COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 12, 2020

QUESTION NO.28

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

That the chief executive issue a report into what role councillors have in Strategic Housing Developments and to outline this in a detailed report ?

REPLY:

The Strategic Housing Development process is established and set out by the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016. In Section 8 and 9 of this legislation, the role of the elected members in the process is outlined.

Notification of SHD application

Section 8(4)c of the legislation outlines that the elected members are required to be notified of the making of a SHD planning application to An Bord Pleanala by the Planning Authority.

Area Committee Meeting

The legislation sets out that the Planning Authority shall inform the elected members at the next meeting of the relevant Area Committee of:

(I) the details of the application,

(II) the consultations that have taken place in relation to the proposed development under SHD Stage 1 (pre planning with SDCC) and SHD Stage 2 (pre planning with An Bord Pleanala) and

(III) the notice issued by the An Bord Pleanala to the applicant following the SHD Stage 2 (pre planning with An Bord Pleanala),

Furthermore, where the ACM meeting concerned takes place after the expiry of the 5 week submission period for public consultation, the Planning Authority shall inform on a summary of the points raised in the submissions or observations duly received by the An Bord Pleanala in relation to the application and the views of the Chief Executive, if formed, in relation to the effects of the proposed development on the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the authority and on the environment.

Chief Executive Report to An Bord Pleanala

As part of the Planning Authority report to An Bord Pleanala on the proposed development, the Chief Executive is required by Section 8(5) of the Act to set out –

• a summary of the points raised in the submissions or observations duly received by the Board in relation to the application

• the Chief Executive’s views on the effects of that proposed development on the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the authority and on the environment and

• where the ACM has taken place, a summary of the views of the relevant elected members on that proposed development as expressed at such meeting.

It is the practice of South Dublin County Council, as a Planning Authority, to include a section in the Chief Executives Report summarising the views of the elected members from the relevant ACM.

An Bord Pleanala Decision Considerations

Section 9 of the legislation sets out that An Bord Pleanala shall, before making a decision, consider the report of the planning authority. As outlined above, the Chief Executives Report from the Planning Authority includes a summary of the views of the elected members from the relevant ACM