Headed Items
CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 11th January 2010
(circulated herewith)
REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES
a) Rathfarnham Area Committee - 12th January 2010
Dealing with Roads, Planning, Development & Parks ,Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Environment, Housing
(no report)
b) Lucan Clondalkin Area Committee (1) - 20th January 2010
Dealing with Planning, Development & Parks (1 report - St. Cuthbert's Park, Clondalkin), Roads
c) Lucan Clondalkin Area Committee (2) - 26th January 2010
Dealing with Housing, Environment, Community, Corporate & Library Services
(no report)
d) Tallaght Area Committee (1) - 18th January 2010
Dealing with Environment, Community, Housing
(no report)
e) Tallaght Area Committee (2) - 25th January 2010
Dealing with Roads, Planning, Development & Parks, Corporate Services & Libraries
(no report)
STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE 21st January 2010
a) Draft Calendar of Meeting Dates
b) Report on Conferences and Seminars
(all circulated herewith)
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
(a) Environment S.P.C.
(i) Report of Meeting 25th January 2010
(ii) Minutes of Special Meeting 30th March 2009
(all circulated herewith)
JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE REPORT (5th February 2010)
(circulated herewith)
REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES
(no reports)
Questions
To ask the Manager in view of the significant cuts in Public Service workers and Emergency Service workers, the Government also announced in the recent budget a 10% cut in local authority funding for fire and emergency services, can the Manager in conjunction with the Fire Service, give a report on when this cut will be introduced and how this particular cut combined with the jobs replacement moratorium is and will effect the roll out of emergency services for residents living in this Local Authority area?
To ask the Manager will he give a report confirming outlining that night time monitoring of water usage is being carried out in the County, if the monitoring has identified any specific area or estate where residents were clearly involved in water wastage during the recent crisis and the new measures he proposes to introduce to eliminate this wastage?
To ask the Manager if funding is still available for allocations support for small house improvement and preventative measures victims of anti social behaviour?
In cases of emergency (e.g. recent snow)
(a) Can Council Staff be moved from their areas of responsibility to emergency work?
(b) Was this done during the recent snows?
(c) Could some example be given?
To ask the Manager for a report on the provision/availability of personal alarms for the elderly?
To ask the Manager if he will agree that the closure of a county green waste facility while the brown bin still remains unavailable is a risk to the environment of this county?
Chun iarraidh ón mbainistíocht an mbeidh an Comhairle seo ag cruthú ‘Plean Teanga Áitiúla’ de réir an Straitéis nua 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 – 2030?
To ask the Manager, if the Council intends to create a ‘Local Action Language Plan’ according to the 20-Year Strategy for The Irish Language 2010-2030?
To ask the Manager to report on this council’s arrangements for publishing ‘name-&-shame’ lists of persons successfully prosecuted for littering and illegal dumping?
To ask the Manager to update on efforts to progress the proposed school transport pilot project including details of any responses to funding applications made to the Department of Transport’s ‘Smarter Travel’ funding streams?
To ask the Manager to report on the total amount of monies yet to be recouped from the Dept. of Environment, Heritage & Local Government in respect of costs incurred by this council in progressing projects under the Water Services Investment Programme?
To ask the Manager to prepare and provide a report on the number of vacant housing units in the area of South Dublin County Council, broken down by accommodation type, size of development and Local Electoral Area?
To ask the Manager if he can provide an updated report on the number of housing units allocated to applicants in the County in 2009, with the figures for transfers provided separately, and if he can provide an estimate for the anticipated number of completions and new housing unit allocations to be made in 2010?
To ask the Manager if the Council has a role in advising householders in the County on whether their houses/residences are locations in the County where Radon gas levels are known to be high enough to warrant householders having the level of Radon gas in their homes tested, if the Council is in a position to deal with queries from householders and if he will make a statement on the Report published by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland in so far as it applies to South Dublin County?
To compliment the Manager and his colleagues on the manner in which they have dealt with water shortages arising from the recent cold weather, particularly in their use of the website and other forms of communication, and to ask if he will make a statement on the performance of the Council's water supply network, including a statement on the adequacy of the capital funding avalable to the Council in 2010 to continue projects to improve the County's water supply and distribution network?
To ask the Manager if he will provide a report on the amount of money spent on capital projects in the Country, in the 5 years 2005 to 2009 inclusive, to provide new water supply and drainage systems/upgrade existing infrastructure and if he can advise as to how much of the money allocated was derived from the Council's Development Levy Scheme?
To ask the Council, what events are planned for the St Patrick's day celebrations and whether the parade will be re-instated?
