COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

QUESTION NO.7

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on the update of the SDCC Shop Front initiative in the Clondalkin LEA including the number of successful applicants, the amount spent on Clondalkin, reasons why some applicants were unsuccessful and plans for the scheme in 2015.

REPLY:

The Shopfront Grant Scheme including a shop front design guide, prepared by the County Architect, was approved by the Members at the March Council meeting and the Council undertook a number of events to publicise the scheme including an evening launch in the Spa Hotel, Lucan on the 2nd of April and in the Maldron Hotel, Tallaght on 3rd of April.  Leaflet drops to all independent shops (chain shops were excluded from the scheme) were carried out in each of our nine villages, including Clondalkin, and the scheme was publicised on the Councils web page, other Council social media platforms and by way of a press release. The Council through the County Architect worked with interested parties, including in Clondalkin to promote the scheme.

Sixteen applications were received up to the extended deadline.  Four applications have been approved to date of which one grant has been paid for a shop in Lucan Village, one grant is in the process of being paid for another shop in Lucan Village, and two applicants are to notify the Council once works are completed to their shops in Rathfarnham Village and Clondalkin Village.  The remaining applicants are either not proceeding with their application or did not comply with the scheme (shop not on public street).

The continuation of the Shopfront Grant Scheme was approved for 2015 at the budget meeting, and applications will be invited in early 2015 following local media and web information. Learning from this years initiative a number of template designs will be prepared to assist future prospective applicants. Members will be kept informed as to when the Council will launch the 2015 programme.