COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 09, 2015
HEADED ITEM NO.H4c) (ii)
HEADED ITEM: C. Services Department
STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
c) Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC
(ii) Minutes of meeting, 13th January 2015
REPLY:
Meeting 13th January 2015 (6pm) – IT Conference Room
Minutes
Attended
| Cllr J.Lahart(Chair) | Cllr P.Foley |
| Cllr G. O’Connell | Cllr E.Higgins |
| Cllr R.McMahon | Mr D. Roche |
| Mr S. Reid | |
| Ms T.de Buitlear |
Officials present:
Mr F Nevin, Director of Services
Mr C Ryan – Senior Planner
Mr T Shanahan – Administrative Officer
Ms B. McCormack – Asst. Head of Local Enterprise
Also Present: Peter Mac Nulty, Tourism Development Ireland (re: HI 3, Tourism Strategy)
Apologies: Cllr B. Ferron, Cllr F.N. Duffy, Ms A Carroll, South Dublin Chamber
The meeting was Chaired by Cllr John Lahart who invited Frank Nevin to introduce his team to the SPC members. Mr Nevin also advised that additional sectoral nominations to the SPC were pending from South Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Trade Union sector.
Headed Item 1: Current initiatives within Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development Dept Frank Nevin delivered a presentation on the current and planned 2015 work programme of the Department and a proposed work plan for the SPC focusing on the; Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), use of the Business Support Grant(BSG), Implementation of Tourism Strategy and future initiatives in Business Support through the Chamber of Commerce. Questions and contributions were made by Cllrs Higgins, Foley, Lahart, Dermody, O’Connell, McMahon and Tara de Buitlear. These were reponeded to by Mr Frank Nevin The work programme as set out in the presentation was AGREED, however it was also AGREED to defer to the end of the meeting discussion on Working Group roles and nominations.
Headed Item 2 - Local Economic & Community Plan - Advisory Steering Group nominations Colin Ryan presented a report on the LECP which must be concluded by December 2015. The timelines, high level themes and make up of the Advisory Committee were highlighted. It was suggested that the members consider the formation of a Working Group to consider in detail the formulation of economic element of the LECP. Frank Nevin advised of two vacancies for Econ Dev. SPC members on the LECP Committee and suggested to the members that nominations should one elected and other non elected. It was AGREED that this matter would be deferred for consideration at the end of the meeting. Following contributions from Cllr’s Higgins and Lahart it was AGREED to defer discussion on Working Groups to the end of the meeting.
Headed Item 3 – Update on County Tourism Strategy Tony Shanahan delivered a presentation on the progress of the Tourism Strategy advising of the formation of the Tourism Working Group in Sept. 2014 and the appointment of Peter Mac Nulty of Tourism Development International (TDI) to work on the strategy. Members were advised that the next Tourism Working Group meeting is on Thurs Jan 22nd at St. Endas in Rathfarnham and Strategic Options will be presented at that meeting. Following contributions from Cllrs Lahart, O’ Connell, Higgins and Mahon and from Tara De Buitlear, Damien Roche and Sean Reid, these were responded to by Mr Peter McNulty, Tony Shanhan and Frank Nevin, it was AGREED to circulate the contact details for Peter McNullty to any members interested in further consultation. The item was NOTED Following a suggestion from Cllr Foley it was AGREED to arrange a Tourism Working Group meeting (open to all Econ. Dev. SPC members) for March (date to be agreed) in order for the final stage report to be presented to members and to facilitate their recommendation for the adoption to the earliest Council Meeting.
Headed Item 4 - Regeneration of Industrial Areas/Use of Business Support Grant Frank Nevin provided outline details of funding available for the industrial areas interventions and the BSG and noted that this should be focus of the Working Group to guide implementation. The Item was NOTED and it was AGREED that this item would be a matter for consideration at working group.
Headed Item 5 - AOB It was AGREED that Cllr John Laharte, (Chair), would represent the SPC on the LECP Committee. It was also suggested and AGREED that a non-elected member would join the Committee and the members present were requested to express an interest to Mr Frank Nevin for nomination to the LECP committee. It was suggested and AGREED that one working group would be formed that would consider in detail the SPC work programme including the LECP, Business Support Grant and measures to support underutilized industrial areas, it was further AGREED that Working Group meetings could rotate between early morning (8am) and lunchtime or other suitable times, to facilitate as many members as possible and that Cllr Lahart as Chair and Frank Nevin would agree on suitable times for the first SPC Working Group meeting. Meeting concluded at 7.40pm