Agenda - November 2011 County Council Meeting

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Date:
14/11/2011 15:30
Location:
Council Chamber
Standing Orders:

Headed Items

H-I (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 10th October, 2011

(circulated herewith)

H-I (2)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Roads Department, Housing Administration, Planning Not is use

REPORTS FROM AREA COMMITTEES

a)  Rathfarnham Area Committee  - 11th October 2011

Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services

(no reports)

b)  Tallaght Area Committee (1)  - 17th October 2011

Dealing with Community (1 report- Community Grants), Environment (1 report - Waste Collection), Housing

(circulated herewith)

c)  Tallaght Area Committee (2) - 24th October  2011

Dealing with Roads, Planning, Development & Water Services, Corporate Services and Libraries

(no reports)

d)  Clondalkin Area Committee - 19th October 2011

Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services

(no reports)

e)  Lucan Area Committee - 25th October  2011

Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community (1 report - Community Grants), Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services

(circulated herewith)

H-I (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

(no report)

H-I (4)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Philomena Poole

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES

(No reports)

H-I (5)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES

(no reports)

Questions

Qu (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff

To ask the Manager to provide a report on the works undertaken to clear Public drains in its Winter Maintenance Schedule thus far?

Qu (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Maire Ni Dhomhnaill

To ask that the Manager provide an update on activities surrounding Halloween weekend (costs included)?

Qu (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Hannon
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager to report on progress, if any, in relation to the implementation of Policy TDL7 stating Council policy on the facilitation and promotion of Tallaght Town Centre as an Education City?

Qu (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Hannon
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan

To ask the Manager to update the Council in relation to the proposed Incinerator at Ringsend, with particular reference to the possible extent of financial exposure by SDCC?

Qu (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Hannon
Responsibility:
Maire Ni Dhomhnaill

To ask the Manager to report on the cost to the Council as regards Halloween bonfires etc. and can a comparison with 2010 and 2009 be provided?

Qu (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Maire Ni Dhomhnaill

That Management reports on the costs of the clean up operation post- Halloween 2011?

Qu (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Sheila Kelly

To ask the Manager for a detailed report on the recent flooding throughout the County?

Qu (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, Georgina Byrne

To ask the Manager for a detailed report on planned family activities in South Dublin in the lead-in to Christmas?

Qu (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Kearns
Responsibility:
Philomena Poole, Sheila Kelly

To ask the Manager, in light of the recent severe flooding in the county

  1. What support systems are in place for the residents of non council stock whose homes were so severely damaged as a result of the Poddle River bursting its banks?
  2. At what point in time were the council aware that this was a serious situation and the emergency plan implemented?
Qu (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan

To ask the Manager to provide a detailed report on the activities of the council's Operations Crew and the council's efforts to improve the cleanliness of our parks?

Qu (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff

To ask the Manager to seek an update from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on the latest finding of surveys on fish stocks in the River Liffey similar to the recent publicised surveys which indicated that sea salmon have returned to spawning in the River Tolka and to further seek details of habitat rehabilitation projects being undertaken by IFI along the Liffey?

Qu (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Billy Coman, Willie Sheils

To ask the Manager to provide a firm timeframe for completion of the current review of the County Play Policy and the Playground Construction Programme?

Qu (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Yvonne Dervan, Barbara Reilly

To ask the Manager to provide a detailed update on implementation to date of all projects proposed under the Public Realm Transformation Initiative?

Qu (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan

To ask the Manager to provide a detailed update on the proposal to provide dog-runs in council parks including a timeframe for these projects?

Qu (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
John McLoughlin, John Healy

To ask the Manager to provide to the elected members, without any further delay, the legal advice which members were informed at the Transport SPC meeting of the 19th May 2011 was being prepared by the Law Agent on the status of weight restrictions attached by an Bord Pleanala, by way of condition, to the consents for the Grange Castle Road (Outer Ring Road)?

Qu (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Looney
Responsibility:
Frank Nevin

To ask the Manager, in the wake of the Priory Hall scandal in the Dublin City Council area, to confirm the fire safety enforcement regime on all multi-unit developments (MUD's) completed in the past five years in the area of South Dublin County, to report on any action taken by SDCC on MUD's with regard to fire safety, and to outline any outstanding fire safety inspections, or fire safety-related remedial works or documentation requested in any MUD in the SDCC area?

