter blackspots in the County, with a view to eliminating the litter problems associated with illegal dumping of household refuse, litter emanating from the operation of commercial premises such as shops etc and will he make a statement on the matter?

• Q1 Litter Black Spots

To ask the Manager to indicate when the new Scheme of Letting Priorities as adopted by South Dublin County Council in December 2005 is likely to be implemented?

• Q2 Scheme of Letting Priorities

To ask the Manager to give exact details of the numbers of abandoned and burnt out vehicles removed by this Council by Electoral Area in 2005, also indicating a breakdown of the cost incurred by Electoral Area over this period?

• Q3 Burnt out cars

To ask the Manager to investigate the possibility of South Dublin utilising "Football in the Community" officers as currently provided for by Fingal and Dublin City Councils in conjunction with the FAI and the Young Persons Facilities and Services fund?

 

• Q4 Football in Community

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on the success of his efforts to ensure the recycling of Christmas trees? 

• Q5 Christmas Tree Recycling

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on the updated position regarding the development of a municipal stadium involving Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght?

• Q6 Stadium

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on actions being taken to ensure the success of his strategy to deal with anti-social behaviour problems throughout the County?

• Q7 Anti-social behaviour

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on his efforts to ensure the continuation of community employment initiatives throughout the County?

• Q8 Community Employment Initiatives

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on proposals he is formulating to deal with the menace of bonfires at Halloween and will he state if he is giving any consideration to proposals to organise authorised bonfires in various communities?

• Q9 Bonfires

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on initiatives planned during 2006 in respect of waste management?

• Q10 Waste Management

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on the effectiveness of Council bye-laws covering drinking in public places?

• Q11 Bye-laws

To ask the Manager to report to the Council on efforts he is making to access additional funding from the Department of the Environment for the Council’s Housing Programme?

• Q12 DOE Funding

To ask the Manager to outline County Council policy with regard to maintenance charges on people purchasing affordable homes in apartment blocks?

• Q13 Maintenance Charges

To ask the Manager to list, electoral ward by electoral ward, the number of social housing units specifically provided for senior citizens?

• Q14 Social Housing Units

To ask the Manager for an update as to how he is extending the number of pedestrian rights of way within South County Dublin?

• Q15 Rights of Way
• Q15 Rights of Way Map

To ask the Manager to report on the number of householders who qualified for a second green bin in 2005 on an area by area basis?

• Q16 Second Green Bin

To ask the Manager to report on what additional funding will be made available for the valuable Junk Collection Service for 2006?

• Q17 Junk Collection

To ask the Manager to report on what progress is planned to ensure that all developing areas in the County are provided with such essential facilities as Fire-Fighting services?

• Q18 Fire Fighting Services

To ask the Manager to report on the Council's plans to intensify our efforts to ensure that more buses are provided in the County particularly given the increased traffic log-jam on our roads and given the increased number of bus lanes provided without additional buses for these bus lanes?

• Q19 Buses

To ask the Manager to report on his plans to provide additional litter prevention assistance for the County for 2006. The provision of additional litter collectors in our Parks and Environmental Services Department would be of great assistance as well as additional Handcart operators?

• Q20 Additional Litter Prevention

To ask the Manager to report on the amount of Planning Applications submitted Christmas week 2005 and to compare this figure with the volume of Planning Applications submitted during each of the three previous weeks. Would the Manager also report on the number of Planning Applications decided on in South Dublin County Council during Christmas week?

• Q21 Planning Application Numbers

To ask the Manager, what efforts have been made to introduce green bin recycling services to the ever growing number of estates within S.D.C.C.'s administrative area where there are large numbers of apartments that have no such service provided?

• Q22 Green Bin Service to Apts

To ask the Manager, what is the Council's policy in relation to dealing with companies who ignore binding labour court rulings?

• Q23 Labour Court Rulings

To ask the Manager, is there a committee/grouping (emergency services and other agencies) within the County that has produced an emergency plan for the area in terms of an extraordinary event taking place such as a large chemical fire etc, if so, how often does this grouping meet and when was this plan last reviewed?

• Q24 Emergency Plan

To ask the Manager to comment on the level of illegal dumping taking place in the county and to comment on the amount of tonnage that he estimates is being dumped on a weekly basis; what measures are being taken to deal with this; how many prosecutions have taken place and how many are pending; how much has been imposed by way of fines by courts; whether any criminal proceedings have been initiated; and how the Manager proposes to deal with the issue from a policy point of view into the future?

