Agenda and minutes

Ms. P. Poole, Chief Executive, the Members and staff welcomed Ms. Mary T. Daly to the Council Chamber as Director of Corporate, Communications and Governance.

It was AGREED to carry out a call-over of the agenda and take any items that could be dealt with WITHOUT DISCUSSION.

The following motion, in the name of Councillor B. Saul, was RE-ENTERED to the October meeting of the County Council:

"That this Council approves as policy the introduction of a community benefit clause on all Council construction projects above an agreed threshold and a report is brought to the Council in Q2 2017 for adoption."

It was proposed by Councillor S. Brennan and seconded by Councillor K. Feeney:

 “That the Chief Executive outlines, when the relevant routes are complete, the most appropriate cycle route within the county that will connect the S2S to the Dodder Greenway, and that the selected connection route consists of cycle track that is of equal quality to the S2S and Dodder Greenway so as to make the integration seamless, or where the existing cycle track is not of this standard, that it is prioritised for upgrade so as to ensure that Dublin has up to 45km of high quality joined up cycle network for the benefit of commuters- the goal of which will be to attract valuable cycle tourism to the county by facilitating and promoting the link route of these two projects.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor D. O’Keeffe and seconded by Councillor M. Halpin:

 “That this Council recognises the invaluable contribution public libraries and their staff have made to the educational and social life of communities across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the country over many decades, is strongly opposed to the Open Libraries initiative and will support any moves by library staff and their trade union Impact to resist the introduction of staff less libraries in Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor C. Smyth and seconded by Councillor L. McCarthy:

“That the Chief Executive pilot a dementia friendly town in one of the towns in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

The following motion, in the name of Councillors O. Smyth and P. Stewart, was RE-ENTERED to the October meeting of the County Council:

“That the Chief Executive initiates the procedures pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to carry out a variation of the Development Plan as follows:

a) In Section 8.2.11.2 (iii) Development in Proximity to a Protected Structure,

delete the following sentences:

"Innovative design in accordance with international best practice is encouraged. Pastiche design should be avoided as it confuses the historical record of the existing building and diminishes its architectural integrity.  The term ‘pastiche’ is used to describe developments that are imitations of building styles resulting in work that is unoriginal and of little merit. One of the basic principles of conservation it that all interventions to the historic fabric should be handled ‘truthfully’ to make clear what is ‘original’, and what has changed in order to avoid producing a parody of facsimile of the past or pretending that something is what it is not (this is in line with International Charters)."

b) In Section 8.2.11.3 Architectural Conservation Areas (i) New Development within an ACA delete the following sentences:

"All developments within an ACA should be site specific and take account of their context without imitating earlier styles. New developments should normally be ‘of their time’ and to the high standards of design with contemporary design encouraged. ‘Pastiche’ design should normally be avoided. "

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At present, the development plan insists on the use of modern architecture in conservation areas and near to protected structures but does not limit the choice of architectural styles in other areas.

The planning authority should not prescribe the artistic styles of architecture that are permissible.”

It was proposed by Councillor D. O’Callaghan and seconded by Councillor P. O’Brien:

“That this Council agrees that the centenary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster be marked with the holding of an event in October 2018 and that the Council would, in conjunction with the National Maritime Museum and any other relevant body’s, commence the planning of such an event.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor A. Colgan and seconded by Councillor M. Merrigan:

“That this Council initiates a system though which progress on implementing motions passed by Council can be tracked at intervals and that will provides updates on implementation.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

Vote of Congratulations

A vote of congratulations was passed with the Dublin Ladies Team on winning the All-Ireland Senior Ladies’ Football Championship.

A vote of congratulations was also passed with the Dublin Mens Team on winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

It was proposed by Councillor M. Merrigan and seconded by Councillor A. Colgan:

“That this Council requests the Chief Executive to provide a framework for discussion on the future of the historic twinning arrangement between the towns of Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead in the context of the formal twinning arrangement between this County and the County of Anglesey in North Wales and to arrange for an invitation to be extended to the Mayor of Holyhead to address a future meeting of this Council on the subject.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor L. McCarthy and seconded by Councillor C. Smyth:

“That the Chief Executive would set up a monitoring/counting group within the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere that could work with vigilant water users to defend the interest of the iconic Atlantic (Grey) Seals.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED and NOTED.

