Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Elaina Ryan, back from Maternity Leave and informed the Committee that Brendan Kenny, Assistant Chief Executive is moving to Housing and Residential Services, Vincent Norton, Assistant Chief Executive is moving to Environment and Transportation and Declan Wallace, A/Assistant Chief Executive will be responsible for the Arts, Culture and Recreation SPC. She thanked Brendan Kenny, Assistant Chief Executive for his support to the Committee. She also thanked Vincent Norton, A/Assistant Chief Executive for his support over the past few months and wished them well in their future roles.

Two Items were raised under Chairpersons Business

1.     Cllr. Damien O Farrell requested a report in respect of the grass cutting/landscape maintenance contract provided by Dublin City Council at the 21st June SPC meeting. He also submitted a question to the 5th September City Council meeting on this issue.

2.     Cllr. John Lyons submitted a motion to the 9th May SPC regarding the commissioning of a new statue of Irish revolutionary leader Robert Emmet, to be located outside St. Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street.

Item No 1. Dublin City Council Grass cutting Contract:

Cllr. O Farrell indicated that he was not happy with the deterioration in the grass cutting service and general landscaping service contract provided in Dublin City Council area, in particular the finishing of edges in open spaces and grass verges in residential areas. He stated that this SPC has a function in the strategic monitoring of local authority services including identification of issues to be addressed. He requested that this SPC have an input into a service delivery plan including standards of performance indicators in relation to this contract. It was noted that the report was not available for this meeting

The members supported Cllr O Farrell regarding the issues raised and the Assistant Chief Executive stated that all the points were very important and needed to be addressed. He indicated that we will respond fully to all the issues and a comprehensive report will be brought to the next SPC meeting on the 14th November in relation to this service.

Action: A detailed report on the Grass Cutting and Landscape Service Contract to be listed as an Item on the Agenda for the next meeting of the Arts Culture and Recreation SPC meeting on 14th November 2016. Report to include what specifications are provided to the contractors, what standards are applied, what review processes are in place, are there sanctions for non performance.

Item No. 2. Motion regarding the commissioning of a new statue of Irish revolutionary leader Robert Emmet

A report By Dr Paula Murphy and Ruairí Ó Cuív on the proposal for a statue of Robert Emmet at St. Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street was circulated to the Committee.

The conclusion of the report outlined 3 options for the statue:

Option 1: Relocate the statue – this does not seem feasible in that the OPW has stated that it is not inclined to favour this proposal, in addition to the substantial costs there are conservation and maintenance issues relating to the movement of the statue.

Option 2: Based on the report from Giollamuire Ó Murchú the idea of creating a new cast and edition of the statue would be complex, technically challenging in terms of scale and definition and would not necessarily be best practice.

Option 3: The final option is to focus on the public realm at St. Catherine’s Church, in the context of its architectural and historic importance and also in terms of its potential as a civic space.

Cllr. Lyons indicated he was not entirely satisfied with the response from the OPW and wished to pursue the matter further.

Action:    Report Noted

Councillors Lyons and Clancy and the Public Art Manager to work together to progress this matter and update the Committee in due course.

Action: Agreed

The Dublin City Librarian stated that the commitment to provide a city library in the northwest quadrant of Dublin 1 has long been an ambition of this Council and was formally enshrined in the Dublin City Library Plan 2012 - 2016. The ambition is to create a library for the people of Dublin, a place to learn, create and participate and a library that would inspire and excite, welcome and include. The City Librarian outlined the seven key concepts or themes that describe the nature of the library.

Owen O Doherty, Deputy City Architect and Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian, presented the visual aspects of the project which focused on the location of services on the various floors, e.g. Children and young adults section, innovation hub, music centre and outlined the 7 high level themes and concepts that have guided the development process from idea and vision to sketch design.

Action:            The members welcomed and supported this very exciting project and thanked the City Librarian and Deputy City Architect for their comprehensive presentation.  It was agreed that the Committee be kept informed of the project in the future.

The Chair indicated that she would take Item Motion submitted by Cllr Mary Freehill in conjunction with this presentation.

“That Dublin City Council would consider making a once off financial contribution to the Little Museum of Dublin on St. Stephen’s Green. Such a contribution would greatly assist their ongoing work and promotion of the city”

Simon O’Connor, Curator outlined the progress of the Little Museum of Dublin since 2013 when he last presented to this SPC. The Little Museum of Dublin has won several awards including Irish Times Best in Dublin Award 2015 and Europa Nostra European Cultural Heritage Award 2016.

