Agenda - October 2024 County Council Meeting

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Date:
14/10/2024 15:30
Location:
Council Chamber
Standing Orders:

Headed Items

H-I (1)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

CONFIRMATION AND REAFFIRMATION OF MINUTES - FOR APPROVAL

H-I (2)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING

a) Rathfarnham/Templeogue/Firhouse/Bohernabreena Area Committee

Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management

b) Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas Area Committee Meeting

Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management

c) Tallaght Area Committee

Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management

d) Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin Area Committee

Dealing with Public Realm, Water & Drainage, Housing, Community, Planning, Economic Development, Libraries & Arts, Corporate Support, Performance & Change Management 

H-I (3)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

STANDING COMMITTEES ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE & FINANCE - FOR APPROVAL

(A)Appointments to Statutory and Other Bodies

(B)Report on Conferences/Training

H-I (4)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING 

H-I (5)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES - FOR NOTING

Questions

Qu (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on details of inspections on privately rented homes in 2023 and 2024. Report to include the total number of inspections carried out; dwellings inspected not meeting regulatory requirements; improvement Letters issued to landlords for improvements to be carried out; Improvement Notices served on landlords for improvements to be carried out; prohibition Notices served on landlords; and Prohibition Notices served on landlords.

Qu (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
Director of Finance

To ask the Chief Executive to provide details of the % of commercial rates charged by the council each year since 2007.

Qu (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

To ask the Chief Executive if glyphosate is used by council staff and contractors, and if so what was the total amount used in 2023 and thus far in 2024?

Qu (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to provide details of average wait times for Garda checks on successful housing applicants.

Qu (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the chief executive what caps exist on the number of social homes that can be purchased by the council in 2024 with funding from central government

Qu (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a list, in tabular format by LEA, of the number of locations and volume M2 of footpath repairs carried out during 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Qu (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive to report, in tabular format by LEA, how much was spent on footpath repairs during 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Qu (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on homeless services and supports in our county including those provided by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE).

Qu (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive what standards and quality of services and care are in place for homeless service providers, including those provided by the Dublin Regional Homes Executive (DRHE) and how are these measured.

Qu (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to report on oversight of homeless services, are services inspected, how are they inspected, and to provide any reports available on inspections of service providers in our county and to indicate whether on independent oversight is in place.

Qu (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Manager to outline the amount of homes that have been levied with the rent surcharge agreed in the 2020 budget and to give an accurate figure totalling monies collected with this charge and to give a breakdown of persons per home affected by this charge and if he could offer this in tabular form.

Qu (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

to ask the manager to issue a full report and analysis on the implementation of the new rent increases imposed by SDCC from April 2021 and that this report be available prior to November budget is agreed.

Qu (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the manager if the legal dept can review the need for informal groups to require public liability insurance when booking use of SDCC community centres and facilities. These are often prohibitive to groups attempting to start up, evolving and growing, when trying to get voluntary groups established.

Qu (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the manager would it be possible to review the need for multiple community groups operating within the sphere of common community spaces to require individual public liability policies,  instead SDCC providing an umbrella policy that various groups can sign up to.

Qu (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

to ask the manager to outline and offer a figure for rent collected as a result of specific changes to assessment criteria introduced in April 2021. ie a figure for rent collected over and above tenancy thresholds for 2021,2022,and 2023.

Qu (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

If a HAP property does not meet satisfactory standards when inspected what course of action is taken.

Qu (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

How many abandoned vehicles have been removed by SDCC year to date?

Qu (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

To ask the manager for details on spending associated to illegal dumping for the past 12 months - tabular month on month

Qu (19)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to give a report on the wait time for Garda Clearance to be carried out, report to include wait times on new applications and and existing tenancies.

Qu (20)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the manager how many offers of housing was declined in 2022 / 2023 and 2024 YTD

Qu (21)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Duff
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

Could the Manager please give details of the number of requests that were made for tree removals, resulting from damage to property between 2020 to 2024. Could he also detail the number of cases where the householder was asked to provide an Engineers report?

Qu (22)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. de Courcy
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive what steps are in place to enforce planning refusals when they are not adhered too?

Qu (23)
Submitted by:
Councillor N. Fennell
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to what extent does the council intervene when it comes to anti-social behaviour and when does it become a matter of An Garda Siochana.

Qu (24)
Submitted by:
Councillor N. Fennell
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the process of getting Garda clearance for people to become social housing tenants.

Qu (25)
Submitted by:
Councillor N. Fennell
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive officer to outline the process in which a person can apply for homes with adaptations and outline how a person would be successful/unsuccessful.

