Agenda and minutes

Minutes of Meeting 16^th April

Agreed

Matters arising:

Cllr. Roe asked about the position of a New VATSU Officer.  Assistant Chief Executive responded that there were a number of changes and restructuring happening within the City Council and early in New Year would hope to report back.

SPC Meeting Introduction

Report and presentation given by Lorraine Brogan, Senior Executive Officer, Chief Executive’s Dept. (Slides to be circulated after meeting)

Main points:

·         Motions need to be submitted 11 days in advance and Emergency Motions should not be submitted to SPC meetings.

·         Ethics declaration – complete and return to Lorraine

·         Prohibited from accepting gifts or fees while a member of SPC

·         Send on Code of Conduct from Chief Executive’s Dept.

·         Send on Standing Orders from Chief Executives Dept.

            No questions arose from members.

Planning Function

Deirdre Scully, City Planner gave presentation assisted by Malachy Bradley, Deputy City Planner & input by Emer Uí Fhátharta, Deputy City Planner.

 (Report and presentation circulated prior to meeting)

Discussion followed and Deirdre, Malachy & Emer answered questions raised by the Members.

·      The decision on the application to amend the Poolbeg West SDZ to remove the reservation for the Eastern By-Pass and replace on a permanent basis with Port Park has been deferred by An Bord Pleanála.

·      Additions to the Record of Protected Structures – this process cannot be speeded up.  The RPS & ACA process is prescribed in the Planning and Development Act and takes a lot of resources and time.  DCC will bring forward a prioritisation of proposed additions to the SPC in early 2025.  Certain parts of the city under represented, added pre-Georgian & early Modern and the prioritisation will seek to address this. 

·      It is not proposed to prepare any Local Area Plans (LAPs) under the 2000 Act as, taking into consideration the length of time to prepare anLAP-50 weeks; and the guillotine in the 2023 Act for LAPs means it is not a good use of resources.  Instead a route similar to the method for the Jamestown will be used; where a non-statutory Masterplan will be prepared and followed by a variation.

·      RZLD annual review process with 140 sites in January 2025.  A number were appealed to An Bord Pleanála and these have now been determined and the Department will now amend map accordingly.  RZLT will supersede the Vacant Sites levy over a period of time. 

Planning Act Briefing

(Presentation circulated prior to meeting)

Deirdre Scully, City Planner gave presentation assisted by Malachy Bradley, Deputy City Planner.

             Key Changes- Forward Planning

•       10 year Development Plan cycle rather than 6, with more time and stages in the process of making a Development Plan, must be materially consistent with NFP, Marine Framework, RSES and NPSs.

•       Land is only zoned at Development Plan level (not at local plan); plan must contain specific strategies

•       Local Area Plans replaced with 3 new local plan types- urban and priority and coordinated

•       National Planning Statements replace Sc28 Ministerial Guidelines.

•       New Advisory Board for the OPR.

•       Strategic Development Zone process to be replaced with Urban Development Zones and a review of existing SDZs to be undertaken by Minister within 12 months of commencement of this section. 

Key Changes- Development Management

•            Streamlined categories of consent for all types of applications

•            Timelines for all decisions including for An Coimisiún

•             Environmental Assessment and their role and scope clarified

•                    Judicial Review  clarity

–           (i) that all administrative processes must be exhausted first

–           (ii) removal of “leave” stage (to speed process up)

–           (iii) clock on permissions is “frozen” whilst case is considered

–           (iv) Clarity on standing rights of Residents Associations

–           (v) Courts can remit back to An Coimisiún

•            An Bord Pleanála restructured with new Governing Board and Commissioners

              Next Steps

•       New Regulations required to implement the Act, these are under preparation.

•       Anticipated there will be public consultation on Exempted Development aspect of the Regulations.

•       Dept. to publish an Implementation Strategy setting out schedule for commencement of various parts of the Act.

•       A training programme will be delivered for local authorities and elected members.

•       Will be internal working groups to assist in roll-out of each stage within the organisation once the Implementation Strategy is published.

·         Guidance document for clarification needed. 

Discussion followed and Deirdre answered questions raised by the Members.

       Concerns raised by the Members in relation to strengthen power of Planning Regulator, Ministerial power and their ability to intervene.

       Agreed: Planning Act will be a standing item on agenda for 2025 so Members can be notified about training and public consultations and Key updates for the Council.

Two year Development plan Progress Report

(Presentation circulated prior to meeting)

Presentation by Malachy Bradley, Deputy City Planner.

Main points:

•       Summary of what’s in the Two-Year Progress Report 2024.

•       Progress made on objectives.

•       Variations of Development Plan.

•       Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas.

•       City performance indicators.

•       Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Monitoring.

        Next steps:

2025 Development Plan Core Strategy Report on the City Performance Indicators will be   prepared and presented to the City Council.

         As this is an annual requirement, it may be compared with this year’s indicators to ascertain

         trends.      

 2026Publication of Baseline Report for the next Development Plan Review. This is     required not later than 4 years after the adoption of the original plan. Newly available information will be taken into account at that stage to ensure a robust evidence base is established for the next plan.

          Discussion followed

         Agreed: Link to full report to be circulated to all Members.

            Enforcement figures to be circulated.

Motion in the name of Cllr. Máire Devine

This Committee welcomes the recent published report by the respected medical journal "The Lancet" stating unequivocally that gambling poses a huge global threat to public health. We request that this report and this motion be forwarded to the Planning and Urban Regeneration SPC and to the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority so that they are informed of this global threat when making pertinent decisions that fall within their terms of reference.

Link to article:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/24/gambling-poses-huge-global-threat-to-public-health-experts-warn-lancet-commission

Motion in the name of Cllr. Máire Devine

This Committee welcomes the recent published report by the respected medical journal "The Lancet" stating unequivocally that gambling poses a huge global threat to public health. We request that this report and this motion be forwarded to the Planning and Urban Regeneration SPC and to the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority so that they are informed of this global threat when making pertinent decisions that fall within their terms of reference.

Deirdre Scully response:

Cannot comment on individual cases but looking at the boarder picture, what objectives could be included in future plans and also the, whether such changes are exempt or not.  Currently assessed on a case by case when lodged as this is a legally permissible use. This issue needs to be raised at national level, including as part of the preparation of the new Planning Regulations; for which we have been advised there will be a public consultation stage.  . The Planning team is about to procure a retail study for local suburban shops and will include an examination of this issue.  This study is part of research process for the next development plan.  Councillor Cat O’Driscoll – Chairperson suggested input from Sláinte Care Communities

A.O.B.

None

1.    Dates for next year meetings:

25^th February @ 2pm

24^th /29^th April @2pm?

           24^th June @ 2pm

           30^th September @ 2pm

           25^th November @ 2pm

Date of next meeting:

Tuesday 25^th February @ 2pm

The time of 2pm was agreed upon and dates confirmed:

25^th February; 29^th April; 24^th June; 30^th September; 25^th November.

Councillor Cat O’Driscoll

Chairperson

Tuesday 26^th November