It was AGREED to carry out a further call-over of the agenda and take any items requesting letters to be written that could be dealt with WITHOUT DISCUSSION.

It was NOTED that Councillor J. Kennedy declared an interest and excused himself from the Council Chamber for the duration of the discussion and decision on Item 11: Letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It was AGREED to come back to the following motion, in the name of Councillor S. Nic Cormaic, later in the meeting:

“That this Council calls on the Irish Government to support the UN Resolution 26/09 which calls for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on Trans-National Companies with respect to Human Rights. Furthermore we respectfully request the reasons why the Irish Government have thus far voted against such calls.”

It was NOTED that Councillor J. Kennedy, who had declared an interest and excused himself from the Council Chamber for the duration of the discussion and decision of Item 11: Letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  returned to the Chamber.

In the absence of Councillor L. Dockery, the following motion was RE-ENTERED to the October meeting of the County Council:

“That this County Council agrees to offer its citizens the Passport for Leisure Discount Incentive Scheme for older persons without delay.”

It was proposed by Councillor L. McCarthy and seconded by Councillor P. O’Brien:

“That this Council would write to the Minister for Health asking ‘to immediately extend the Fair Deal Scheme to include home help’, thus allowing incapacitated or older people to stay in their own homes with the necessary assistance.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

The motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor C. Devlin and seconded by Councillor K. Feeney:

“That this Council write to Íarnrod Éireann and request how much they have spent on graffiti removal along the DART line in 2016, in-particular between Pearse - Bray DART stations and finally, how much they intend to spend in 2017.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

The motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor J. Kennedy and seconded by Councillor B. Murphy:

“That this Council, as a means of encouraging extra availability of housing stock for accommodation, will write to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to ask them to examine the feasibility of introducing a nationwide tax on vacant homes (to complement the National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy, informed by Census 2016 data, as referred to within the Government policy document 'Rebuilding Ireland').

Analysis of such a proposal should make reference to the existing taxe d'habitation logement vacant (THLV) applicable in France, while also taking into account the preparations being undertaken to introduce a vacant homes tax in Vancouver in 2017.

This Council would encourage an exemption to such a tax being applied to those vacancies arising demonstrably due to external, long-term nursing care or healthcare provision. In such cases where this exemption would apply, instead a tax incentive scheme ought to be considered to encourage a family member to become primarily resident at the relevant home, provided that a long-term rental lease or other property by said individual is vacated as a consequence (on the basis that this should free up a vacant unit elsewhere in the property market)."

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

The motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor H. Lewis and seconded by Councillor D. O’Keeffe:

“That this Council notes the vital services provided for women by the Southside Women's Action Network, we call on central government and the Drugs Taskforce to immediately reinstate the funding required to continue operating its full time women's counselling service and retain its family support worker.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

The motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor L. McCarthy and seconded by Councillor M. Halpin:

“That this Council write to the Minister for Planning Community and Local Government asking for an expiry date to be introduced into the Part 8 planning process in line with other planning permissions in the interest of good planning and sustainable development.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

The motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor H. Lewis and seconded by Councillor D. O’Keeffe:

“That this Council agrees to proactively support the full roll out of the agreed Traveller Accommodation Programme and to include it as part of the Council's programme for increasing the social housing stock across the County.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place, during which Ms. C. Keenan, Director of Housing responded to Members’ queries.

Councillor H. Lewis amended his motion as follows:

Amended Motion:

It was proposed by Councillor H. Lewis and seconded by Councillor D. O’Keeffe:

“That this Council agrees to proactively support the full roll out of the agreed Traveller Accommodation Programme.”

The amended motion was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor M. Merrigan and seconded by Councillor A. Colgan:

“That, the Chief Executive examine the possibility of conducting a non-statutory public consultation process with the residents of social houses in the areas which have access to a gated communal area with a view to the formulation of practical, workable, sustainable, coherent and flexible frameworks for the day to day upkeep and light maintenance of these communal areas as no official or agreed framework currently exists.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place, during which Ms. C. Keenan, Director of Housing, Mr. T. McHugh, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Municipal Services and Ms. P. Poole, Chief Executive responded to Members’ queries.