The members welcomed the presentation and agreed that The Little Museum of Dublin is a very important cultural institution in the city of Dublin.

Motion submitted by Cllr. Mary Freehill.

The members requested more financial detail regarding a breakdown of costs and where the money will be spent before further consideration of this motion.

Action:            A report on the Little Museums finances and commitments is brought to the 14th November SPC meeting.

Action:            Report Agreed. The Draft Dublin City Arts Education and Learning Policy Document to be sent to the 3rd October, 2016 City Council meeting for approval.

This project is collaboration between Dublin City Council and the National Cultural Institutions based in Dublin. The objective is to form partnerships with each other and local neighbourhoods in such a way that a high quality cultural initiative would result. The five area offices are fully engaged with this initiative.

Isuelt Byrne, Project Director informed the Committee that this initiative is being launched later this month on 27th September in the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor and the Minister for Arts Heritage Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. All members will be invited. .

Action:            Report Noted. The Chair requested that all Area Committees are kept informed on the local projects under this initiative.

The City Arts Officer outlined a plan for a two tiered approach to a Cultural Audit and Cultural Map of Dublin.  The intention is to work on a proactive audit which not only outlines the cultural development opportunities that exist within Dublin city area  but also set out to establish what the constituents of Dublin think about the available resources and what the cultural needs of the communities are. A Sports Audit will be included in this Cultural Audit and Mapping.

Action:            Report Noted. The Chair requested information on the timeline for the cultural and sport audit to be circulated. Cllr. Freehill requested details of all DCC pitches in the south east and south central areas.

Report to be issued to members.

“This SPC is looking to get a commitment from JD Wetherspoon that the Circular Stained Glass Window at the former home of Church Decorators Earley & Co. Studios, Camden Street, Dublin 2, will be kept and restored as part of the new hotel development on the site. If the window is not to be kept that it be removed without damage and given to DCC, so they can preserve it.”

“This SPC is looking to get a commitment from JD Wetherspoon that the Circular Stained Glass Window at the former home of Church Decorators Earley & Co. Studios, Camden Street, Dublin 2, will be kept and restored as part of the new hotel development on the site.

If the window is not to be kept that it be removed without damage and given to DCC, so they can preserve it.”

Action: The Manager will write to JD Wetherspoon requesting that the window be preserved. The Manager will liaise with the Planning Department regarding planning issues and conservation. The motion will be referred to the Planning SPC. An update will issue directly to Cllr. Kelly.

“This Area Committee expresses its disappointment in the way major amendments were made to the Street Performance Bye-Laws at the Council Meeting of Monday 4th July and feels a vote on a motion to ban busking in parts of Temple Bar should not have been taken without full debate. It is noted that at the Arts SPC it had been agreed that no ban on busking was agreed”.

Order: Agreed

“This Area Committee expresses its disappointment in the way major amendments were made to the Street Performance Bye-Laws at the Council Meeting of Monday 4th July and feels a vote on a motion to ban busking in parts of Temple Bar should not have been taken without full debate. It is noted that at the Arts SPC it had been agreed that no ban on busking was agreed”.

Order: Agreed

The Chair advised Cllr. Kelly to submit this motion to the next meeting of the Arts SPC for discussion.Protocol in relation to the submission of motions referred from area committees to be clarified and circulated to all members.Cllr. Lyons requested a report on the implementation of the amended Busking Bye Laws.

Action: The Chair to convene a meeting of the Busking Bye Laws Forum in advance of the next SPC meeting to discuss the affect of the implementation of the Busking Bye Laws. A report will be brought to the next SPC on the implementation of the amended Busking Bye Laws to date.

Action:       Report Noted

Cllr. O Farrell requested that the surface in the toddler area (Woodland Park) in St. Anne’s be examined in relation to its suitability.

Action:       This  matter  will  be  investigated  and  reply  issued  directly  to  Cllr.

O’Farrell.

Cllr. Freehill requested a report on the purchasing policy of the Hugh Lane Gallery and a report on the funds raised by the Trust over the past 10 years.

Action:       Report to be circulated to members.

Action:      Noted

Action:      Noted

Cllr. Freehill discussed residents concerns in respect of Terenure Library.

Action: Dublin City Librarian advised that the opportunity to look at Terenure

Library will arise under the Library Development Plan 2017 2021. The Chair

requested that library staff meet with residents of Terenure and Cllr. Freehill.

Cllr. Kelly and the Chair requested an update on the Casual Trading Bye Laws review to be circulated to members.