• Q25 Level of Illegal Dumping

To ask the Manager to put in place the appropriate accounting structure to ensure that all Development levies that are receipted in the Council’s Planning Department on a Countywide basis are also recorded in such a way as to enable a breakdown, electoral area by electoral area, to be provided to councillors?

• Q26 Development Levies

To ask the Manager to provide a detailed breakdown of the amount of development levies collected in each electoral area since the adoption of the scheme? 

• Q27 Development Levies

To ask the Manager to indicate, electoral area by electoral area, the sums of money spent by the Council on capital projects providing community and sporting facilities throughout the county in the past two years? 

• Q28 Capital Projects

To ask the Manager to report upon what impact the removal of the toll from the Westlink Bridge and the imposition of a toll at other points along the M50 is likely to have upon the traffic using other roads within the county? 

• Q29 Impact of Toll Removal

To ask the Manager to report upon what progress has been made in reviewing the County Water Leisure strategy and to indicate when the revised strategy will be made available? 

• Q30 Water Leisure Strategy

To ask the Manager to consider the provision of Automatic External Defibrillators in all Council buildings as an initial step towards making them available in all Parks Department vehicles. Such an initiative has the potential to save lives? 

• Q31 Defibrillators

To ask the Manager to report upon the policy of the Council in relation to the construction of distributor roads through parks and to detail all instances where such an action has been taken in the past or is planned in the near future?  

• Q32 Distributor Roads

To ask the Manager for the details of the estates / properties in the county that were taken in charge in 2005, the estates / properties that are planned to be taken in charge in 2006. Also could he detail the taking in charge projects currently underway including information on the length of time that negotiations have been in progress and the issues outstanding. Also could he comment on the overall experience of the taking in charge process from the Council's viewpoint?

• Question33

To ask the Manager what proportion of recyclable waste collected by the Green Bin service is shipped abroad and how much does it cost SDCC to export this waste and will he make a statement on the matter?

• Q34 Recyclable Waste

To ask the Manager what progress has been made by SDCC in developing a strategy for the newspaper industry to contribute towards the cost of recycling newspaper waste which is now a large part of the waste placed in the Green Bin service and will he make a statement on the matter?

• Q35 Recycling Newspaper Waste

To ask the Manager that in Council estates the Council can decide to put gates on laneways and give everyone a key, is that also possible in estates that the Council has taken in charge?

• Q36 Laneways

To ask the Manager to please provide the full set of figures for waste collected in the County during 2005 including Grey Bin, Green Bin, Ballymount Civic Amenity, Bring Banks etc.?

• Q37 Waste Figures

To ask the Manager for a detailed update on  South Dublin County Council's stated policy of "name & shame", the frequency of such publications and the number of individuals named and shamed since this policy was adopted by South Dublin County Council?

• Q38 Name & Shame

To ask the Manager for a detailed update on the proposed municipal stadium at Whitestown way with specific reference to any correspondence received from the Department of Sport and will the Manager make a statement on the issue?

• Q39 Stadium

To ask the Manager for a progress report on the Council's current programme of traffic calming projects and if he will consider proposals from Councillors for specific traffic calming measures where there is a demonstrated need on safety grounds, before the completion of the proposed review and evaluation of the current programme?

• Q40 Traffic Calming Measures

To ask the Manager if the County Statistics Office can provide information on the most recent trends in unemployment in the different parts of the County?

• QU 41 County Stats Office

To ask the Manager if the IDA Planning Application for an IC Manufacturing and Research Facility in Grange Castle Business Park has been received by the Planning Department and if he will provide a summary report on the application?

• Q42 IDA application

To ask the Manager if any discussions have been held with the Department of Transport and/or the Rail Procurement Agency regarding detailed routes for proposed LUAS and Metro lines within the County as proposed in outline in Transport 21?

• Q43 Luas Metro Lines

To ask the Manager for an updated report on discussions with any Housing Association or other organisations about the provision of sheltered housing for older people in the County?

• Q44 Sheltered Housing

To ask the Manager for an updated report on traffic management arrangements being implemented by the Council to ameliorate traffic disruption arising from M50 Upgrade works within the County?