Qu (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan

To compliment Management on the selection of Tallaght under the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme and to ask the Manager how this will impact on and help to further the Councils objective in the current County Development Plan of promoting Geothermal Energy and to outline ways in which this Council could use the opportunity to help the proposed Geothermal Project at Greenogue to  become a National Demonstration Project and to keep South Dublin County Council to the forefront amongst Local Authorities in the area of innovation?

Qu (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Teresa Walsh, Georgina Byrne

To ask the Manager for an update on the County Library Development Programme and to indicate the progress that is being made to realize the objective of a Digital Hub for Palmerston?

Qu (19)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager if he will provide a report, setting out separately for each Electoral Area, information on the following: (1) the area of land zoned residential in each LEA, for which specific Planning Permissions have not yet been received or granted, and an estimate of the capacity, in terms of housing units of such zoned land in each LEA, (2) the number of housing units for which planning permissions have been granted in each LEA, since January 2009, and the number of commencement notices issued in the same time period?

Qu (20)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager if he will advise on the number of Planning Applications made since January 2009 for permission to carry out drilling projects to investigate for sources of Geothermal Energy, the number of Permissions granted, the number of Commencement Notices submitted to the Council in that period? 

Qu (21)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager if he will advise on the number of Planning Applications received for the erection of Windmills for the generation of electricity in the County, the number of Permissions granted and the number of commencement notices received in the period since January 2009?

Qu (22)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Walsh 2009
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan, Brian Sheehan

1. An bhféadfadh leis an gComhairle a beartas maidir le leagan crann  a léiríú?

2. An nglacfadh leis an gComhairle go bhfuil Áitritheoirí ag fanacht , i gcásanna Áirithe, ar feadh 3 bliana sa bhreis chun crainn atá ró-ard a bhaint?

3. Cén sórt tacaíocht agus comhoibriú atá ar fáil don Chomhairle Contae ó na cuideachtaí fhóntais phoiblí eile, ESB agus Bord Gáis, mar shampla, chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo agus an bhfuil comhbheartas ann maidir léi?

1.Would the Council explain its policy regarding tree felling?

2. Would the Council accept that there are residents awaiting over three years for overgrowing trees to be felled?

3. What support and cooperation is available to the Council from public utility companies such as ESB and Bórd Gáis to resolve this problem and is there a joint policy regarding same?   

Headed Items

H-I (6)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Roads Department

DECLARATION  OF  ROADS  TO  BE  PUBLIC  ROADS

(no reports)

H-I (7)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Housing Administration, Development, Econ. & Transport Planning Dept.

PROPOSED  DISPOSAL  OF  PROPERTIES / SITES

(all circulated herewith)

H7c) Proposed Disposal of Fee Simple Interest -Small Builders Scheme at 9 Alpine Heights Clondalkin.


H7b) Proposed disposal of plots of land to rear of 12, 16, 18 & 20 Lealand Road,Clondalkin, Dublin 22 to the respective houseowners – Variation in terms


H7a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Dwellings

(no reports)

H-I (8)
Submitted by:
Bill Kearney
Responsibility:
Environmental Services, Bill Kearney

REPORT ON PART 8 PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR JOBSTOWN PARK MASTERPLAN

(circulated herewith)

H-I (9)
Submitted by:
Mary Kelly - Finance, Clodagh Henehan, Patricia McLoughlin
Responsibility:
Patricia McLoughlin, Clodagh Henehan, Mary Kelly - Finance

OVERDRAFT  ACOMMODATION  FOR  2012

(circulated herewith)

H-I (10)
Submitted by:
Mary Maguire
Responsibility:
Teresa Walsh, Emer O'Gorman, Philomena Poole, Philip Murphy, Elaine Leech

RESPONSE TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON MONDAY 24th OCTOBER 2011

(circulated herewith)

H-I (11)
Submitted by:
Colin Ryan
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

CASEMENT AERODROME  - SECURITY ZONE

(circulated herewith)

H-I (12)
Submitted by:
Mary Maguire
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan, Eddie Conroy

PROGRESS REPORT ON DESIGNATION OF TALLAGHT AS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY (by SEAI on 18th October 2011)

(circulated herewith)

H-I (13)
Submitted by:
Mary Maguire
Responsibility:
Frank Nevin, Paul Hogan

PROPOSED INITIATION OF THE PROCESS OF MAKING A VARIATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ALLOW THE LAND OUTLINED IN RED ON THE ATTACHED MAP TO BE RE-DESIGNATED OBJECTIVE A1 TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEEP GEOTHERMAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT NEWCASTLE AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2010 - 2016) WRITTEN STATEMENT, SECTION 5, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY, 2.5.9.

