Agenda item

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests an update on the flood protection measures planned for Strand Road / Beach Road, Sandymount in addition to the measures already approved for the southern end of the road and a time scale for all measures to be implemented along the entire length of both roads.

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That a traffic safety audit is carried out in College Green around Trinity College that focusses on safety for cyclists and pedestrians.  There have been a considerable number of accidents sustained by both cyclists and pedestrians in this area.  It seems that the problem may be to do with LUAS tracks.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That as a matter of urgency safety hand rails be erected along the steps of entrance to City Hall.  When this issue was raised in the past, the reason given for no action was because it’s a listed building.  May I refer you to the ‘South Georgian Dublin Townhouse re-Use Guidance Document’ which addressed such challenges and found solutions for modern use of our listed buildings?  The absence of hand rails makes the use of these steps lethal and requires to be urgently addressed.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of DCC South East Area Committee calls on the BID Company / We Are Dublin Town to remove the offensive sign ‘Welcome to the Grafton Quarter’ that now hangs masquerading as Christmas decoration in Dublin’s historic Grafton Street.   There has been huge public outcry with regards this attempt at tacky rebranding of an entire area.  This is over commercialisation and is not in keeping with the historic place names and the cultural identity of this area.

 

It is in breach of guidelines in relation to historical places and urban heritage and also in breach of the ARA Architectural conservationarea.

 

Also, in future, that a pre-planning arrangement be made with DCC Planners prior to any Christmas lights being erected in any part of the city by the BID company as further examples of this blatant disregard for historical place and name is to be seen in Henry Street where again the same company has tried to rebrand the area and re-commercialise the area as the Dublin 1 area again using the guise of Christmas decoration.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of the South East Area Committee calls on Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the Peter McVerry Trust to stand down their intended homeless accommodation intended for the Avalon House on Aungier Street.  This initiative was conducted in entire secrecy.  Very few people in the local neighbourhood knew about this or were consulted with regards the placing of one of the biggest homeless ad hoc facilities in the city. 

 

In this area, we already have an over subscription of Homeless/Temporary accommodation services: Salvation Army, De Paul at Peter’s Place, McVerry Trust at Bow Lane East.  In the immediate vicinity we have Harcourt Street Simon and also the Iveagh Trust hostel on Bride Street. The area itself has many social issues that have yet to be addressed including poverty, drug abuse and addiction, rampant anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging to name but a few.

 

This homeless hostel is to be situated in close proximity to a junior school and crèche as well as the local church. 

 

If this facility is to go ahead it will simply overwhelm the area and have a catastrophic impact on any progress, social or economic that this area can possibly make.  The fact that there was no consultation here, that this facility is simply being dumped at this location in the South East Area beggars belief.   It undermines trust in DRHE, and has led to a great distrust of the McVerry Trust and its operations.

 

Motion 6 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting calls on the manager to formally write to Hines Ireland, to express this committee’s grave concern with regards the attack the company made on the historic street traders of Grafton Street.  All too often it is easy to pick on street traders and undermine their livelihood and their tradition. These traditions have to be protected and encouraged because they make a city.   They add to a city.  And they are very much a part of an essential Dublin.  The culture of street trading is part of Dublin’s cultural identity from Camden Street to Thomas Street to Moore Street to the Fruit and Veg. Market and indeed the Iveagh Market.  There is a rich legacy. It is also part of Dublin’s economy, in that this is an enterprise, a business. A livelihood for many.  The properties and the social capital and the well being created by street traders be it the Christmas Market at Henry Street or the flea market is rich and vibrant and an attack on one is an attack on all.

 

It is high time that Dublin City Council defended casual trading, street trading, market trading and the right to exist and make a living alongside other forms of business.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Kevin Donoghue

That the area committee would invite the Inland Waterways Ireland Association of Ireland to make a presentation to the area committee on the work it does and the objectives it has for the future. 

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Tara Deacy

Following on from my motion at October’s local area committee meeting regarding Kimmage village rejuvenation, I ask that this committee agrees a proportion of the Discretionary Funds be directed towards a feasibility study that could be advised by residents, businesses, and community groups in terms of Capital Programme and other improvements needed in Kimmage village.  I ask in the meantime that this committee support implementing the Shop Front Scheme in Kimmage as has been implemented in other areas and begin the consultation process with interested parties.

 

Motion 9 from Councillor Tara Deacy

In light of Bus Connects proposals and the proposed 20% of the roads budget being allocated to cycling, can this committee agree to support a motion for the Dublin Bikes Scheme to be extended to the Kimmage / Rathmines area.

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee, in light of the recent increase in toll fares for the Tom Clarke Bridge, calls on the Area Manager to investigate the possibility of introducing a concession for local residents, to explore how we can improve the pedestrian and cycling facilities on the bridge to make it safer, and to also look at increasing the community fund in line me with the toll increase.

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to review the response time of Housing Maintenance Section when issues such as water shortages occur in Dublin City Council housing complexes.

