COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 10, 2008

HEADED ITEM NO. 4(d)

Report of Joint Meeting of Housing and Social Development Strategic Policy Committee and Economic Development (incl Planning and Development) Strategic Policy Committee

Attended:

Frank Nevin, Acting Director of housing Cllr. Marie Corr
Joan Kelly, Senior Staff Officer Cllr. Eamon Tuffy
Emer O’Gorman, Senior Executive Officer Cllr. John Hannon
Martin Judge, Senior Executive Officer Cllr. Joe Neville
Siobhan Duff, Senior Executive Planner Cllr. Eamon Walsh
Mary O’Shaughnessy, Senior Executive Officer Cllr. Therese Ridge
  Cllr. Maire Ardagh
  Cllr. Robert Dowds
  Cllr. Trevor Gilligan
  Cllr. Mick Murphy
  Noel O’Connor
Headed Item No.1

Draft Strategy - Part V

Frank Nevin, Acting Director Of Housing, presented the following report:

Discussion paper : South Dublin County Council – Part V policy.

1.Introduction.

The Councils housing strategy is set out in accordance with the Planning & Development Act 2000 in the County Development Plan 2004-2010.

It is anticipated that supply of social/affordable/voluntary, (sav), homes in accordance with Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000, (as amended) will form a significant portion of home delivery in the coming years. The aim of this document is to set out the Councils policy when dealing with developers on Part V supply.

2. Policy (PROPOSED)

·  In accordance with the South Dublin County Housing Strategy the policy of South Dublin County Council is to aim to achieve delivery of the required sav homes in accordance with Part V on site as part of the development which is the subject of the planning application. This is the primary basis on which all negotiations will be conducted.

·  The mix of social/affordable/voluntary homes and home type in each case will be decided by reference to the Housing Strategy and the current tenure mix in the relevant area.

·  It is an objective of the Council that Part V agreement(s) will be in place in advance of the lodging of a planning application in respect of land on which Part V is applicable.

·  The involvement of Voluntary Housing Associations will be welcomed in Part V supply subject to discussions and agreement with the Councils Voluntary Housing Unit.

·  However, as indicated in the legislation there may be extreme instances where on-site delivery is neither practicable nor desirable from South Dublin County Councils point of view.

·  Instances where the position at (iii) above may be acceptable in South Dublin County is where

  1. The development is of a scale that in the opinion of the Council the delivery of on-site homes is neither practicable nor desirable. (Larger schemes must meet Council requirements for tenure mix).

AND

  1. The homes being developed are not suitable for sav homes due to size and/or type, or
  2. The home being developed are not possible to place on the market as affordable homes due to certified cost price, or
  3. The homes being developed are not suitable as social homes due to certified cost price having regard to DOELG guidelines.

(It is envisaged that this clause will normally only be applicable to small infill schemes.)

Certified cost price is to mean the cost price per home calculated in accordance with the terms of the Planning Acts.

  1. Where a developers planning application falls within the terms of (iv) above and the developer applies to pay compensation in lieu of the Part V requirement the Councils valuer will enter into negotiations and seek to reach agreement on value with the developer and/or their agents.
  2. In instances where financial compensation is accepted in lieu of homes the monies will be utilised for housing purposes in the Local Electoral Area in which the site is located in order to deliver a planning/housing gain to the local community.
  3. Off-site provision will not normally be acceptable under Part V. The reasons for this are :
  1. The acceptance of same could lead to distortion in the tenure mix in both developments and/or the wider area(s).
  2. Administrative, legal and practical difficulties in monitoring and delivering the homes on the alternative site.

3. Approval of draft policy.

·  In the first instance it is proposed to present this document to the Housing & Planning SPCs, (a joint workshop was proposed at the last meeting), DRfor perusal & discussion.

·  The position document agreed with the SPC will then be brought to the Area Committees of the Council.

·  It may be necessary to return to the SPC with the input from the Area Committees.

·  The final document agreed with the SPC will be brought to the members of South Dublin County Council for final discussion and possible approval.

4. Implementation of Policy

The policy, if approved by the members, will be circulated to the interested parties, including the CIF and the ICSH, and will, as indicated in the introduction, form the basis of all Part V negotiations in South Dublin County.

5. Next steps.

As indicated above this document will be brought to the next meeting of the Housing SPC on 15th November 2007.

Frank Nevin

A/Director of Housing.

02 November 2007

Following a discussion to which Cllrs. Corr, Ardagh, Hannon, Tuffy, and Ridge, and Noel O’Connor contributed, it was agreed that joint workshop comprised of members of the SPCs and officials, and any other interested members of the Council would be held.

Headed Item No.2

Consideration of Planning Policy Initiatives to Ameliorate Anti-Social Behaviour in New and Existing Developments Guidelines for Designing out Anti-Social Behaviour

 Siobhan Duff,Senior Executive Planner presented the following report:

At a meeting of the Economic Development and Planning Strategic Policy Committee held on 17th May 2006, a report entitled ‘Planning Policies and Design Approaches to Reduce Anti-Social Behaviour’ was considered.  This report detailed provisions in Planning Department plans and policies with implications for anti-social behaviour and crime in general. 

Following a proposal from Councillor Eamon Tuffy, it was agreed that a sub-committee be set up to further examine the matter.  Terms of Reference were drawn up and agreed and the purpose of the sub-committee was defined as follows:

‘The Sub-Committee shall consider the issue of anti-social behaviour in relation to the role of the Council as planning authority and shall make recommendations on how anti-social behaviour can be reduced through the planning process.   The focus shall be on plans, policies, guidelines and planning functions of the Council including the role of the Development Plan, Local Area Plans, planning studies, the assessment of planning applications and enforcement’.

The Sub-Committee met over the period October 2006 to May 2007.  Various aspects of anti-social behaviour were teased out and discussed including examples from Sub-Committee members’ own experience and areas of expertise.  It was agreed that the best way to proceed was to prepare ‘Guidelines for Designing out Anti-Social Behaviour’, the document now being presented for your information.

The Guidelines are intended as a reference tool for Forward Planning and Development Management in the Planning Department.  They contain criteria for proofing planning applications and local area plans, masterplans and planning studies against the potential for facilitating crime and anti-social behaviour.  The premise is that by creating a safe, secure and attractive environment, opportunities for anti-social behaviour and crime in general are minimised. 

The Guidelines would also be of assistance to staff in other departments of the Council e.g. architects designing a housing layout, engineers planning a road network, parks superintendents designing open spaces, etc.  In addition, they are drafted in a manner that would render them accessible to interested members of the public. 

The Guidelines were approved by the Economic Development and Planning SPC on 19th September 2007. 

Following a discussion to which Cllrs Ridge, Corr, Hannon, Walsh, and Dowds contributed it was agreed that this matter should be a Headed Item at a Council meeting, for formal adoption.