Agenda and minutes

_{Minutes of the previous meeting, which took place on 12th January 2021, were agreed by Evanne Kilmurray and seconded by Cllr. Deacy.}

_{In relation to the point raised by Cllr. MacDonncha and Cllr. Deacy regarding the public consultation and Development Plan, the Chair advised that she had actioned that item and confirmed contacting the relevant Section.}

_None.

_{Due to technical issues encountered by presenters, the items on the agenda were not presented in sequence.}

_{Copy of presentation was provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack.}

_{Anthony Flynn opened by informing Members that The National Recovery and Resilience Plan originates from the EU’s Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF). The RRF will make €672.5bn in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States. Ireland is expected to receive €853m in grants under the RRF in 2021 and 2022 with further grants allocated in 2023. In order to access funding, Ireland must develop a National Recovery Resilience Plan (NRRP) for approval by the EU. The Department of An Taoiseach launched the public consultation process on the 2nd February 2021 and the deadline for receipt of submissions was the 22nd February 2021, so turnaround was very tight. A submission was made by DCC by the deadline. Dublin City Council’s submission to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan identifies challenges and opportunities to reimagine Dublin City and sets out how the City can be regenerated through investment, city greening and improved connectivity. Proposals in DCC’s submission cover areas of energy efficiency, digital transformation, greening and biodiversity, flood defences and resilience, public realm and wellbeing with proposed projects across a number of Departments of the Council. The final submission contained 7 sections within a 37 page document highlighting 6 proposal areas (Energy Efficiency, Digital Transformation, Greening & Biodiversity, Flood Defences & Resilience, Public Realm and Wellbeing) including 13 potential projects to the value of €464.2M. The Council has written to the Dept of an Taoiseach and DPER in advance of 30th April deadline to seek a meeting to further discuss the Council’s submission in advance  of the National deadline of submission to the EU Commission by 30th April.}

_{Headings presented and elaborated on included:}

_{Ø    DCC Submission to NRRP – Development}

_{Ø    DCC Submission to NRRP – Context}

_{Ø    DCC Submission to NRRP – 35 Proposals Across the Organisation}

_{Ø    DCC Submission to NRRP – Evaluation Process: Prioritisation of Projects}

_{Ø    DCC Submission to NRRP – Evaluation Process: Project Matrix}

_{Ø   DCC Submission to NRRP – Final Submission Content}

_{o     7 sections}

_{o     37 page document}

_{o     13 potential projects to value of €464.2m}

_{Ø    NRRP – 2021  Timeframe}

_{30/04/21 – submitted to EU Commission}

_{May-June 2021 – EU Commission assessment}

_{July 2021 – EU Council assessment}

_{August 2021 – Ireland’s NRRP published}

_{Comments, Feedback & Questions:}

_{The Chair thanked the presenter, commended the volume of work that had to be done in order to make submission by the deadline, and opened the floor for discussion. Cllr. MacDonncha thanked the Presenter and asked for clarification on €464.2m grants figure, timelines and availability of additional funding. Cllr. Deacy thanked the Presenter and asked if there would be/and had been consultation and conversation at local level with Local Area Managers / Local Area representatives.}

_{Cllr. Freehill put questions to the presenter on the establishment of the EU Programmes Office, who will man it, and when will it be established, who is dealing with BIDS and preparatory work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.}

_{Copy of presentation was provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack}

_{Due to a family bereavement, Greg Swift was unable to attend the SPC Meeting and it was advised that he would present on this Item at a later SPC.}

_{Copy of presentation was provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack}

^{Barry Rogers presented to the Group on}

^{Ø   Smart Tourism Programme}

^{Ø   Smart Tourism Leaders}

^{Ø   Governance and stakeholders}

^{Ø   Definition of Smart Tourism}

^{Ø   Best practice}

^{Ø   Infrastructure – Micro/Macro}

^{Ø   Current work streams}

^{Ø   Mobile App for Heritage Trail(s) Dublin} 

^{Ø   Digital Trails}

^{Ø   Orientation}

_{Comments, Feedback & Questions:}

_{The Chair thanked the presenter and thanked him for presenting to the SPC and also into the Tourism, City Markets and Night Time Economy Working Group previously, and opened the floor for discussion.}

_{Cllr. Batten raised the question of vandalism of the kiosks. Evanne Kilmurray thanked the presenter and commented on how Dublinia were very happy to be a part of these digital / heritage trails, on how Malaga was an example of a very accessible city, and how Accenture are bridging digital divide and suggested that the Presenter should make contact with them. Cllr. O’Driscoll raised the question of the cultural aspects and how museums/institutions could be integrated into the mobile app for heritage trails. Cllr. MacDonncha commented on the work of the community and voluntary groups and could these groups become involved with the Digital Trails.}

_Response:

_{The presenter responded as follows. Anti-vandalism and anti-tampering of the kiosks have been taken into consideration and measures put in place to combat this. He agreed to contact Accenture.  Regarding the mobile app for heritage trails, data analysis is currently being carried out to work with Museums and Institutions. The presenter confirmed that the tender for Digital Trail would include community lead digital trail design and any contract awardee would need to engage with community groups as part of the remit of the tender. The presenter agreed to Cllr. MacDonncha advising any voluntary group to contact the presenter directly on the matter. The presenter posted his contact details in the chat function.}