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to bring a stop to the process of removing public bins as a solution to illegal dumping, and to instead look for alternative measures to address the problem.

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Anne Feeney

That this Committee agrees that a (twice yearly at a minimum) scheduled ‘deep clean’ of kerbsides is advised to local Councillors by end of January 2020 and that Councillors are advised of the more regular road and pavement cleaning schedule for all roads in the Kimmage-Rathmines Local Electoral Area.

 

Motion 14 from Councillors Mary Freehill, Pat Dunne, Deirdre Conroy and Tara Deacy

The City Council commitment to make a Local Area Plan for Harold’s Cross area has been listed since 2011 in the Dublin City Development Plan, the reason for the listing was the number of planning decisions and potential applications that would considerably increase the population of Harold’s Cross.  Since then Harold’s Cross is well on the way to having a population increase of 50%.  So far no spatial assessment of the infrastructure of this medieval village has taken place to plan for the needs of this increased population and also to address movement of traffic in the area.  It is therefore agreed that work will commence early in 2020 on the Local Area Plan for Harold’s Cross.

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Danny Byrne

That this council engages with all stakeholders to ensure that decisions to erect signs such as “Welcome to Grafton Quarters” are avoided in the future. 

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee calls upon our Derelict Sites Section to inspect the Crumlin Shopping Centre site on the Crumlin Road with a view to establishing if the site can be considered derelict.  This once thriving shopping centre has been run down for over a decade with most of the units empty.  Work commenced on refurbishment but stopped in the summer of 2018. Since then the site has been surrounded by unsightly hoardings.

 

Motion 17 from Councillor Deirdre Conroy

That this committee will agree to pausing the Poddle FAS scheme in order to avoid reduction of the park land, felling of trees and building a wall through the park, as the local community groups have requested an alternative preventative and mitigating measures in advance of this extensive proposed FAS scheme.

 

The local community group state that there is no trash screen or alarm assigned to Kimmage section of the Poddle River and request that these preventative and mitigating measures as well as basic maintenance to clear and clean the open channels, be put in place.

 

Motion 18 from Councillor Deirdre Conroy

That this committee would agree to Protected Structure planning applications being uploaded first on to the online system, as they are currently uploaded c. 10 days before deadline for observation submission, due to the extent of documents involved.  These applications are more complex than standard applications and include additional conservation reports, 10 copies are required rather than 6 copies for other applications and it is not possible for all those concerned to organize transport into Wood Quay and queue for access to the file.

 

Minutes:

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests an update on the flood protection measures planned for Strand Road / Beach Road, Sandymount in addition to the measures already approved for the southern end of the road and a time scale for all measures to be implemented along the entire length of both roads.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That a traffic safety audit is carried out in College Green around Trinity College that focusses on safety for cyclists and pedestrians.  There have been a considerable number of accidents sustained by both cyclists and pedestrians in this area.  It seems that the problem may be to do with LUAS tracks.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That as a matter of urgency safety hand rails be erected along the steps of entrance to City Hall.  When this issue was raised in the past, the reason given for no action was because it’s a listed building.  May I refer you to the ‘South Georgian Dublin Townhouse re-Use Guidance Document’ which addressed such challenges and found solutions for modern use of our listed buildings?  The absence of hand rails makes the use of these steps lethal and requires to be urgently addressed.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Mannix Flynn (taken with Motion 15)

That this meeting of DCC South East Area Committee calls on the BID Company / We Are Dublin Town to remove the offensive sign ‘Welcome to the Grafton Quarter’ that now hangs masquerading as Christmas decoration in Dublin’s historic Grafton Street.   There has been huge public outcry with regards this attempt at tacky rebranding of an entire area.  This is over commercialisation and is not in keeping with the historic place names and the cultural identity of this area.

 

It is in breach of guidelines in relation to historical places and urban heritage and also in breach of the ARA Architectural conservationarea.

 

Also, in future, that a pre-planning arrangement be made with DCC Planners prior to any Christmas lights being erected in any part of the city by the BID company as further examples of this blatant disregard for historical place and name is to be seen in Henry Street where again the same company has tried to rebrand the area and re-commercialise the area as the Dublin 1 area again using the guise of Christmas decoration.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of the South East Area Committee calls on Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the Peter McVerry Trust to stand down their intended homeless accommodation intended for the Avalon House on Aungier Street.  This initiative was conducted in entire secrecy.  Very few people in the local neighbourhood knew about this or were consulted with regards the placing of one of the biggest homeless ad hoc facilities in the city. 

 

In this area, we already have an over subscription of Homeless/Temporary accommodation services: Salvation Army, De Paul at Peter’s Place, McVerry Trust at Bow Lane East.  In the immediate vicinity we have Harcourt Street Simon and also the Iveagh Trust hostel on Bride Street. The area itself has many social issues that have yet to be addressed including poverty, drug abuse and addiction, rampant anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging to name but a few.

This homeless hostel is to be situated in close proximity to a junior school and crèche as well as the local church. 

