Agenda item

Motions

Meeting of South East Area Committee, Monday 13th September, 2021 2.30 pm (Item 7.)

Emergency Motion 31 from Councillor Daniel Ceitinn

That Dublin City Council:

- notes with alarm the rat infestations which came to the fore during the summer in the new York Street flats despite works to contain the problem,

- acknowledges the regular rat infestations faced by City Council tenants as an ongoing public health hazard,

- recognises the work done to combat these infestations in some flat complexes with work done to bin storage areas, maintenance and improvement of public spaces, and other works done to combat infestations,

- regrets that the dispersion of these works has been constrained by resources and, consequently, has been uneven with consequences in particular for, but not limited to, older complexes,

- further recognises the consequent neglect to the remaining complexes which has damaged the City Council's reputation as a landlord,

- deems the current public health response arrangement with the HSE as unaccountable and recognises that pest control is the responsibility of the landlord,

- commits to expanding the City Council's in-house pest control capabilities,

- resolves to re-examine the Housing Maintenance budget in the context of the forthcoming budget to combat neglect and expand pest control, and

- calls on the Lord Mayor to ensure that a report addressing these matters is presented within 2 months.

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee agrees to seek agreement with Irish Water on the establishment of a Community Liaison Committee including residents and Councillors along with Dublin City Council and Irish Water that can deal with local issues arising from the operation of the plant.

Motion 2 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee requests an update on the status of the disposal agreement with Bective LTC to facilitate the development of the Dodder Greenway.

Motion 3 from Councillors Dermot Lacey and Claire Byrne

This Committee supports the initiative of the Ballsbridge Tidy Towns Group for the development of a community garden at the ESB owned lands at Beatty’s Avenue as outlined in the document circulated with this Motion and requests the Manager to write to the ESB expressing our support for the proposal and requesting their support and co-operation for same. The Committee further requests the Community Development Team to give whatever support it can to this initiative. See attachment in pack.

Motion 4 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of DCC South East Area, calls on the City Manager to initiate the process for a Sandymount Local Area plan to coincide with the Dublin City Council development plan. This area of Dublin is a unique residential location with many important amenities and historical structures. It is a unique village business and residential area that is in very great need of a proper local area plan that would protect this vibrant area and its environs into the future and give it a proper planning process.

Motion 5 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of the South East area call on the elected members and the executive to begin a process of delisting from the order of protected structures certain inner city flat complexes. Many of these flat complexes are not fit for purpose and they need entire modernisation. In many cases, certain sections of these flat complexes need to be considered for demolition, particularly where we have a number of examples of their architecture.

Many of these flat complexes were designed by Herbert Simms. Indeed, Herbert Simms was mindful of the dreadful conditions at the time that many of our city dwellers were living in, particularly the tenement slums. If Herbert Simms were alive today, I am sure he would have no hesitation and doubt in coming to the conclusion that many of these flat complexes are now unfit for purpose notwithstanding their architectural merit. Housing is about people and at this present moment a large amount of our tenants and residents are suffering greatly in flat complexes such as Oliver Bond, Pearse House, Markievicz House, McDonagh House, Whitefriar Gardens etc., to mention but a few.

We need to reconstitute these entire blocks and there is a unique opportunity here to make proper interventions and bring these flat complexes up to a human living standard.

Architectural sensibilities and aesthetics should not be imposed on our residents that is going to lead to further suffering.

Like Herbert Simms, we need to think anew and create a better future for our tenants in these dreadful flat complexes.

Simply retro-fitting many of these buildings is a complete waste of time, rather grandiose and an appeasement to a certain professional clique who don’t live in these flats and these damp unsafe inhuman conditions.

Motion 6 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of DCC agrees to set up a city centre special committee to deal with the ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour, public safety, assaults and criminality that is now widespread in our entire city centre and indeed throughout our city.

Motion 7 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of DCC call on the Commemorations committee of Dublin City Council to erect a plaque in the honour of the first RIC policeman to be killed during 1916 rising at Dublin Castle Gates on Castle Street. (Constable James O Brien, from Limerick)

In recent years there has been a wreath laying process here on Cork Hill. It would now be appropriate that a permanent marker would identify this person. It is also important to note that many in the RIC worked as secret agents for the cause of Irish freedom and the Irish Republic. Many of these individuals were unknown and unidentified for various reasons.

