COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 13, 2013
MOTION NO. 8
MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy
That this Council notes that EU based evidence shows that the majority of new jobs are created by SMEs in the first 6 years or so of their existence, acknowledges the commitment of the Manager and her staff to supporting and promoting economic development and job creation/protection, recommends to the Manager, that the Council, in co-operation with the CEB, the CDB, South Dublin Chamber of Commerce, ITT Dublin and Enterprise Ireland, organize, in the next 6 months a Seminar/Conference for SMEs, and start-up businesses which will have as a main objective the provision of information on all aspects of supporting and growing small businesses, including financial supports by banks, government and the EU, R& D, employee training and development and training, and marketing.
REPORT:
The following report was presented to the April Council meeting :
"In response to the current economic climate and Government Policy, in particular, the Action Plan for Jobs and 'Putting People first', this Council continues to undertake a wide range of actions in support of economic development. At the Council meeting in October 2012 Headed Item 15 Supporting economic recovery and jobs locallydetailed existing and planned business supports across the sector and specifically in South Dublin County
These actions include :
- The development of an economic strategy for the County. (Agreed at December 2012 Council meeting)
- The consequent development of an action plan. (Also agreed at December 2012 Council meeting).
- The ongoing work of a sub group of the Planning and Development SPC.
- Support for the sustaining business executive, (under the Sustaining & Developing Business Programme), in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber.
- Ongoing support and assistance for the IEN, including the ongoing creation of work space in a central area within County Hall.
- The interagency approach involving the relevant stakeholders embedded in the economic subgroup of the CDB.
- The physical presence of the CEB in County Hall and the progress made on the concept of an "Innovation Hub" in that public area.
- Ongoing development work for the creation of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), this will build on the existing physical presence of the CEB in County Hall.
- The working relationships established with local agencies, business and national bodies through the "Sustaining and developing business programme".
- Ongoing support for local business through the development of specific activities in the County libraries.
- Social media and other form of IT training for members of the IEZ and other interested parties.
- A full monthly update on the Council's Strategic Support towards business development and survival is provided at the Corporate Policy Group Meetings at the following link.
In terms of employment initiatives the Council will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders through the County Development Board and the County Social Inclusion Measures group in promoting and developing programmes in accordance with Government strategy leading to alignment of skills with enterprise needs. Particularly the Council will work closely with the Local Development Companies, Dodder Valley and CPLN, in the co-ordinated delivery of their Strategies and Action Plans in meeting the goals of the LCDP and specifically in relation to access to training towards job readiness and supporting local enterprise.
In relation to support for economic development and job creation this forms a central elementof the work of the Planning and Development SPC which has formed a sub-group to work on the the delivery of the action plan resulting from the County Economic Strategy. The next meeting of the sub-group is scheduled for 18th April and will be the subject of a report to the Economic Development, including Planning, SPC on 29th May. Should the Motion be passed the proposal in the Motion that a special meeting be held could be considered at the O & P & F on 23rd May. If so, it is recommended that the date be scheduled after the May SPC meeting to allow consideration of the sub group report."
Following discussion on the above report it was agreed at the April Council meeting that, following the submission and consideration of a report from the SPC Working Group to the May meeting of the Economic Development SPC, all members would be invited to the September meeting of that SPC, to review progress on the Strategy. It is recommended that the suggested seminar, and an outline for same, as set out in the Motion, be discussed at the SPC. If agreed, support for same will be sought from the appropriate organisations.