Headed Items
CONFIRMATION AND RE-AFFIRMATION OF MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting of South Dublin County Council, 16th January 2012
REPORTS OF AREA COMMITTEES
a) Rathfarnham Area Committee - 10th January, 2012
Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services
(no report)
b) Tallaght Area Committee (1) - 23rd January, 2012
Dealing with Community (1 report - Community Grants), Environment, Housing
(circulated herewith)
c) Tallaght Area Committee (2) - 23rd January, 2012
Dealing with Planning, Roads (1 report - Naming of Roads) and Development & Water Services, Corporate Services and Libraries
(circulated herewith)
d) Clondalkin Area Committee - 18th January, 2012
Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services
(no report)
e) Lucan Area Committee - 24th January, 2012
Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community (1 report - Community Grants), Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads and Development & Water Services
(circulated herewith)
STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, 26th JANUARY 2012
a) Calendar of Meeting Dates
b) Report on Conferences and Seminars
(all circulated herewith)
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
ENVIRONMENT SPC
(i) Report of Meeting 6th February 2012
(ii) Minutes of Meeting 7th November 2011
(ii) (a) Draft Code of Practice on Election Posters
REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES
(no reports)
Questions
To ask the Manager to state if there are any new housing schemes to be operated by the council for the forthcoming year?
To ask the Manager if he has been given any indication as to any proposed changes to or amalgamations of local authorities in the Dublin Region?
To ask that the Manager would present a report on the work done by Community Safety Fora in south Dublin. In the light of the 75% cut in government funding to the Fora, to ask that this council would formally communicate with the relevant minister deploring the extent and the communication of the savage cut and demanding that funding be found to enable the Community Safety Fora to continue with their vital work which empowers disadvantaged communities and addresses at grassroots level problems such as anti social behaviour, vandalism and intimidation?
To ask the Manager how successful is the fix your street initiative? Are customers using it on an ongoing basis? Some residents have said to me that they didn't get feedback on their items and wondered if they had in fact submitted their items correctly.
To ask the Manager to outline if any discussions have taken place with local traders regarding the provision of Water Butts to Schools County-wide as a further step in promoting the Green Schools Initiative?
To ask the Manager what events are planned to celebrate International Womens Day - March 8th?
To ask the Manager to report on the incidents of theft of manhole/chamber covers across the County - including the cost of their replacement?
To ask the Manager for a comprehensive report outlining how the Boherboy Scheme costs have escalated from €33.5 million to €53 million, with costings included for any additional works carried out and providing the rationale for such works. Can he also outline the sources of funding and the amount in each case, and how South Dublin's portion of this cost is being financed, and at what cost?
To ask the Manager to report on what, if any, action has been taken to undertake a planning and housing study of the Brittas village area, given the 2011 timescale stipulated in the Development Plan?
To ask the Manager to report on progress in relation to the implementation of the Development Plan objective of developing a cluster type residential development at Brittas village?
To ask the Manager to outline the support the Council provides to communities wishing to develop and enhance their natural area through the heritage officer and explains how communities, supported by the Council, can form local architectural heritage groups?
To ask the Manager to make available information on the NRA’s funding allocation to the Council, with respect to the maintenance and upkeep of national roads, as soon as a figure has been announced?
To ask the Manager to provide a list of unfinished housing estates in the county?
To ask the Manager to advise if a cost-benefit assessment has been conducted on the extension of active dimming technology to the remainder of the county’s street-lighting network?
To ask the Manager to outline the preparations and resources in place for 2012 to ensure a more consistent and adequate grass-cutting regime along national primary routes? (Noting that grass-cutting along the N4 during 2011 was much more consistent and adequate in the August-December period than in the first half of the year)
To ask the Manager to provide a further detailed update on the proposal to provide dog-runs in council parks during 2012 including a timeframe for these projects?
To ask the Manager to provide a detailed update on the current review of the County Play Policy and the Playground Construction Programme?
To ask the Manager for a report on the areas subject to flooding within the County (and were flooded in 2011) and in particular:
1. Areas in danger of/with a history of flooding due to proximately to rivers
2. Areas subject to/with a history of flooding due to inadequate or wrongly located gullies
3. Areas subject to/with a history of flooding due to inadequate drainage
4. Areas subject to/with a history of flooding due to poor planning
5. Areas subject to/with a history of flooding due to surface design i.e. road contours
6. The history of all areas in danger of/with a history of flooding to include efforts made by the Council to address the situation and the outcome(s)
7. What further action is planned by the Council to prevent further flooding and within what timescale
And to ask the Manager to make a statement on the matter?