_{Copy of presentation was provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack}

_{Mary MacSweeney presented to the group on}

_{Ø   Outcomes reports of the Reset Summit held remotely on 26/11/20}

_{Ø   25 speakers, 4 panel discussions, key note speaker, 300 attendees}

_{Ø   Contextual speeches}

_{Ø   Preparatory process}

_{Ø   Key insights and observations}

_{Comments, Feedback & Questions:}

_{The Chair thanked the presenter and opened the floor for discussion.}

_{Ø   None}

_{Tourism, City Markets including Night Time Economy – Completion Report  - Ciara O hAodha}

_{Copy of the completion report was provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack}

_{Ciara O hAodha began by thanking the Chair and Members of this Working Group for their contribution and commitment during the term of the working group and presented the completion report of the Working Group including:}

_{Ø   Establishment of Working Group}

_{Ø   Duration and Reporting}

_{Ø   Terms of Reference}

_{Ø   Work Programme}

_{Ø   Membership of Working Group}

_{Ø   Meetings held to date}

_{Ø   Progress on Work Programme}

_{Ø   Proposals of Night Time Economy Strategy Implementation}

_{Comments, Feedback & Questions:}

_{Cllr. Cooney hoped that those proposals in the NT Economy Strategy Implementation which do not come under the remit of this SPC, will still be dealt with by another Department/Section/SPC}

_{International Relations and EU Affairs – Extension Report – Mary MacSweeney}

_{Copy of the extension request submitted by Cllr. Freehill and Aidan Sweeny were provided in advance of the meeting in the Mod Gov pack}

_{Mary MacSweeney gave verbal update on the extension request submitted by Cllr. Freehill and Aidan Sweeney.}

_{Comments, Feedback & Questions:}

_{The Chair thanked the presenter and opened the floor for discussion.}

_{Richard Shakespeare advised that he was not in favour of an extension, reasons being were work pressures being put on an already overstretched staffing team. Over 370 working hours, in addition to normal working day, have been spent working on the work programme of the working group including preparatory work in organising and preparing for 7 meetings and 5 workshops and the development of the organisations EU Programme Participation Strategy in a 3 month timeframe.  Staff are currently focusing on providing support to businesses significantly impacted by the global pandemic and economic crisis; through the restart grants, business continuity vouchers, trading on line vouchers and the new Fáilte Ireland grants scheme.  In addition to this the main priorities are the City Recovery Strategy and the setting up of the EU Programmes Office.  Staffing resources are not in place to take on any further work.}

_{Objections were made by Cllr. Freehill to this and a robust conversation took place. In addition, Cllr. Freehill commented on DCC’s lost international contacts and connectivity and asked why there was no information on Dublin included in the Eurocities website.  Anthony Flynn responded by confirming that DCC have very close albeit virtual contacts with San Jose and Barcelona and the International Office is in existence and operating at full capacity on international matters. Confirmation was provided on the Eurocities website which is currently being developed and is in beta form. Eurocities requested DCC this week to provide content, which is currently being prepared, and will be submitted shortly to Eurocities for uploading on their website; which is going live in August.}

_{The following Councillors/Members were in support of the working group extension request: Cllr. MacDonncha; Cllr. Cooney; Cllr. Batten and Cllr. Deacy. Cllr. Ring was not in particular favour of the extension request; stressing that the economy recovery in the City is very important and suggested that when the new EU Programmes Office was established it could report to this SPC.}

_{Cllr. MacDonncha referred to the Dublin/Belfast Economic Corridor launch which took place in March 2021 and said it was a disgrace that there was no Councillor participation or any Councillor invited to speak at it.  The Chair agreed with this and asked for it to be recorded in the minutes and it was agreed by the Chair that an official complaint by the Councillors would be made to Owen Keegan, Chief Executive, DCC.}

_{After further robust discussions, the Chair stated that one clear framework and one clear objective were required, commenting on the completion of the strategy document and the focus to now be pursuing and implementing the strategy.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7b}

_{Copy of Management Reports were provided in ModGov pack for April SPC, circulated in advance of meeting}

_{The Chair advised Members to email DCC Officials directly with any comments on the management reports.}

_{Urban Recovery, Regeneration and Revitalisation of Dublin City Strategy}

_{Copy of Aidan Sweeney’s motion together with Management’s Response Jan 2021 and Management’s subsequent update April 2021 were provided in the ModGov pack, circulated in advance of the meeting.}

_{Aidan Sweeney briefed the Members on his motion, and the Chair asked if he had any objections to Management’s response.  Aidan Sweeney did not but voiced concerns over what other cities recovery strategies are and the need for Dublin to analyse them also and capture relevant information.}

Next SPC Meeting: 14^th September 2021 (3.30pm – 5.30pm)

Council Chamber, City Hall (In line with government guidelines operating at this time)

_{Next SPC Meeting:  14th September 2021 (3.30pm – 5.30pm)}

_{Council Chamber, City Hall (In line with government guidelines operating at this time)}

_{Action items for Progression:}