(It is noted that the heat harnessing facility has already been granted full planning permission).

The following specific objective to be attached to the zoning:

Specific Objective

(a) No development will be permitted on these lands until the geothermal resource identified at Greenogue is shown to be viable in terms of providing heat to any future development on these lands

(b) No development to take place on these lands until a new local area plan for Newcastle has been agreed by the elected members of South Dublin County Council.  The new LAP will include these lands.

(c) A site measuring at least three acres is to be made available within the overall site which could accommodate a new primary school for Newcastle.

(Recommendation from Clondalkin Area Committee Meeting 19th October 2011)

NOTE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER 2011 MEETING:  This item was withdrawn at the commencement of the November 2011 Council Meeting with the consent of the Council after the Mayor indicated that the Clondalkin members sought to have the item withdrawn.

Correspondence

Cor (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Ministerial

Letter, dated 06th October 2011, from Minister for Environment's office regarding Flat Rate Water Charge (M4/0911)

Cor (2)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Ministerial

Letter, dated 24th October 2011, from Minister for Environment's office regarding Local Government Fund (M16/1011)

Cor (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Ministerial

Letter, dated 28th October 2011, from Minister for Finance regarding assistance for those in Morgage Arrears (M19/0911)

Cor (4)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Ministerial

Letter, dated 9th November 2011, from Minister for Justice regarding Breastfeeding

Cor (5)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 11th October 2011, from Clare County Council regarding Single Farm Payment

Cor (6)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

(i)  Letter, dated 13th October 2011, from Donegal County Council, regarding Septic Tanks

(ii) Letter, dated 17th October 2011, from Donegal County Council regarding Redundancy Payment Acts

Cor (7)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 10th November 2011, from Monaghan County Council regarding Keane report & distressed mortgage holders

Motions

Mot (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Dermot Finch

MAYOR'S BUSINESS (1)

That this Council calls for a full report on the implementation of the recent Major Emergency Plan, the aftermath and the subsequent review. Further that this Council pays compliments to all of the council staff who demonstrated commitment beyond their regular duties through-out the challenging period.

Mot (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, Niamh Carton

MAYOR'S BUSINESS (2)

That this Council will examine the feasibility of ring-fencing monies to allow South Dublin Comhairle na nOg an annual budget. That the financing will be achieved through any actions/ideas implemented by Comhaile na nOg that result in a cost-saving for the Council.

Mot (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, John Quinlivan, Alison Casserly, Paula Swayne

MAYOR'S BUSINESS (3)

That this Council recognises the significance of bringing thousands of citizens into our parks through successful events such as the summer National Play Day event and the recent Spooky Walk event and wishing to build on that success this Council looks forward to the possibility of an inclusive Christmas event in our parks this year.

Mot (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Ridge
Responsibility:
Hugh Hogan, Michael Fagan

That this Council seek a meeting with appropriate Minister (Housing / Environment) to discuss the problem of  1. Absentee Landlords whose tenants are causing dreadful nuisances in housing estates in this county and where local residents appear to have no way of dealing with destructive and disrupting tenants.

Mot (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Delaney
Responsibility:
John McLoughlin

That this Council recognises the serious issue of pedestrian safety along the Newcastle Road in Lucan but insists that the proposed implementation of a local HGV ban coincides with a lifting of the existing HGV ban on the Outer Ring Road.