Cad iad na gníomhartha atá beartaithe ag an gComhairle chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh i mí na Márta, ar fud an chontae agus in imeachtaí an Chomhairle Contae (An Seomra Comhairle san áireamh)?
What actions are planned by the Council to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge in March, throughout the County and what events are taking place within the Council (and in particular in the Council Chamber)?
Would the Manager outline how much the Council has received from the proceeds of the Plastic bag levy; how much has been received by the Council since its introduction and how much does the Council expect to receive and expend on same in the coming year?
Headed Items
DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE PUBLIC ROADS
Foxborough (Phase 3 & 4), Lucan
(circulated herewith)
PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES/SITES
(all circulated herewith)
H8a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Housing Dwellings
H8b) Disposal of fee simple interest in former local authority dwellings
H8c) Proposed Sale of Fee Simple Interest - Small Builders Scheme
H8d) Proposed land Exchange at Monastery Gate, Red Cow/M50 Roundabout,Clondalkin, Dublin 22 – South Dublin County Council and Cherrybridge Properties Limited
H8e) Proposed Disposal of Land at Moorefield for Provision of an ESB Sub-Station
H8f) Proposed land exchange at Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 - South Dublin County Council and Patrick & Elizabeth Fox and the disposal of land to Martina Durkin
H8g) Proposed disposal of portion of land adjacent 301 Glenview Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24 to Noel and Catherine Whelan – Variation of terms
H8h) Proposed Lease of site at Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 to Oakfield Trust to accommodate Roancabin Buildings for Bawnogue Youth and Family Support Group
H8i) Proposed Disposal of site at Clonburris to Minister for Education and Science
H8j) Variation in terms for disposal of land at Rathcoole to Cumann Lúthcleas Gael, Coiste Átha Cliath
H8k) Proposed disposal of ESB Sub Station Site at Tymon North Road, adj. Scoil Iosa, Tymon North, Tallaght, Dublin 24
PART 8 REPORT FOR – MATERIAL ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION OF OFFICES OF TRUSTUS (FORMERLY TALLAGHT WELFARE SOCIETY) AT 1&2 MAIN STREET, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24
(circulated herewith)
DUBLIN MOUNTAINS PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORT
(circulated herewith)
REVIEW OF MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT BETWEEN SDCC AND THE NORTH & EAST VOLUNTARY HOUSING BODY IN RESPECT OF 100 HOMES OWNED BY SDCC
(circulated herewith)
LOCAL TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE NOMINATION OF NON-COUNCIL MEMBER
(circulated herewith)
AUTHORISATION OF OVER-EXPENDITURE
(circulated herewith)
UPDATE ON ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
(circulated herewith)
Correspondence
Ministerial
Letter, dated 12th January 2010, from Minister for Environment in response to SDCC's letter in relation to Motion passed regarding extending the provisions of the Housing (Misc. Provisions) Act 1997
Ministerial
Letter, dated 28th January 2010, from Minister of State John Curran T.D. in response to SDCC's letter in relation to motion passed regarding Drugs Funding.
Letter, dated 13th January 2010, from Limerick County Council requesting support for their Motion regarding NRA management of regional & local roads investment.
Letter, dated 15th January 2010, from Killarney Town Council requesting support for their Motion regarding retention of the minimum wage.
Letter, dated 25th January 2010, from Irish Rail in response to SDCC's letter in relation to question asked regarding DART interconnector.
Motions
Mayor's Business
That this Council call upon the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe TD, to review the decision regarding the threatened staff cuts at St. Joseph's Special School, Balrothery, Dublin 24, and to make no final decision without consultation with the Principal and the Board of Management of St Josephs regarding the impact on the pupils, staff, parents and the service it provides to the community on a Countywide basis.
That this Council notes the paragraph on page 45 of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 : " As part of a comprehensive policy position on climate change, the Government is committed to developing a national adaptation strategy over the next two years. This strategy will provide a framework for the integration of adaptation issues into decision making at national and local levels." The Council requests the Manager to write to the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government urging the early publication of the "national adaptation strategy", so that individual Councils can develop locally relevant adaptation strategies and implementation plans, and in particular so that SDCC can, as the National Climate Change Strategy states " provide in the County Development Plan "that areas at risk of flooding may be regulated, restricted and controlled."
That this Council, noting that due to recent budget cutbacks, schools across South Dublin are now increasingly underfunded and unable to make ends meet, notes the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government decision to introduce metered water charges for all schools from January 1st 2010. The Council therefore asks the Manager to write to all school principals in the County informing them of the new metered water charges, and asks the Manager to inform all schools that they can apply to the Department of Education and Science’s Summer Works Scheme for funding to install water conservation measures in schools.
