COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT SPC

Monday, November 07, 2011

HEADED ITEM NO. 29307

HEADED ITEM: G. Lee

Election Poster Policy Update

Background

The item on election posters was placed on the Environment SPC agenda at the request of Cllr John Hannon. An election poster presentation was provided by Ms O’Brien, Environmental Awareness Officer. Following this Cllr Hannon requested that a working group from the SPC be established to consider the issues surrounding election posters and to come back to the SPC with a draft policy/recommendations.  Ms Kiernan, Cllr O’Connell, Cllr Tuffy, Cllr Bond, Cllr Coburn & Cllr Hannon volunteered to be part of the working group.  Cllr Hannon followed up with any remaining political parties to ensure cross party participation.

Work group committee

Cllr Hannon

Cllr Bond

Cllr Coburn

Cllr Devine

Cllr O’Connell

Cllr Tuffy

Ms Kiernan Community platform

Ms S O’Brien

Mr J Quinlivan

The working group met on four occasions and it was decided that a voluntary code of practice with a set of recommendations regarding the erection of election posters be developed and brought before the SPC for approval.

The draft voluntary code of practice is attached.

 Designated Areas:

Agreement on implementation of code in designated areas to be brought to Area Committees with a public process to generate a public awareness of the code and agreement on designated areas.

Possible Process –

a. Policy and Draft Map of designated area

b. Area Committee to agree to draft Map going on public display

c. Submissions to be accepted

d. Report back to Area Committees

e. Designated areas to be agreed

It is recommended that the committee writes to the Minister and request that he consider introducing appropriate legislation incorporating the content of the voluntary code.

This report is now before the SPC with a view to recommending the adoption of the voluntary code regarding the erection of election posters.