Agenda and minutes

Action: Agreed

Action: Agreed Presentation noted

John- Mark McCafferty, Gary Byrne and Gavin Elliot presented.

Attendees thanked Threshold staff for their presentation.

Cllr. Pat Dunne enquired about a legal aspect - Part 4

Cllr. Christy Burke asked if a Notice to Quit has to be signed “Off” by a solicitor.

Gary Byrne explained the legal aspects of the work and explained their advocacy service. He informed meeting that a “Notice to Quit” can be signed by an authorised agency (can be a family member or a Letting Agent).

Gavin Elliot explained the Part 4 process (rolling 4 or 6 year tenancy) in response to Cllr. Dunne’s query.

·         RAS

·         PPP

·         Chair of St. Teresa’s Gardens

·         Update on Sub-Groups

·         Update on Draft Objectives 2017 Action Plan of Dublin City Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021

Action: Agreed Review of the implications for R.A.S. by the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones for May meeting.

Action: Agreed P.P.P. Report goes to the April City Council Meeting for adoption following a vote in favour.

Action: Agreed St. Teresa’s Gardens Chairperson ratification for April SPC Meeting.

Action: Agreed LECP report on a quarterly basis.

Ø  R.A.S. and Rental Protection Zones

Cllr. Doolan queried whether the legislation might have unintended consequences for tenants; however Céline Reilly, Executive Manager, advised that landlords can’t benefit financially by leaving R.A.S. She also advised that it is proposed that there be a review of the Rent Protection Zones in June and that the Councillors could make a submission at that stage.

Cllr. Pat Dunne asked if the R.A.S. section is going to accept new tenants.

Lorraine Brogan, Administrative Officer, advised that yes, DCC are accepting new applicants and landlords as there are still people looking to come into the scheme.

Ø   P.P.P. (Public Private Partnership)

Cllr’s. Doolan, D. Costello, Ni Dhálaigh, Flynn &  Connaghan, expressed concerns regarding the P.P.P. process.

Cllr’s. Doolan, D. Costello, Ni Dhálaigh, Dunne & Lyons voiced concerns about Value for Money/Financial aspects of P.P.P. model.

Cllr. Christy Burke asked if developers that failed to deliver in the past would be exempt from current/future P.P.P. projects.

Elish Ryan looked for clarification in relation to the selection/establishment  of a Project Company and guaranteed profit margins for developers.

Tony Flynn, Executive Manager sought support from members that Dublin City Council be the lead authority for Bundle 1, 500 Social Houses (Under Section 85 Local Government Act). He explained what the report was outlining, the financial implications & process for D.C.C. Two sites will be managed by Approved Housing Bodies (A.H.B.’s) and the council will get the properties back after the process/25 years. He stated that it was different from the models that D.C.C. had before.

He informed attendees that the process meets the requirement of the “Public Spending Code” & is managed by an independent Process Auditor.

James Nolan, Executive Engineer explained how previous models operated versus the current model. With regards to V.F.M., he outlined the process. He stated that they will be going to the Area Committees to provide feedback.

He stated that the Project Company would be a consortium & that there would be no guaranteed profit margin for developers. He outlined the process involved.

Tony Flynn acknowledged concerns of the group. He stated that if current process has to start again, it could add another 18 months to the process. He stated that a Cost Benefit Analysis and Economical Appraisal have to be done as part of the process.

Ø  Chair of St. Teresa’s Gardens

Tony Flynn outlined the nomination procedure.

·         Sub-Groups:

Ø  Data Protection & Housing List:

Cllr. Pat Dunne provided an update on the Data Protection group. The Councillor stated that he was of the view following the meeting with the Data Commissioners that letting addresses could be released without breaching Data Protection Legislation. However Céline Reilly explained that the Data  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Action: AgreedWorking group to be established & supported by external resources. SPC Secretariat to contact Economic Development & Enterprise & Planning and Property Development SPC’s.

Circulated to members prior to meeting.

Daíthí Downey presented.

He explained that further consultation can take place through a “Working Group”

Cllrs. Perry, Dunne, Flynn, Burke, Ni Dhálaigh, Sammon, MacVeigh, McAdams & Kathleen McKillon queried and raised concerns about Airbnb operational and legislative issues.

Daithi provided further information and suggested that further queries/points of view and/or reflections can be sent to SPC Secretariat for collating.

Members thanked Daíthi for his presentation.

Circulated to members prior to meeting.