To ask the Manager if he would agree that water emanating from the road network, i.e. building up from rainfall on the road surface and/or bursting up through manholes as distinct from the overflow of a river or stream, and entering a private residence or residences in a built up urban or suburban area, is the responsibility of the Local Authority and that the Local Authority must take preventative measures to alleviate the situation. If the Manager does not agree, can he explain why he does not agree?
To ask the Manager for a report to include:
1. Does the Council accept that it has a role in putting in place measures that will help prevent future flooding in areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011
2. What other public body/bodies has responsibility for putting in place measures to help prevent future flooding in areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011
3. The plans in place or in train by this Council to prevent future flooding in areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011
And to ask the Manager if he would make a statement on the matter?
To ask the Manager for a report to include:
1. What are the estimated costs of preventing future flooding in areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011?
2. How much money has been made available by Central Government to this Council to put in place measures that will prevent future flooding in areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011?
3. Under what criteria can the Council fund or put in place measures to prevent future flooding areas/locations/residences of the County that were flooded during 2011?
4. What avenues are open to private householders to put in place adequate PREVENTION measures to ward off future flooding emanating from roadways as distinct from rivers or streams?
And that the Manager would make a statement on the matter?
To ask the Manager for a report on the current use of the Clondalkin Civic Offices, the services which the residents of the County can access there by way of attendance at the Centre, the number of Council staff working there, and their Departments, the number of councillors who have office accommodation there, and information on the use by outside organisations of the facilities and accommodation of the centre for meetings, and other purposes, and further requests the Manager to investigate the potential for increased use of the Centre for cultural, arts and other public events?
To ask the Manager what measures are implemented by the Council to monitor the compliance of household with the regulations on the types of household waste and recycling materials which are to be placed in different bins, now that all household bins in the County are collected and processed by private waste management companies, and if he can provide a report on the matter?
To ask the Manager if will give figures for the total number of eligible applicants on the Council's Housing Lists, waiting allocation, at 31st December 2011, and the comparative figures for 31st December 2010 and 2009?
To ask the Manager if he can indicate how many persons/families have made application under the Applicant Sourced Housing scheme since the scheme, how many have been allocated housing, and how many applications are currently being processed?
Headed Items
DECLARATION OF ROADS TO BE PUBLIC ROADS
(no reports)
PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF PROPERTIES / SITES
(all circulated herewith)
b) Proposed Disposal of Fee Simple Interest - Small Builders Scheme at 14 Oakwood Grove, Clondalkin
c) Proposed disposal of strip of land at Old Ballycullen Road/Castlefield Avenue to Chris & Helen Lawlor – Variation on Terms
a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Dwellings
(no reports)
PROPOSED EXTINGUISHMENT OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OVER LANEWAY BETWEEN NO. 8 and No.10 MOORFIELD CLOSE, CLONDALKIN. MAP REF RE:0619
(circulated herewith)
AUDITED AFS 2010 AND AUDIT REPORT
(circulated herewith)
AUTHORISATION OF OVER-EXPENDITURE 2011
(circulated herewith)
PROPOSED VARIATION OF THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN RESPECT OF BALDONNELL AERODROME
(circulated herewith)
FILLING OF VACANCY ON DUBLIN REGIONAL AUTHORITY (Councillor M. Devine)
(circulated herewith)
Correspondence
Ministerial
Reply, dated November 2011, from Minister for Environment regarding Greyhound R & R (M17 Oct 2011)
Letters, dated 11th January & 25th January 2012, from Clare County Council regarding Fracking, & Public Sector jobs
Letter, dated 26th January 2012, from Carrickmacross Town Council regarding Racism
Motions
Mayor's Business
That this Council recognises the benefits of work done by four Community Safety Fora in the County, requests the Manager to present a report on the collaborative activities and projects in which the Council is currently involved with the 4 CSFs, and requests the Manager to make a submission to the Minister of State Jan O’Sullivan at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government outlining the contribution of the Fora to the 4 communities they serve in the County, confirms the Council’s support for the continued operation of the CSFs in the County, and urges the minister to secure the necessary small amount of finance to pay the wages of the 4 Co-ordinators and the continued valuable work of the Fora
That this council writes to the Minister of Justice, requesting that his office undertakes to do a feasibility study on having privately run prisons.