That the Manager outlines the Council’s current position regarding the redevelopment of the Square and the actions taken by this Council to assist in its commercial redevelopment to ensure future substantial job creation in the Town Centre.
That the Manager would present a detailed report for discussion on the Council's Water Leisure Strategy, including a detailed report on the remaining elements of the Water Leisure Strategy, and in the current uncertain economic climate, within what planned time-frame does the Manager envisage the remaining projects will be rolled out?
That this Council notes the extraordinary success to date of the Dublin bike scheme in the Dublin City Council area to date and undertakes to conduct a feasability study as to a similar application in the County.
That this Council calls on the NRA and M50 Concessions to rationalise, clarify and explain apparent material changes to landscaping, boundary and roadlines, among other matters, on the M50 as it relates to Orlagh Grove Estate, Beverly Court and Orlagh Park and the Scholarstown Interchange.
That this Council recommends that regulation /legislation be implemented to ban/control what are termed 'head shops'.
That this Council in view of the lack of Social Housing new builds taking place now and in the foreseeable future calls on the Manager to prioritise the section of the scheme of lettings that deals with 'downsizing' to ensure the most efficient use of existing housing stock, as the current arrangement does not prioritise these specific transfer applications.
That this Council implement a new campaign to encourage householders to register their mobile phone number and email address with the council, through the council website or by way of SMS text, so as to allow for the Environmental Services Dept. and it's contractors to provide a greater level of direct detailed communications to householders about scheduled grey or green bin collection which are to be missed and also to advise of revised collection dates; and as such that we seek to move away from the policy of advising householders in areas which have missed a scheduled bin collection to continue to present their bin until such time as it is next collected. This policy is contributing to both litter problems and to the theft of bins, most of which end-up being burnt in our parks and green areas.
That this council write to the Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to reverse his decision not to provide emergency funding to repair roads, damaged by the recent bad weather. This is not a matter of book keeping its a serious road safety issue.
That this Council requests the NRA and M50 Concessions, the agents responsible for the M50 upgrade, to give a full explanation as to how protocols and procedures relating to noise and night time work have been flagrantly and regularly contravened, without recourse to this local authority or local residents and to outline what guarantees they can give to this Council that they either entities are capable of securing the support of local people given their record in this regard.
That this Council calls on both the Ministers for Health & Environment to urgently introduce legislation to allow for the stricter regulation and preferably prohibition of all so-called 'legal highs' and 'head shops'; and in the interim requests the Manager to present a detailed report, for discussion, on the options available to the elected members under current legislation to adopt policies, possibly as part of our new County Development Plan, to restrict the opening and/or operation of new 'head-shops' in our county.
That this Council implements a text notification service, similar to that used for the bin collection service, and for major disruptions the placement of adverts in Daily Newspapers as a standard practice of notification when there is problem with the water supply to houses in the County.
That this Council, noting the need for savings in the provision of Council services, agrees to liaise with the Courts' Service and/or the Probation Service to ensure that those convicted of committing crime and having been given Community Service Orders rather than custodial sentences by the Courts, and in particular the District Court, be recruited for the duration of the hours specified in their sentence, in an anti-litter and/or anti-grafitti campaign in the parks and housing estates throughout the County.
This Council congratulates the success of Dublin Pride in raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in Dublin for more than 25 years and offers its support for the 2010 event. This Council will contact Dublin LGBTQ Pride Limited to offer support and assistance, with a view to holding events in the South Dublin area in this and future Pride festivals.
That this Council requests the Manager to produce a detailed report for discussion as to how South Dublin would benefit from the services of those who could engage in important community services instead of facing prison sentences, including working in the removal of graffiti works as recently carried out in other Local Authorities through the Probationary Services, and that further consideration would be given as to how other environmental improvement works in other departments including Parks, Environmental Services, Cemetery Maintenance etc., could also be included in this programme.
That this Council calls on the Ministers for Environment, Health and Local Government, Transport and other relevant Government Departments to provided to this Council, and to all Local Authorities, sufficient monies, through additional grants to cover all the additional (ie above the normal annual provision) to cover all expenditure incurred in dealing with the consequences of the recent abnormally cold weather, including wages paid to staff, payments to external contractors, payments for additional materials and equipment, expenditure on advertising and other public notices, so that this and other Local Authorities can continue to provide the services budgeted for in Council budgets which could not have included unanticipated costs at the level they occurred , and that the Manager convey this request to the Ministers as soon as he has reliable estimates of the costs incurred, and asking for an early response.