Cllr.s Ni Dhálaigh, Burke & Dunne enquired about the June/July timeline for having families out of commercial hotels.

Cllr. Burke asked if there was any truth that D.C.C. were considering converting Housing Maintenance depots into accommodation.

Cllr. Doolan asked where the families are going to go and what’s the plan?

Eileen Gleeson, Director D.R.H.E., informed attendees that the June/July time period is still the schedule. She stated that DCC/DRHE was looking at all possibilities in relation to potential properties for accommodation and was ruling nothing out.

Eileen said that there is a plan in place for moving families from hotels, providing augmented family facilities and explained what is going to happen (referring to report previously circulated) and provided an update on the rough count sleep scheduled for April.

Action: Agreed Report noted

Circulated to members prior to meeting.

Cllr. Pat Dunne asked if there was a change in “Acquisition” policy and if so, what would be the implications for those on Bands 2 & 3?

Cllr. Ray McAdam looked for a “Program of Works” update with regard to O’Devaney Gardens.

Cllr. Doolan sought an update for the following Cherry Orchard sites, NABCO site, the upper Site.

He also looked for an update in relation to St. Michael’s Estate.

Cllr. Ni Dhalaigh enquired as to how Drimnagh Rapid build site will be allocated. 

Tony Flynn stated that D.C.C. takes a very proactive approach to “Acquisitions” and there is no change to the current policy.

He provided an O’Devaney Gardens update and explained the current process. This update provided information on the Design Team, previous consultants and Tender schedule, basic financial information and facilitating residents going forward.

He advised that Expressions of Interest have been sought for the Housing with Support scheme for site  1B, St. Michael’s estate.

He stated that D.C.C. is awaiting a “Commencement Notice” from the contractor for the NABCO site.

The other Cherry Orchard site is on program and should be ready in July.

He explained the allocation process for Rapid Builds.

·         HAP Briefing

Action: Agreed Information packs to be distributed to members.

Circulated to members prior to meeting.

Cllr. Pat Dunne asked if SPC members can have informational packs.

Cllr. Ni Dhálaigh asked why can’t people be put automatically on the transfer list when applying for H.A.P. and is it policy if you are on Rent Allowance, you must transfer to H.A.P?

Cllr. Tina MacVeigh enquired if an Opt Out system can be used.

Lorraine Brogan, Administrative Officer, explained how the process works in relation to the transfer list and advised that documentation on this was provided to applicants when they applied.

She stated that people will be phased over from Rent Allowance to H.A.P. and they don’t have to move over to it now. Lorraine explained the benefits of the system that was introduced on the 1^st March..

Action: Agreed Bring the Amended Scheme of Lettings 2013 to the Council for adoption.

Céline Reilly explained the reason for the Amended Scheme of Lettings.

Cllr. Doolan on behalf of members thanked all involved in the process.

Action: Agreed: A report to the SPC at a future meeting.

Members thanked/acknowledged the work that Mary Hayes had completed to date.

Cllr. Connaghan & Cllr. Burke & Winnie McDonagh expressed their concerns over electrical supply issues.

Céline informed the attendees that a Technical Team (Electrical Services) will visit affected sites and carry out an assessment of the supply issues.

That this Housing SPC provides data on the number of households (type of disability) allocated an appropriate home.  There should in future be regular reporting (such as twice yearly) regarding the number of households housed in the preceding period.  

Action: Agreed  Motion Carried.

That this Housing SPC provides data on the number of households (type of disability) allocated an appropriate home.  There should in future be regular reporting (such as twice yearly) regarding the number of households housed in the preceding period.  

Lillian explained the context of the Motion

That, following the historic and long overdue recognition of Traveller Ethnicity in Dail Eireann, this SPC agrees that as a matter of urgency, the full budget allocated to Dublin City Council for Traveller Accommodation be drawn down and employed.

Action: AgreedMotion Carried.

That, following the historic and long overdue recognition of Traveller Ethnicity in Dail Eireann, this SPC agrees that as a matter of urgency, the full budget allocated to Dublin City Council for Traveller Accommodation be drawn down and employed.

Céline Reilly stated that there is regular reporting on the schemes and the stages they are at. She informed members that the information is available in reports circulated.

Tony Flynn stated that T.A.P. is now a part of the Housing Programme. It’s a rolling 3 year programme. He explained the process and how funds are recouped.

·         SPC date review

Agreed:e-mail to be circulated to decide/explore SPC date/agenda/start time going forward after April’s meeting.

Cllr. Daithí Doolan

CHAIRPERSON