• Q45 M50 Upgrade

To ask the Manager to make a full statement concerning the connection between the Dublin Medical Officer and South Dublin County Council's Housing Department, the total number of visits by the Medical Officer to South Dublin County Council to adjudicate on medical points in relation to various applications, the average waiting time before applicants can have their applications determined because of the service being provided by the Health Service Executive, if a proposal has been made for an in-house medical assessment team within the Housing Department, which could more speedily process housing applications, and if he will make a statement on the matter?

• Q46 Medical Officer

To ask the Manager in respect of the Affordable Housing Scheme, where applicants are eligible to purchase an apartment in a new housing scheme, if it is the case that South Dublin County Council provide an Engineer's/Surveyor's report for such a property completely separate from the Applicant, and if he will make a statement on the matter?

• Q47 Affordable Housing Scheme

To ask the Manager to set out the average cost in terms of the construction of the ramps (traffic platform) in the administrative area of South Dublin County Council, the total number of ramps built by the Council over the past three years and how the average prices in South Dublin compares to prices in other parts of the Country and if he will make a statement on the matter?

• Q48 Ramps

To ask the Manager to state the total number of complaints put to the Planning Department for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, in respect of planning irregularities from the members of the public, to state the success rate of South Dublin County Council in terms of successfully taking a legal action against those who were involved in building a structure which was not in compliance with the original planning permission obtained, to state the total number of personnel within the Enforcement Section employed in each of the past three years and if he will make a statement on the matter?

• Q49 Planning Complaints

To ask the Manager to name the housing estates within the functional area of South Dublin County Council which have still to be taken in charge by this Local Authority, despite the fact that there is a 12 year waiting time between now and the time when the original planning permission authorising the development took place, if the estates in question could be set out in terms of the five local electoral areas within South Dublin County Council and if he will make a statement on the matter?

• Question50

To ask the Manager if the practice of young children driving mini-bikes on public open space has been brought to his attention, the likely cost to this Council as a result of public open space being disturbed by vehicles of this nature, if the matter has been brought to the attention of An Garda Siochana in terms of ensuring that minors do not drive these vehicles on public open space, and the fact that these vehicles require tax and insurance, if South Dublin County Council has confiscated vehicles of this description in recent months?

• Q51 Quad Bikes

Proposed Variation (No.1) to the Adamstown Planning Scheme 2003

(circulated herewith)

 

• H6 Variation to Dev Plan - Adamstown
• Maps

Declaration of Roads to be Public Roads

(no report)

Proposed Disposal of Properties/Sites

a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Housing - 20 units.

b) Small Builders Scheme - Proposed Disposal of Fee Simple Interest at 186 Alpine Heights, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

c) Proposed disposal of plot of land adjacent to 66 Ambervale, Tallaght, Dublin 24 to Mr. Alan Gibbons.

d)   Proposed disposal of portion of laneway beside 28 Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – Christopher & Deirdre Lynch.

e)  Proposed disposal of land adjacent to No. 91, Castle Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – Joseph & Barbara Bergin.

 f) Proposed grant of licence to Vodafone Ireland Ltd. for use of site at the open space lands at Woodstown, Ballycullen, Dublin 16.

g)  Proposed lease of premises at Jobstown Village , Jobstown Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 to Jobstown Childcare Centre Ltd. for provision of childcare centre.

h) Proposed Disposal of lands at The Square, Town Centre, Tallaght incorporating the 'public' Millennium Square to Alburn.

(all circulated herewith)

 

 

• H8(a) Affordable Housing
• H8(a) Affordable Hsg Hansted Map
• H8(a) Affordable Hsg Maplewood Map
• H8(a) Affordable Hsg Russell Square Map
• H8(b) 186 Alpine Heights
• H8(b) 186 Alpine Heights Map
• H8(c) Map Plot adj 66 Ambervale
• H8(c) Report Plot adj 66 Ambervale
• H8(d) Map plot adj 28 Killinarden Est
• H8(d) Report Plot adj 28 Killinarden Est.
• H8(e) Map plot adj. 91 Castle Lawns
• H8(e) Report plot adj 91 Castle Lawns
• H8(f) Map Vodafone site
• H8(f) Report Vodafone site
• H8(g) Map Jobstown Childcare Centre
• H8(g) Report Jobstown Childcare Centre
• H8(h) Map Square, Town Centre
• H8(h)Report Square, Town Centre