It is time to honour all of our dead and those who died in the conflicts.

Motion 8 from Councillor Mary Freehill

More than 316 bus stops in the Dutch city of Utrecht have been transformed into mini urban havens for bees. The bus stops, which are owned and managed by operator RBL Outdoor on behalf of the local government, have been installed with green roofs to help meet the city’s requirements for healthy urban living. Green roofs help to capture fine dust and rainwater and encourage biodiversity by providing ideal conditions for bees to thrive.

I successfully tabled a motion to this effect to the review of the Development Plan asking the NTA to allow us use our bus stops in Dublin. In the meantime, it is agreed that DCC consult with NTA to set up a pilot area from Grand Canal rough Harold’s Cross Rd to Terenure village to provide green roofs on all bus stops on this route as a first step in using these bus stop roofs for biodiversity.

Motion 9 from Councillor Mary Freehill

This committee has on a number of occasions unanimously agreed that the gate at Rathmines Town Hall leading to Gulistan be kept open during the day. Despite this, our decision has been ignored, it is agreed yet again that the Council provide access to the Gulistan Bring Centre from Rathmines Road.

Motion 10 from Councillor Mary Freehill

Recognising the very serious lack of publicly accessible playing fields for GAA and soccer in the Dublin 6 area, this committee agrees to establish a working group to investigate all possible opportunities and recommend solution. The group will comprise of personnel from Parks Dept., Sports Officer and elected members who will work in consultation with local sports clubs to examine ways to facilitate young people in the area who have very poor access to sports facilities locally. It is agreed that this group reports back to this committee by November LAC.

Motion 11 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to meet with the residents of Glovers Court flats to discuss the range of ongoing issues that the residents in the complex are experiencing which includes:

· Rats

· Inadequate Bin Storage

· Smells and dirty water in the flats and the along the shared corridors

· Trees in need of pruning

· Damp

· Poor drainage

· Anti -social behaviour inside and outside the complex

· Overall redevelopment of the complex

These issues have been raised repeatedly yet they still persist and immediate action needs to be taken.

Motion 12 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the Area Manager to meet with the residents of York Street flats to discuss the range of issues that the complex are experiencing.

Motion 13 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee agrees to write to the owners of Brown Thomas requesting that they engage in detailed discussions with Dublin City Council with a view to finding a solution for exiting the Brown Thomas Car Park so that we can facilitate the further pedestrianisation of South William Street.

Motion 14 from Councillor Danny Byrne

That this area committee would agree to see how we can progress an initiative to have a policy to have a community and family memorials policy, which would involve family memorial benches and tree planting in a park, cemetery, street or other public space (subject to the availability of suitable locations). See attachment in agenda pack.

Motion 15 from Councillor Danny Byrne

That’s this area committee would agree to request our parks department to conduct an audit throughout the south east area with the aim to make provision for more allotments and community gardens. This would have numerous social, health, economic and environmental benefits.

Motion 16 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That the Traffic Dept. set out their plan to provide bus arrival times at all bus stops and also explain the criteria currently used.

Furthermore to facilitate west/east movement in e.g. Dublin 6 and 4 who do so many of No. 18 bus stops not have the expected bus time of arrival, furthermore because this is a contracted service, it’s not on bus connects time table. This is a serious impediment to encourage people leave their cars at home and use public transport when they cannot plan their journey.

Motion 17 from Councillor Mary Freehill

I have tabled many motions in relation to a tree outside 35 Mt. Drummond Square that when in full bloom completely covers the telegraph poles and their connections. This has resulted in neighbours losing broadband connections. Despite my efforts would the Parks Dept. explain why nothing is done about this tree?

Motion 18 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee supports the community initiative to commemorate the writer, Christy Brown. The small green close to his family home on Ferns Road in Crumlin is under the control of our Parks Section. Local community groups are keen to develop this as a community garden with an appropriate memorial.