 

If this facility is to go ahead it will simply overwhelm the area and have a catastrophic impact on any progress, social or economic that this area can possibly make.  The fact that there was no consultation here, that this facility is simply being dumped at this location in the South East Area beggars belief.   It undermines trust in DRHE, and has led to a great distrust of the McVerry Trust and its operations.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 6 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting calls on the manager to formally write to Hines Ireland, to express this committee’s grave concern with regards the attack the company made on the historic street traders of Grafton Street.  All too often it is easy to pick on street traders and undermine their livelihood and their tradition. These traditions have to be protected and encouraged because they make a city.   They add to a city.  And they are very much a part of an essential Dublin.  The culture of street trading is part of Dublin’s cultural identity from Camden Street to Thomas Street to Moore Street to the Fruit and Veg. Market and indeed the Iveagh Market.  There is a rich legacy. It is also part of Dublin’s economy, in that this is an enterprise, a business. A livelihood for many.  The properties and the social capital and the well being created by street traders be it the Christmas Market at Henry Street or the flea market is rich and vibrant and an attack on one is an attack on all.

 

It is high time that Dublin City Council defended casual trading, street trading, market trading and the right to exist and make a living alongside other forms of business.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Kevin Donoghue

That the area committee would invite the Inland Waterways Ireland Association of Ireland to make a presentation to the area committee on the work it does and the objectives it has for the future. 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Tara Deacy

Following on from my motion at October’s local area committee meeting regarding Kimmage village rejuvenation, I ask that this committee agrees a proportion of the Discretionary Funds be directed towards a feasibility study that could be advised by residents, businesses, and community groups in terms of Capital Programme and other improvements needed in Kimmage village.  I ask in the meantime that this committee support implementing the Shop Front Scheme in Kimmage as has been implemented in other areas and begin the consultation process with interested parties.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 9 from Councillor Tara Deacy

In light of Bus Connects proposals and the proposed 20% of the roads budget being allocated to cycling, can this committee agree to support a motion for the Dublin Bikes Scheme to be extended to the Kimmage / Rathmines area.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee, in light of the recent increase in toll fares for the Tom Clarke Bridge, calls on the Area Manager to investigate the possibility of introducing a concession for local residents, to explore how we can improve the pedestrian and cycling facilities on the bridge to make it safer, and to also look at increasing the community fund in line me with the toll increase.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to review the response time of Housing Maintenance Section when issues such as water shortages occur in Dublin City Council housing complexes.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to bring a stop to the process of removing public bins as a solution to illegal dumping, and to instead look for alternative measures to address the problem.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Anne Feeney

That this Committee agrees that a (twice yearly at a minimum) scheduled ‘deep clean’ of kerbsides is advised to local Councillors by end of January 2020 and that Councillors are advised of the more regular road and pavement cleaning schedule for all roads in the Kimmage-Rathmines Local Electoral Area.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 14 from Councillors Mary Freehill, Pat Dunne, Deirdre Conroy, Tara Deacy and Anne Feeney.

The City Council commitment to make a Local Area Plan for Harold’s Cross area has been listed since 2011 in the Dublin City Development Plan, the reason for the listing was the number of planning decisions and potential applications that would considerably increase the population of Harold’s Cross.  Since then Harold’s Cross is well on the way to having a population increase of 50%.  So far no spatial assessment of the infrastructure of this medieval village has taken place to plan for the needs of this increased population and also to address movement of traffic in the area.  It is therefore agreed that work will commence early in 2020 on the Local Area Plan for Harold’s Cross.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Danny Byrne (taken with Motion 4)

That this council engages with all stakeholders to ensure that decisions to erect signs such as “Welcome to Grafton Quarters” are avoided in the future. 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee calls upon our Derelict Sites Section to inspect the Crumlin Shopping Centre site on the Crumlin Road with a view to establishing if the site can be considered derelict.  This once thriving shopping centre has been run down for over a decade with most of the units empty.  Work commenced on refurbishment but stopped in the summer of 2018. Since then the site has been surrounded by unsightly hoardings.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 17 from Councillor Deirdre Conroy

That this committee will agree to pausing the Poddle FAS scheme in order to avoid reduction of the park land, felling of trees and building a wall through the park, as the local community groups have requested an alternative preventative and mitigating measures in advance of this extensive proposed FAS scheme.

 

The local community group state that there is no trash screen or alarm assigned to Kimmage section of the Poddle River and request that these preventative and mitigating measures as well as basic maintenance to clear and clean the open channels, be put in place.

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 18 from Councillor Deirdre Conroy

That this committee would agree to Protected Structure planning applications being uploaded first on to the online system, as they are currently uploaded c. 10 days before deadline for observation submission, due to the extent of documents involved.  These applications are more complex than standard applications and include additional conservation reports, 10 copies are required rather than 6 copies for other applications and it is not possible for all those concerned to organize transport into Wood Quay and queue for access to the file.

Order: Refer to Planning Strategic Policy Committee.