That this council contacts the Minister for Transport to reverse the increase in busfares
That this Council acknowledges and supports the many concerns of residents in South Dublin County in relation to the Emerging Preferred Route - N81 Hollywood Cross to Tallaght Rd. Improvement Scheme.
To ask the manager to clarify if there were / are any data protection issues with the transfer of customers’ information to Greyhound Waste. Currently Data Protection are probing if there is any unlawful activity with the transfer of the data on DCC?
That this Council:
. Condemns the decision by the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to cut funding from community safety forum/estate management posts in South Dublin County
. Requests the Manager to provide a detailed report on the circumstances surrounding this cut and the impact it will have on the staff and services provided by the staff concerned
. Acknowledges the important work carried out by the community safety forum/estate management staff in promoting community safety
. Believes that these cuts and the loss of the workers will result in a significant loss of important community services
. Agrees to forward a letter on behalf of the Council to the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan outlining the Councils concerns on this matter and calling on him to reverse the cut
. Instructs the Management to explore possible alternative sources of funding from within Council resources to ensure the continuation of these posts and the services they provide
That this council noting the Government’s commitment to supporting Ireland’s cloud computing sector and further noting the recent and planned investment in South Dublin County for the provision of data centres which are a key element in facilitating cloud computing; requests the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and IDA Ireland to prioritise South Dublin County; and in particular Grange Castle International Business Park, for further targeted investment in developing a cloud computing industry and research cluster and centre of excellence.
That the Manager report on what resources will be made available to villages and towns wishing to, for their first time, take part in the Tidy Towns Competition.
That this Council, being extremely concerned for the future of community based and voluntary activity in the County so vital to the well being of our residents, fully supports the current campaigns against the cuts in the Community Employment Scheme and Community Safety Forums and calls on the Government to restore the funding for these important initiatives so critical to the quality of life to so many communities. Furthermore, this Council requests that the Government publish a White Paper on the Community and Voluntary Sector so that a debate can take place on how this sector can be supported and funded in the context of the rationalization that is taking place across the disbursement and allocation of public funds. That this motion if approved be copied to all other local authorities.
That this council calls on the Minister for Environment, Community and local government to conduct a review of the current NPPR charges as laid down in the Local Government Charge Act 2009.
That this Council condemn Greyhound Waste Services for the disregard and disrespect shown to Elected Reps and the Public by their non-attendance at the scheduled meeeting of 26th Jan last. That they are again requested to attend this Chamber to respond to members serious concerns re the provision of a competent Waste Service in this County
That this Council expresses it's opposition to the further erosion of the role of the Local Authority by the proposed introduction of "Irish Water" as the new agency/body with sole responsibility for water supply and service. This Council further recognises the loss of employment this would cause within the Local Authorities in this state and the local knowledge that would be lost as a result of such a body being established. Democratic accountability would also be lost as part of the inevitable outcome and goal of privatisation being achieved. For the body to become self financing in the medium term as envisaged would result in enormous bills for the average Family and business for the consumption and use of Water.
That this Council condemns the 75% cut by the Dept of Environment, Community & Local Government for Mainstreamed Drugs Funding in respect of North Clondalkin Communty Safety Forum/South West Safety Forum, Fettercairn Estate Management, and Killinarden Estate Management Project, and requests the Manager to outline the extent of consultation, if any,between the Dept and this Council, and to take all appropriate action to ensure the restoration of necessary funding to these essential projects.
That this council calls on the Department of Environment, Communities & Local Government and the Local Government Management Agency to reform the payment arrangements for the Non-Principal Private Residence charge such that residents in arrears who wish to pay the full outstanding amount due (including late payment fees) are allowed, subject to local management discretion, to enter an agreed schedule for payment by instalment.
That this Council notes that the National Roads Authority has allocated an amount of €5,186,945 to South Dublin County Council for 2012, requests the Manager to indicate how the allocation compares with the allocation anticipated when the Council drafted its 2012 Budget, and further requests the Manager to present a summary report on the Council's plans for the expenditure of the allocated money.