A roll call vote on the motion was requested, the result was as follows:

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor T. Murphy declared the motion CARRIED.

It was proposed by Councillor C. Devlin and seconded by Councillor M. Halpin:

“That this Council would write to Dublin City Council to enquire if they have any short term plans to continue the cycle path which ends at our County boundary at Trimleston Avenue. There is a need to extend this cycle path in the interest of cyclist safety?”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place.

The report of the Chief Executive was AGREED.

It was proposed by Councillor A. Colgan and seconded by Councillor M. Merrigan:

“That the Chief Executive will initiate in 2017 and provide funding for the preparation of a DLR Children and Young People’s Strategy (comparable to the comprehensive Age Friendly Strategy) which will draw together and give visibility to service planning and provision in the County for children and young people, enable them to express their views and wishes with regard to services, and give effect at local level to the National Children’ Strategy Better Outcomes Brighter Future.”[10 October 2016]

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place, during which Ms. D. Lawson, Director of Community and Cultural Development responded to Members’ queries.

The motion was AGREED.

In the absence of Councillor B. Ward it was AGREED to RE-ENTER the following motion to the October meeting of the County Council:

“That Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, pursuant to Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2001, resolves to make a proposal to the Local Government Commission that the local authority boundary between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council should be altered in the following regard: that the entirety of Bellevue Park Avenue and Bellevue Copse, off Woodbine Road in Booterstown, Co. Dublin, currently in the administrative area of Dublin City Council, comes into the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.”

It was NOTED that Councillor J. Kennedy declared an interest and excused himself from the Council Chamber for the duration of the discussion and decision on Item 11: Letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It was proposed by Councillor S. Nic Cormaic and seconded by Councillor S. O’Brien:

“That this Council calls on the Irish Government to support the UN Resolution 26/09 which calls for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on Trans-National Companies with respect to Human Rights. Furthermore we respectfully request the reasons why the Irish Government have thus far voted against such calls.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place.

A roll call vote on the motion was requested, the result was as follows:

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor T, Murphy declared the motion CARRIED.

It was NOTED that Councillor J. Kennedy, who had declared an interest and excused himself from the Council Chamber for the duration of the discussion and decision of Item 11: Letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  returned to the Chamber.

It was proposed by Councillor M. Halpin and seconded by Councillor D. O’Keeffe:

“That this Committee agree that all medical letters for housing applicants will be considered by the allocations section and the medical officer not just letters from consultants.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place, during which Ms. C. Keenan, Director of Housing responded to Members’ queries.

The report of the Chief Executive was NOTED.

It was proposed by Councillor J. Gildea and seconded by Councillor J. Bailey:

“That this Council explains in detail the reason why this Council’s roads engineers ignored the needs of mobility impaired users of the 84/84A bus service when they designed a scheme for the N11/Johnstown Road junction which entailed the removal of a bus stop on the south eastern side of the junction and to further state if there is a policy in this council to ignore the needs of wheelchair users when designing road schemes.”[13 March 2017]

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place, during which Mr. T. McHugh, Director of Municipal Services responded to Members queries.

The report of the Chief Executive was NOTED.

It was proposed by Councillor C. Curran and seconded by Councillor S. O’Brien:

“That this Council supports the concept of a directly elected Mayor of Dublin with a range of executive powers devolved from Central Government. This motion also calls on all Strategic Policy Committees of this County Council to initiate a discussion on this issue at their next SPC meeting and for the SPC Chairs to report, in writing, the results of each discussion back to the full Council.”

The report of the Chief Executive was CONSIDERED.

A discussion took place.

Councillor C. Curran amended his motion as follows:

Amended Motion:

It was proposed by Councillor C. Curran and seconded by Councillor S. O’Brien:

“That this Council supports the concept of a directly elected Mayor of Dublin with a range of executive powers.”

A roll call vote on the amended motion was requested, the result of which was as follows:

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor T. Murphy declared the amended motion CARRIED.

It was AGREED to RE-ENTER Item Nos. 8 and 9, Item No. 14, Item Nos. 16 to 19, Item Nos. 21 to 24, Item Nos. 27 and 28, Item Nos. 30 to 36, Item Nos. 39 to 41, Item No. 43 and Item No. 45 to the October meeting of the County Council.

The meeting concluded at 8.35 p.m.