Resignation of Councillor C. Tyndall from South Dublin County Council

• H9 Resignation of Cllr. C. Tyndall

Report on Completion of Stadium – Tallaght

(circulated herewith)

                                   

• H10 Letter from Dept of Arts Sport & Tourism
• H10 Report - Stadium

Part 8 Report -  Greenhills/Ballymount Reconfiguration

(circulated herewith)

• H.I. 11 Part 8 Report Greenhills Ballymount
• Map

Part 8 Report-   Robinhood - Ballymount Reconfiguration

(circulated herewith)

• H.1. 12 Part 8 Robinhood/Ballymount
• Map

Section 38 Report Deansrath Park Traffic Calming Scheme

(circulated herewith)

• H.I. 13 Section 38 Deansrath
• Map

Report on Ballycullen Avenue / Ballycullen Drive Traffic Calming Scheme

(circulated herewith)

• H14 Ballycullen Avenue/Drive

Proposed increase in maximum advance for Shared Ownership

(circulated herewith)

• H15 DOE Circular HPS 10/05
• H15 REport SOS

Report on Proposed Amendment to Tree Preservation Order - Dublin County Council Tree Preservation (Quarryvale, Brooklawn) (Liffey Valley No 1.) Order, 1990.

(circulated Herewith)

• H16 Tree Preservation Map
• H16 Tree Preservation Order

Letter, dated 15th December 2005 from Balbriggan Town Council regarding motion passed calling on all Local Authorities to arrange for developers of new residential housing estates to provide maps with house numbers for emergency services.

• Balbriggan Town Council

Letter, dated 10th January 2006 from an Garda Siochana in response to motion passed by South Dublin County Council at its meeting held on 12th September 2005 regarding an increase in garda personnel deployed in large working communities experiencing anti-social behaviour.

• An Garda Siochana

Letter, dated 12th January 2006 from Balbriggan Town Council regarding motion passed calling on the Government to review the policy of admitting unaccompanied asylum seeking children into Ireland.

• Balbriggan Town Council

Letter, dated 16th January 2006 from the Nuclear Free Local Authorities Secretariat regarding the efforts of the newly established All Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities Forum to secure an assurance from the Northern Ireland Secretary that no nuclear stations will be built in Northern Ireland.

• Nuclear Free LAs Secretariat

Letter, dated 18th January from An Garda Siochana in response to question approved by South Dublin County Council at its meeting held on 12th December 2005 regarding "free-flow" junctions on a year-round basis at peak traffic times.

• An Garda Siochana

Letter, dated 23rd January 2006 from Fingal County Council regarding motion passed calling on the Minister for the Environment to properly implement the Principle of Producer Responsibility and to require REPAK to pay fully for costs of recycling packaging waste.

• Fingal County Council

Email, dated 23rd January 2006 from Offaly County Council regarding motion passed requesting the Minister for Finance and the Government to increase the maximum amount of Grant Aid under the Sports Capital Programme.

• Offaly County Council

Letters, dated 30th January and 1st February, 2006 from Superintendent 'L' District, Clondalkin Garda Station and Superintendent 'P' District, Terenure Garda Station respectively in response to motion passed at the South Dublin County Council's Meeting of 9th January, 2006 regarding bye-laws in relation to drinking in public places.

• Garda Superintendent 'L' District
• Garda Superintendent 'P' District

Email, dated 2nd February 2006 from North Tipperary County Council regarding motion passed in relation to the Hanley Report as it affects Nenagh and all County Hospitals.

• North Tipperary County Council

Mayor's Business

That a report be brought re the Park and Ride proposals for South Dublin County Council.

That this Council write to the Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney to ask her to provide extended and necessary facilities at the A&E Department at Tallaght Hospital to cope with the dreadful lack of privacy and lack of visitor space which is currently the case.

That this Council adopt a "Name & Shame" policy in regard to litter offences.

That South Dublin County Council recognises that the existing national School Transport System operated by the Department of Educational and Science and Bus Eireann was designed in another era for the principal purpose of increasing educational participation at second level, and that the issue to be addressed in school transport in the County in the new century has to do with traffic congestion, safety at school locations and pressure on parents to bring children to school by car, and requests the Manager to undertake an initiative, in consultation with the Government  to provide a Council operated School Transport System in the County. 

