The minutes were proposed by Councillor O’Rodaigh and seconded by Councillor Onwumereh.

Councillor Hopkins raised a point contained in the December 2022 minutes regarding the Childcare Committee Meetings, Robert Burns, DOS advised that he would convene a meeting in the coming weeks.

Naomi Weir SEO presented the Draft Workplan 2023 to the Committee giving emphasis to the Proposed Policy Matters which all require input from the members of the committee. Several Policies and Strategies were briefly explained as follows:

·       Fingal Sports Strategy 2024-2028 – Preparation/New  

·       Community Development Office Vision Statement 2019-2022     review/extend 1yr 

·       Community Development Office Strategy 2024 – 2028 preparation 

·       Age Friendly Strategy 2024 – 2028 preparation/new 

·       Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2022-2027 (Part of       

EETCD workplan

·       Update of the Council’s Public Art Policy - private developments 

·       Fingal Countywide Sports Facilities Audit 2023 New 

·       Best Practice Guidelines for Fingal Community Facilities – New 

·       Fingal Heritage Plan 2018 – 2023 – Implementation  

·       Fingal Community Archaeology Strategy 2019 – 2023 –

      Implementation  

·       Fingal Libraries Development Plan 2018 – 2023 - Implementation 

·       Review into the Council’s Youth and Education Policy 2017-2020 

·       Fingal Residents Association Handbook – 3^rd Edition 

·       Community Childcare Review 

Cllr Maguire accepted that it was a huge body of work to get through and queried if there were timescales and procedures involved around getting the policies and strategies through to completion stage.

Both Robert and Naomi commented that the plan was ambitious, but the policies and strategies were very necessary. The committee were advised that policies and strategies are broken down between Departments and Sections and some have a timeline of five years plus. It was also advised that the above would be discussed incrementally at the quarterly SPC meetings.  The meetings would prioritise the policies and strategies in the workplan above other business throughout the year in order to ensure the Agenda was manageable for each meeting.

Cllr Hopkins clarified that strategies are written and formulated within the Departments they belong and then brought to the SPC committee for input and subsequent ratification.

Cllr Hopkins Proposed the Workplan 2023 and it was AGREED.

Caroline Cowley Public Arts Co-ordinator, gave a presentation to the group on the topic of Public Art Policy on Private Developments, the key Policy recommendations were as follows:

·       Recognise the role of the private developments in the county as a significant opportunity for Fingal and its communities. ?

·       Support a new mechanism which allows for a contribution to be made in lieu of Public Art on that requirement for large scale commercial/Industrial Developments?.

·       Liaise with the sector on the rationale for this approach?.

·       Allow a fund to accumulate over time to allow for significant monies to be built up?.

·       All current and existing private developments must engage in the process set out by the Arts Office and their appointed Curatorial Advisor in commissioning public art for their sites as part of the planning compliance as it stands now.

·       Promote existing and new public art projects from this sector that are either at completion or ongoing through documentation and mapping. ?

·       Development of a community fund structure which would support local communities who wish to commission something for their town – All funding allocations should align with Fingal County Council’s New Public Art Policy and will require all necessary planning requirements in line with the County Development Plan. ?

Cllr O’Rodaigh welcomed the policy and commented that it would be great to see pieces of public art in parks and heritage sites.

Cllr Walsh enquired if the development levies would be tied to the area they were generated. Declan Power SEO advised that the finer details have yet to be finalised and he would return to the committee with final details.

Cllr Hopkins welcomed the policy and the fund.

Report was NOTED.

Christine Baker Heritage Officer presented to the committee on the Fingal Heritage Plan 2018 – 2023 and its implementation. The highlights were as follows:

·       The Fingal Thatch Project 2022 - This project is supported by the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan funding.

·       Legacies of Conflict Fingal 1914-1945 (Sherlock Family Skerries and the Terry Sherlock Memorial, Wireless Station, and St. Patrick’s Church)

·       Tappable Signage (Pilot project for Donabate-Portrane Heritage?)