Qu (26)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Gilligan
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the manager how many planning applications in 2024 have been received and how many have been rejected?

Qu (27)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Gogarty
Responsibility:
Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development

To ask the Chief Executive for a list of attendance at each mobile library from January 2023 to date, including attendance to services that have since been withdrawn or new services set up?

Qu (28)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Gogarty
Responsibility:
Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the annual costs for each mobile library; and if a statement can be made on the matter?

Qu (29)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Gogarty
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

To ask the Manager, in the absence of a central online location that provides such information being available, to outline for the benefit of the elected members the seasonal opening and closing times of all car parks managed by SDCC in the county and to make this available for all citizens in a suitable part of the website in the coming weeks?

Qu (30)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

To ask the Chief Executive how much is budgeted for 2024 for the SDCC brand review?

Qu (31)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive how many households are currently paying rent to SDCC including HAP and RAS?

Qu (32)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to provide any details of housing projects delivered through the LDA in the county since its introduction in 2023, including a breakdown of social, cost rental, affordable purchase and private purchase units.

Qu (33)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
Director of Finance

To ask the Chief Executive what percentage of the council's Revenue account income has been made up by Local Property Tax, each year since its introduction?

Qu (34)
Submitted by:
Councillor K. Keane
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive what powers the council have to enforce the recommendations of council environmental health inspections on HAP properties. 

Qu (35)
Submitted by:
Councillor K. Keane
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive what is the process by which disabled tenants can view the property before they accept the councils offer. 

Qu (36)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Mannion
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive if there are plans for SDCC to amend policy/practices allowing for information relating to the progress of CRTiS applications to be shared with the tenant.

Qu (37)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Mannion
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive if legislation allows for SDCC to extend the eligibility timescale for Homeless HAP to 90 days, in line with the typical notice periods granted through the courts if facing eviction

Qu (38)
Submitted by:
Councillor S. Moynihan
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive to specify the number of Medical Practitioners that are engaged by the Council in the determination of HMD1 forms, broken down by academic or medical qualification and the number determinations made by year for the years 2019-2024 and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Qu (39)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

Can the Chief Executive provide an update on the feasibility study regarding the implementation of a freepost system for people returning official documents to South Dublin County Council, such as grant applications, housing applications, and submissions on planning applications? 

Qu (40)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

To ask the Chief Executive at what stage is a tree in a housing estate deemed inadequate, particularly when it has been identified as overgrown, unsuitable for residential areas, and causing issues such as sap damage to property?

Qu (41)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

Can the Chief Executive clarify why trees that appear to be of a potentially dangerous height have been allowed to remain in place?

Qu (42)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

Could the Chief Executive please provide a detailed report on the transportation of the exceptional abnormal loads, weighing 490 tonnes each, from Dublin Port to Grange Castle? 

Qu (43)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
Director of Finance

To ask the Chief Executive if the reduction of the vacancy refund credit to 25% (in the 2024 budget) has improved the occupancy of vacant commercial and industrial premises this year.

Qu (44)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change , A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the allocation of €1.5M in the 2024 budget to address outstanding road, footpath and laneway maintenance as well as repairs and legacy tree and hedge management issues across the County.

Qu (45)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development

To ask the Chief Executive to provide an update or report on the €200k allocated under the 2024 budget to fund increased supports to business in receipt of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme to promote e-commerce capability.

Qu (46)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive what formal commercial arrangements/licences are in place with car sharing companies and their access to parking in car parks across South County Dublin.

Qu (47)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

To ask the Chief Executive to provide details as to how much of the €70,000 allocated for Conferences Abroad under Budget 2024 has been spent to date.

Qu (48)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Director of Land Use, Planning and Transportation, Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development

To ask the chief Executive When will public notice-boards become available in SDCC village's so that local groups can inform the public about their upcoming events?

Qu (49)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

To ask the Chief Executive For a report into the 300K Have your say by year 2019 – 2024 and LEA as to what funds where not spent in each LEA and what happened to these funds?

Qu (50)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on dog fouling. Report to include if there are plans for an increase in fines for dog fouling and for more regular patrol of dog patrols?

Qu (51)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

To ask the Chief Executive what heritage grants will SDCC apply for this year to protect our heritage by LEA?

