The minutesof the last meetingheld on 21^st March 2023 were proposedby Councillor H. Mahony and seconded byMr. Anthony Cooney.

The minutesof the meetingsof the 21^st March 2023,were AGREED.

Mr John Quinlivan, Director of Services updated Members on the Work Programme advising that the majority would be coveredon this Agenda and confirmed that the Tourism Strategy and Fingal Food Policy are well in advance and will be discussed at the next SPC meeting in September.

Mr John Quinlivan, Director of Services confirmed that Grant Thornton Consultants have been awarded the tenders to deliver both the Economic Development Strategy and the Local Economic & Community Plan. Ms Aoife Sheridan, Senior Executive Officer, gave a presentation on the Fingal Economic Strategy.  Ms Aoife Sheridan confirmed that this strategy will involve data stats and stakeholder engagement and will be complete by this year. The presentation was well received by the SPC members.

Ms. Aoife Sheridan,Senior ExecutiveOfficer, gave a presentation on Local Economic & Community Plan. As previously noted, Grant Thornton Consultants have been engaged to deliver the new LECP by year end and will be running in conjunction with the Economic Strategy.  Ms Aoife Sheridan outlined the difference between Economic Strategy and LECP to the SPC Members.  The public consultation process for the LECP will commence next week together with engagement by elected members.  It is proposed to have the draft LECP presented at the next SPC meeting in September with approval by November/December at full County Council meeting.

Ms Aoife Sheridan,Senior ExecutiveOfficer, gave a presentation on Stephenstown Economic Zone.  The primary focus is to secure strategic acquisitions to develop a landbank along the economic corridor to ensure land is available to interested multinationals.  Ms Aoife Sheridan confirmed that a marketing brochure will be produced for the industrial lands countywide, starting firstly with Stephenstown Economic Zone and Dublin Economic Zone (DEZ) brochure will be refreshed.  Ms Aoife Sheridan advised the members that Fingal County Councilwas selected as Project Lead for the URBACT EcoCore Project with eight European partners.  An URBACT local group is to be established with a nominee from the SPC and local Councillors.  Cllr. H.Mahony requested a report back on this at the next SPC. M Aoife Sheridan confirmed Ms Eileen Crowley has been selected byFingal County Council to oversee the URBACT project, Cllr. H. Mahony extended an invitation to Ms Eileen Crowley to speak to the SPC members at the next meeting.  Cllr. D.Butler welcomed Ms Aine Donlon Kavanagh to EETCD, she will be supporting Ms Aoife Sheridan in the URBACT project.

Ms Aoife Sheridan, Senior Executive Officer, gave a presentation on Fingal Skills Strategy.  Ms Aoife Sheridan outlined details of the SKYLA Project which will focus on enhancing the role of VET (vocational education and training) in smart specialisation sectors over a four-year term with 11 partners from seven European Countries with a scheduled visit in November 2023 hosted byFingal County Council.  Cllr. T. Murphy expressed the need to get local people lined up and Ms Aoife Sheridan agreed that this will be arranged.   The Draft Terms of Reference for the Fingal Skills Strategy Steering Group was included in the meeting pack and if members have any feedback to inform Ms Aoife Sheridan. The group will be seeking a nomination for an elected member from the SPC in September. Fingal TY Skills Expo 2023 will be taking place in the Helix on the 3^rd October 2023. Cllr. H.Mahony, Cllr. D.Butler, Cllr. T.Murphy and Mr Anthony Cooney thanked Ms Aoife Sheridan on all the work done to date on the TY Skills Expo.

Ms Aoife Sheridan, Senior Executive Officer, gave an update on Sustainable Fingal which is a memorandum of understanding between FCC, DCU and DAA to drive innovation and sustainability.  There is funding for two projects, DIFFER and ATLAS which will focus on the environmental, social and economic challenges facing Fingal.  Ms Aoife Sheridan advised that they will engage with Teagasc on the agricultural pilot.  Cllr. H. Mahony suggested engagement with MacranaFeirme to get the youth involved and this was noted.

Mr Declan Ryan, Senior Executive Officer, gave a presentation on Regeneration / Town Centre First and the challenges facing towns in Fingal.  Mr Declan Ryanoutlined the origin of the Regeneration Office and how the Town Centre First policy will be implemented.  Mr Declan Ryandescribed the various funding schemes available for town regeneration and the importance of the local communities being driven by a Town Team with the support of the Elected Members. The presentation was received well by the SPC members.