Mot (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Billy Coman, Willie Sheils

That this council commends the magnificent contribution by voluntary community groups and activists to improving the quality of life and vibrancy of communities right across our county, and noting in particular the increase in voluntary activity during 2011 hereby requests the Manager to reinstate in 2012 a South Dublin Community Awards, similar to the low-cost reinstatement of the Beautiful South Dublin Awards. The purpose of this awards scheme would be to recognise and honour outstanding voluntary achievement by residents associations, community groups, clubs and individual community leaders and activists in a wide variety of fields including community development, social inclusion, sports, arts, heritage, family support, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities and advocacy

Mot (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Kearns
Responsibility:
Philomena Poole, Sheila Kelly

That this Council calls on the Manager to update the meeting on what emergency equipment was available to council staff in order for them to perform their duties during the recent flooding event. Were there adequate supplies available and were the necessary health and safety measures taken to ensure staff safety?

Mot (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Bond
Responsibility:
Sheila Kelly, Brian Sheehan

That this Council calls for a full review of the aboricultural programme. Council firmly believes that any works carried out must give priority to trees that have posed a serious health and safety risk even at the expense of trees long awaiting cosmetic work that are nonetheless deemed safe.

Mot (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, Alison Casserly, Paula Swayne

That this Council congratulates Management on the huge success of this years 'Spooky Walk' in Corkagh Park

Mot (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff, Dermot Finch

That this Council commends the efforts by management, staff and particularly outdoor staff in dealing with the recent flooding which occurred in this County on Monday October 24th last and which caused significant damage to homes and public infrastructure. While recognising these achievements through actions and commitments given to flood victims also recognises that some preventative works may have lessened damage to peoples homes in particular. That this Council further understands that the event of October 24th can be described as a 'freak' calls on the manager to initiate procedures to ensure that drainage works are undertaken at Knockmore Park / Killinarden Park and that works are undertaken at two location on Whitestown stream to ensure similar flooding does not occur at Bawnlea Crescent, Cloonmore Avenue and Killinarden Estate in the future.

Mot (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Corr
Responsibility:
Hugh Hogan, Mary Hayes

That the Manager outlines by way of a report the extent of the damage to homes within the West Tallaght area as a result of the unprecedented rainfall on the 24th October 2011 - that he outlines the Council's and other agencies response to the event and to indicate the cost of the event and how the Council will recoup these unexpected expenses into the future.

Mot (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Brendan Hynes, Hugh Hogan

That the Manager give a full report to this meeting on the implementation of the policy on homelessness in this County, to include the number of people accommodated over the past three months, to include trends in recent and current demand, the ability of this Council to respond, plans for future development of the service and that a full discussion take place leading to further action to alleviate the plight of those who find themselves without accommodation.

Mot (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan, Eddie Conroy

That this Council welcomes the decision of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to select Tallaght as one of three Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) in Ireland, compliments the Manager and the team who developed and made the submission for the project, and requests the Manager to present for discussion at the November Council meeting a report setting out how it is intended to implement the Tallaght SEC, and providing a summary of anticipated outcomes and benefits from the project.  

Mot (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Jim Kilgarriff, Philomena Poole, Sheila Kelly

That this Council collate, as a priority, a report that incorporates all those areas in the County that are known to be prone to localised flooding with a view to determining how drainage and capacity to safely direct excessive rain /waste water from these vulnerable areas can be improved.

Mot (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Philomena Poole, Sheila Kelly

That this Council calls on both the Manager and Dublin Fire Brigade to carry-out an independent and transparent fire services risk assessment for all areas of our county to identify priority service improvements needed given the very serious concerns that exist over the excessive journey-times for responding fire services to reach highly-populated areas of our county furthest away from existing fire stations.

Mot (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Brian Sheehan

That Management update Members on proposals for exercise trails throughout the County, taking into consideration the recent allocation of grants for adult exercise equipment to parks throughout South Dublin County Council

Mot (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan

That this Council requests the Manager to report on the status of the Council's Climate Change Strategy adopted some time ago, including information on measures being implemented as part of the Climate Change Strategy, and noting the continuing delay in the Government publishing a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, requests the Manager to write to the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government seeking information on the current position regarding the publication of the National Adaptation Strategy?

Mot (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Philomena Poole, Sheila Kelly

That this Council takes into consideration those residents who have been unable to afford home insurance and have been flooded in the recent deluge. To report on any relief that can be offered given the extraordinary circumstances that the disastrous flooding caused.