Motion 19 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee asks that our Parks Section maintains and improves the public greens in Crumlin and Kimmage to the same standard as the local parks. These greens were incorporated in the Herbert Simms design of the Public Housing Scheme and form the shape of the Clonmacnoise Cross. These greens were to designed to provide a public amenity and should be seen as "Parks without railings" and maintained as such. Local community groups are keen to work with our Parks Section to achieve this objective.

Motion 20 from Councillor Anne Feeney

To call upon this committee to request Dublin City Council Parks and the South East Area Office to jointly lead an inclusive working group to address the ongoing anti-social behaviour issues in Mount Argus Park. These issues are resulting in a much loved park being abused and becoming an increasingly hostile and unsafe environment for many local residents, including young children. Gardaí are called all too often and do respond, but longer term solutions are required.

Motion 21 from Councillor Anne Feeney

That this committee calls upon the Manager to address the ongoing illegal parking and congestion issues at Kimmage Grove. The popularity of Larkview Football Club (DCC property) with limited/no parking has resulted in congestion, parking on green spaces and causing a blockage at the entrance to this small estate and its cul de sacs. Both the club and representatives of the residents would like the possibility of flexible bollards put in place or other measures to deter illegal and irresponsible parking.

Motion 22 from Councillor Anne Feeney

That this committee calls upon the Manager to arrange deep cleaning of the Swan Leisure Plaza forecourt (Rathmines), including cleaning of the public seating currently available. The area is very dirty, largely from bird droppings. In addition, enhancement of the plaza is badly needed for this much used and central amenity in Rathmines. Enhancements should include more seating and cycle stands, planters and bins.

Motion 23 from Councillor Anne Feeney

That this committee requests the Manager to conduct a survey and study amongst businesses, local resident groups and other appropriate stakeholders to ascertain the positives and negatives following Covid related initiatives in local areas, with a view to continuing or reintroducing in Spring/Summer 2022 what worked well and added value to our communities. This study should reach beyond the city centre area and into our urban villages.

Motion 24 from Councillor Pat Dunne

This area committee notes the enthusiasm that the extended public swimming hours, this summer, in Crumlin Swimming Pool received. Given this public support we call for these extended hours to be continued on a permanent basis.

Motion 25 from Councillor Daniel Ceitinn

That this area committee calls for the City Manager to ensure that the football clubs that use Ringsend Park are able to develop club membership and increase capacity of the park to ensure that this happens.

Motion 26 from Councillor Daniel Ceitinn

That this area committee calls on the Council Management to ensure that the football clubs that currently use Ringsend Park are able to develop and meet the local demand by the local community before clubs that are not current park users and use up the limited capacity of the park.

Motion 27 from Councillor Kevin Donoghue

This area committee agrees to trial the installation of bicycle repair stations in the area committee. Such stations should include a variety of repair tools and pumps for cyclists.

Motion 28 from Councillor James Geoghegan

That the South East Area Committee agrees that a review for proposals for the future of Sandymount Green, involving a consultation similar to the one taking place for Capel Street and Parliament Street, is commenced, now that that the pedestrianisation trial initiated by Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association, and local businesses has ended; that the committee agrees that the objective of this review is to explore whether some or all of the changes introduced in the trial could be made permanent.

Motion 29 from Councillor James Geoghegan

That the South East Area Committee agrees that a presentation be given at our next area committee meeting on all flood relief measures along Sandymount Strand.

Motion 30 from Councillor Hazel Chu

That this area committee agree to open the access through Gulistan Depot so there can be thoroughfare between Mount Pleasant Avenue and Rathmines. Understand that the access was closed due to previous health and safety assessment during Covid. I would ask this committee to determine what specifically the risks are and how to mitigate to ensure that we can provide more avenues of travel by foot especially in light of the new school service that will be going into the former Rathmines DIT site.

Motion 31 from Councillor Carolyn Moore

That this committee will give full support to progressing the community endeavour to transform the stretch of public green space from 155 to 153 Leinster Road into a ‘Biodiversity Pathway’ - acknowledging the proposal would offer community gain, aesthetic and educational benefits, along with biodiversity enhancement for an urbanised part of the city and the improvement of an area that attracts litter and complaints from local residents and requires maintenance by DCC.

Minutes:

Motions

Emergency Motion 1 from Councillor Daniel Ceitinn taken with Motions 11 and 12