Benefits

§  less visual impact ?

§  access to more information than traditional signage??

§  highlight heritage points on peninsula?

§  feedback from internal stakeholders?

§  feedback from the Donabate-Portrane Community Liaison Committee??

?

This project is funded by the CE Innovation Fund.

·     Fingal Heritage Network (Heritage Week 2023 August 12-20) Seeking new members

·     Heritage Grants (Heritage Council-County Heritage Plan Grants 2023 and Community Monuments Fund Applications)

·     Fingal Heritage Plan (Phases 1,2 and 3)

·     Fingal Heritage Plan (Timelines)

Cllr Hopkins suggested approaching the schools for new members for the Heritage Network.

Lilian Whelan Senior Executive Librarian, presented to the committee on the Creative Ireland Strategy and the key points were as follows:

·       Launch of Creative Fingal Strategy - Catherine Martin TD, Minister Kieran O’Donnell TD and Fingal Mayor Howard Mahony announced the roll out of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies (2023-2027) at an event in Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park on 23rd February 2023.

·       Strategic Themes

·       Creative Ireland Community Funding Scheme

·       Cruinniúna nÓg

·       Commemorations

Cllr Walsh enquired if the deadline for the Creative Ireland Community Funding Scheme could be extended beyond the 7th of April. Lilian advised that there was some scope around this depending on requirements.

Aaron and Neasa from APC (A Playful City) gave a presentation to the committee on a pilot project being rolled out by the Community & Sports Dept. This is an initiative whereby a street would be closed to vehicles to allow the residents and children of that street come together in a safe space and play in a street party style event. It will be rolled out across 12 locations and residents will be asked to register their interest to partake.

Questions were opened to the committee

Cllr O’Rodaigh commented that she was incredibly supportive of this initiative as she had seen its success in other areas. She enquired how traffic concerns were managed in other areas.

Cllr Hopkins was also supportive of the initiative and enquired what would happen if a resident objected.

Cllr Onwumereh welcomed the concept and enquired if there was a plan for public consultation.

Robert Burns DOS advised that it is hoped existing road closure legislation would be used to facilitate this proposal, Operations Department will be involved in the project in relation to this aspect. He advised that it is not a mandatory commitment for residents therefore he is hopeful that those who apply will be willing participants. It is envisaged that these events will take place on a Sunday in the Summer while children are on school holidays. There will be a promotional campaign to advertise the project. It is hoped that Fingal will initially offer full support to residents, with the thought being that residents can organise an event by themselves as the years progress.

“That this Committee support a firm outline for the facilitation of a free and/or subsidised targeted swimming classes in the County as part of a cost-of-living alleviation programme and essential life-skill education for young people and vulnerable adults following the motion that was passed at the Council meeting held on 13th March 2023.”

The following written reply was supplied in advance of the meeting by Gerard Reardon, Principal Sports Officer:

Fingal County Council are working with Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for the Aquatics in Ireland, to explore ways in which the Council can support swimming opportunities for the citizens of Fingal.  In line with this, an agreement has recently been reached between the Council and Swim Ireland to appoint a “Get Fingal Swimming” Officer for the county.  Once this officer is in place, the Council will work with Swim Ireland and this newly agreed co-funded Swim Officer to determine how the Council can best support swimming classes across the county, working with all relevant partners.   

Gerard provided the following update to the members:

The closing date for the position of the Fingal Co-Funded Swimming Officer is 2^nd April 2023. After this date Gerry hopes to have a further date to provide to the Committee.

The Motion was proposed by Cllr Onwumereh and seconded by Cllr Walsh

This Motion was not reached for discussion due to the Quorum not being met. Cllr’s Maguire, Walsh & O’Rodaigh had left the meeting at this point.

It was AGREED that this Motion would be re-listed at a future SPC.