Qu (52)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

To ask the Chief Executive would he give a report to how the highest priority vulnerable families with a disability are prioritised. Report to include when appropriate accommodation is expected be found for them in order to meet the UN Convention the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Headed Items

H-I (6)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE MADE PUBLIC ROADS

H-I (7)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development

PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES/SITES - FOR APPROVAL

(A) Section 183 for disposal of additional site in Kilcarbery

H-I (8)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Chief Executive
H-I (9)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

APPOINTMENTS TO STATUTORY AND OTHER BODIES - FOR APPROVAL

H-I (10)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Finance

OVERDRAFT ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENT 2025 - FOR APPROVAL

H-I (11)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Finance
H-I (12)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development
H-I (13)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS - FOR NOTING

H-I (14)
Submitted by:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

REPLIES, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE

(A) Correspondence RE European Parliament has been elected

(B) Motion passed at Wexford County Council - Zero tolerance approach to violence

(C) Resolutions agreed by Members of Sligo CC RE Community Employment Schemes

(D) Resolutions passed by Leitrim CC - RE Strategic Gas Emergency

(E) Resolutions passed by Leitrim CC - RE Zero tolerance approach to violence

(F) Resolutions passed by Roscommon CC - Illegal dumping

(G) Resolutions passed by Roscommon CC - Min. Chambers VAT rate

(H) Resolutions passed by Roscommon CC - Min.Ryan VAT rate

Motions

Mot (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Spear
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That Council agrees to make South Dublin County Council an apartheid-free zone and boycott all Israeli goods.

Mot (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

That the Chief Executive initiate Compulsory Purchase Order proceedings on all sites that are on the Derelict Sites Register (as published 20/06/2024)

Mot (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor N. Whelan
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

This Council calls on the Chief Executive to immediately reverse the policy of removing public bins from this county as a method of reducing illegal dumping of domestic waste and requests that all public bins removed for this reason are replaced as a matter of urgency.

Mot (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Adelaide
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, calling on him to meet with local representatives regarding the lack of public health nurses in the south Dublin county area.

Mot (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor R. Mannion
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

This Council welcomes and commends the roll out of Communication Boards at playing facilities in SDCC which aim to improve accessibility and inclusive play for children with language difficulties, and calls on the Chief Executive look at the feasibility of their inclusion in other parks, pitches or play facilities where appropriate.

Mot (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor Y. Collins
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That this Council writes to the Department of Housing asking that, when assessing eligibility for Housing Adaptation Grants, that the income of the whole household, as opposed to the individual seeking assistance, should not always be taken into account, and that there be flexibility to determine each application on a case by case basis to prevent undue hardship

Mot (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Carey
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That this Council calls on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to introduce a community benefit scheme to be paid into by companies and business interests that use extensive state resources but offer a low worker/job ratio comparative to industrial norms.

Mot (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Ó Broin
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

This Council agrees to develop a method for residents living in estates that have not yet been taken in charge (TIC) to liaise with SDCC on the work needed for an estate to be at the TIC standard.

Mot (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That South Dublin County Council notes the decision by the Government to recognise the State of Palestine and now calls on the Taoiseach to pass the Occupied Territories Bill which has been supported at all stages by a majority of members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.

Mot (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Sinnott
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

This Council calls for increased inspections for cars illegal parked and breaches of road safety in the vicinity of schools in local residential areas at drop off and pick up times throughout the county.

Mot (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Murphy
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

That South Dublin County Council invests in a stand alone educational campaign on responsible dog ownership focussing on dog fouling, appropriate signage, the role of the dog wardens, bye-laws on dogs in public open spaces and dogs in the home.

Mot (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor C Ahern
Responsibility:
Director of Environment, Water & Climate Change

That this Council undertakes an inspection campaign this winter to ensure all retailers only stock and sell approved solid fuels.

Mot (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
A/Director of Housing, Social & Community Development

That SDCC engage with AHB's regarding no pet policies when allocating housing, pets are an integral part of a family and people should not be faced with the decision to surrender them or refuse a offer

Mot (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Brady
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

This council calls on the Chief Executive, in the interests of road safety and as an additional traffic management tool, to implement a Quiet Streets programme in our county.

Mot (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. de Courcy
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That this council calls on the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Children, Norma Foley and ask her to remove the portions of the SPHE curriculum dealing with sex, pornography and gender identity in horrendously explicit and wholly inappropriate terms for 12-15 year old children. 

Mot (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor A. Edge
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

To call on the Government to introduce an emergency strategy to address the crisis in disability services in terms of the recruitment and retention of essential staff.

Mot (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Gogarty
Responsibility:
A/Director of Land Use, Planning & Transportation

That the Chief Executive ensures that signs are installed at the entrances to estates in our county to give full legal effect to the HGV parking ban implemented in the early 2000s, commencing with urgent cases identified by Councillors. 

Mot (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Responsibility:
Director of Corporate Performance & Change Management

That this Council urgently requests a meeting with the relevant government departments and organisations involved in the modular homes project.