That the Council, as a response to damages caused to grass verges, footpaths and outside driveways, as a consequence of private development work, be it residential, commercial or industrial, introduces a bye -law or introduces the provision of a Notification Certificate for residents and businesses, that enables the Council to examine locations prior to the commencement of building/developments, as a means of guarantee that either (a) sites are restored to original order (b) the Council can charge a fee to the occupier or builder or developer , to cover the expense of reinstatement by the local authority.

That this Council discuss the request from the Co. Childcare Committee that childcare facilities in the County be exempt from rates. 

That South Dublin County Council (a)  Report on the impact of composters in terms of reducing waste in our County  and (b)  Agrees to set up a pilot scheme in a given area using sophisticated food and vegetation digesters to see the impact that has on dealing with waste.

That this Council set up an information drive for the county to encourage citizens to return their bulk packaging to the point of purchase and encourage REPAK and all commercial businesses to participate in a package reduction scheme which will reduce the amount of waste and reduce the amount of costs to the local environment and business.

That the Manager would please provide an up-to-date and detailed report on progress made to build the Council's first Skate Park. Specifically would the Manager please report on the local consultation process which I requested at the outset, with the delegation from the local Skate Board Club regarding the design, lay-out and materials to be used in the Skate Park, and the time scale for the building and completion of this Skate Park.

That Council Staff would research in Canada the cost of setting up a Re-Cycling Plant that can Handle Dry Waste from Green Bin Collection capable of separating Paper, Cans, Glass and Plastic. That the Manger would put a plan in place to ring fence enough capital from the sale of lands to build such a plant. The Plant to be in place when the current waste plan runs out in 2010. The Green Bin collection to then be extended to twice a month and for it to be carried out by directly employed Council Workers.

 

In view of recent job losses, that South Dublin County Council takes the initiative and brings together all interested parties - such as FAS, the unions, employers' organisations, local chambers of commerce, community representatives and government bodies such as the IDA and so on - to ensure that everything possible is done to promote and maintain the attractiveness and suitability of the area for new industries.

That South Dublin County Council calls on the Dublin City Manager to restrict access to the city centre (between the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal ), by vehicles of three axles and more between the hours of 7AM and 7PM unless such vehicles are carrying a permit issued by the City Manager. And that such restriction becomes effective when the Dublin Port Tunnel opens - in order that the citizens of South Dublin County enjoy the benefits promised when funding for the Port Tunnel project was approved.

That this Council takes the appropriate steps to instigate a pilot school bus project as part of its role in traffic management and road safety. Such a scheme would benefit primary and secondary school children as well as all other road users by providing a reasonable alternative to the many families who at present spend a considerable amount of time ferrying children to and from school; thereby contributing in no small part to the traffic congestion that currently plagues our communities.

 

That this Council notes the widespread damage caused by unauthorized bonfires at Halloween in the administrative area of South Dublin County Council and the widespread dumping thereof and in an effort to minimise such dumping of household goods calls on the Manager to schedule the annual Council junk collection for the month of September each year.

That a detailed report be brought to this Council outlining the actual numbers of staff working directly on anti-social issues.  The report to include staff on part time hours, maternity leave and a breakdown re Clondalkin and Tallaght areas.

That the Council undertakes a review of the regulations governing the siting of planning application roadside public notices, particularly in light of obvious flaws relating to where a planning application may be lodged within an estate that directly affects residents to the rear of that house but located in a different estate.

That the Council notes with concern that individuals and families who have been approved for apartments and houses under the Council's Affordable Housing Schemes are being required to pay Management Charges of € 800 per annum and more, that the requirement to pay such charges is effectively adding about € 20000 to the cost of their homes, and requests the Manager to have these charges taken into account when arriving at prices to be determined for Affordable Housing units.

That this Council recommends that we make representation to the Colombian Ambassador in London to ensure that the  military rescue operation proposed by President Uribe  to rescue hostages held by FARC be cancelled.  Mindful of the fact that FARC leaders have ordered their men to execute hostages in such a rescue operation, by proceeding in this way, it is imposing a death sentence on the hostages one of whom includes Ingrid Betancourt on whom we have bestowed the Freedom of the County of South Dublin.

That this Council will adopt a policy of using the Irish Language in the naming of all new housing estate developments.

That the Manager would report on the initial stages of the Review of the Water Leisure Strategy scheduled for the first quarter of 2006.