Agenda item

Motion 1 from Councillor Anne Feeney

To ask the manager to consider a planned approach (either within the area or in conjunction with other area managers) to deal with the proliferation of graffiti / tagging in the area, both on municipal and state property but also on business and residential property with consideration of the following:

 

a)     Providing practical support to small businesses and residential areas to remove graffiti from their property.

b)     Launch an awareness programme in secondary schools, youth clubs, etc. Similar to the Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána 'Think don't Tag' campaign launched this year for junior school children.

c)     Initiate discussions with an Garda Síochána to increase surveillance and enforcement to highlight that this is not a victimless crime.

d)     Consider a registration system for the purchase of spray can paint

e)     Provide more opportunities for the promotion and proliferation of street art in a planned way.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee agrees that a review of traffic issues on Belmont Avenue be conducted with a view to resolving the chaos that occurs at various times during the day.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests the manager to clarify when and how the designation for the area on the northern side of Ashton's Pub running up towards Vergemount Park was changed from "Vergemount" to "Clonskeagh Road".

The committee further requests the manager to clarify if she is aware of the huge difficulty this has caused for residents of "Vergemount", who previously had residential visitor discs for "Vergemount" now having to compete with residents with discs for the much longer Clonskeagh Road and if she will arrange for the previous designation of "Vergemount" to be reinstated to enable the originally agreed parking scheme to be back in place.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That the Community Department along with the Community Garda examine the problems currently being experienced around the Maxwell Lane area (details attached) and report on what measure will be taken to alleviate the problems.

Maxwell Lane seems to have become a magnet for antisocial behaviour in the past year or so. Fights, rows, drinking, drug selling, attacks on local houses, stealing palettes from local shops, and illegal dumping have all taken place in recent months. One family fled their house to Rathmines Garda station on a Sunday afternoon in August due to a violent argument metres from their kitchen window (topics included: acts committed in prison, drugs, stealing girlfriends (with names said aloud), etc.). Last Saturday night two houses were egged by a gang of about 10 hooded teenagers. As the homeowners were cleaning the debris from their windows and walls, the gang attacked again this time targeting the residents. While relatively minor in isolation these act have the combined effect of making the laneway a source of concern and at times, genuine fear.

I am not sure of an easy solution, but part of the problem seems to be the fact that the lane can be used as through-way with access on both ends. Also, because it is a secluded lane way, people can act there with relative impunity. Dublin 6 is, of course, full of such lanes and alleys but it seems Maxwell Lane is much more heavily used than others. It is in effect a small roadway. As the Gardaí cannot be stationed there 24 hours a day, it seems some structural solution is required, e.g. blocking off access except to key holders. I am not aware of this type of problem with other local lane ways or solutions that may have been found in other cases? If you can offer any help to improve the situation, it would be much appreciated.
Order: Moved by Cllr. Lacey. Report to councillor.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Chris Andrews

That bearing in mind the serious and ongoing burning of cars in Portobello - Arnott Street area that this area committee calls on the Gardaí to be given the extra resources that are clearly needed to tackle these serious criminal actions as the Gardaí are already stretched beyond what is needed to deliver reassurance and safety to the local community.

Order: Moved by Councillor Byrne.  Report to councillor.

 

Motion 6 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That the South East Area Committee, calls on Dublin City Council and all those concerned with the social redevelopment of Charlemont Street to formerly recognise the new residents’ group and its representatives, known as ‘the New Charlemont Group” which has been initiated by local residents within the area of Charlemont Street.

This group has held meetings that were well attended and has elected a spokesperson chairperson. It is important to note that the rejuvenation board intends to stand down once the social housing aspect of the rejuvenation of Charlemont is complete.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That the South East Area Committee, calls on Dublin City Council (DCC) estate management and Housing Department and An Garda Síochána to urgently come up with a plan to tackle the criminality and serious anti social behaviour at Glovers Court and the surrounding area. Recently at this site workers were pelted with rocks and had to take shelter and stop work. On another occasion a dumbbell was dropped from the balcony on top of a resident, narrowly missing him. This could have been fatal.

This particularly incident forms part of an ongoing racism towards a particular resident at the Glovers Court by this well known group of youths. Another incident paper was stuffed into a letterbox of a family home and was set alight.  Fortunately the fire didn’t take hold. This is just a small sample of what residents businesses and visitors have to go through daily in this area. DCC has a care of duty to its residents in how it manages its estates and in these instances it has plenty of evidence but is continuing to fail the besieged residents of these blocks.

This committee is asked to stand shoulder to shoulder with the residents and help them end this scourge.  One way that this can be achieved is by the installation of CCTV cameras another way is to hire private security to patrol the area and assist in gathering evidence.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee calls on An Garda Síochána to put extra patrols and surveillance in and around the Portobello area in order to combat the upsurge in malicious damage and arson attacks in that area. Residents and businesses feel dismayed and isolated at the ongoing issues of malicious damage and arson attacks mainly on parked cars in this area. Many members of the community expressed terror and fear and have demanded extra garda patrols and surveillance and also that Dublin City Council steps up to the mark in terms of the public domain, safety and install CCTV and other modes of protection in this immediate area.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 9 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee calls on Dublin City Council’s (DCC) Traffic Department to realign the entrance of the car park and bring centre on the Milltown Road from the eastern side which faces onto houses and residents to the south side which will face onto the main road. At the present entrance, cars and trucks are mounting the footpath. On some occasions if there is heavy traffic coming in and out of the car park vehicles are mounting the footpath and blocking people’s homes. This situation is very dangerous and needs urgent attention. It has been an ongoing matter for quite some time. The Bring Centre is very busy as is the car park and the impact of this on local residents in terms of noise traffic and danger has reached unacceptable levels. This also takes place throughout the night as people are coming to deposit their glass, cans etc. This motion is on behalf of those residents who are calling on you to assist them in resolving this issue.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee agrees that a dog run facility would be developed in Herbert Park and that the manager would report on what measures can and will be taken to ensure that dog dirt is removed from football pitches in the park as quickly as possible.

Order: Agreed.  Report rejected.

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Patrick Costello

That this committee agrees to seek a parking protected cycle lane on St Stephen’s Green East.

Order: Agreed.  Cllr. McGinley dissented.

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Patrick Costello

That this committee requests a change to the timing of the pedestrian lights at St. Stephen’s Green East, crossing from the island to the park entrance so that the pedestrian phase is matched fully to the right turning phase from Leeson Street.  Such a change will prioritize pedestrians, and make entering the cycle lane safer for cyclist. Such a change would be in line with local and national policy to promote cycling and walking. 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this committee calls on the area manager to increase the frequency of cleaning and litter picking on Grattan Street, Dublin 2. There has been an ongoing issue with litter on this street for some time that is not being addressed.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 14 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to provide a report on what is being done to address the issue of public bin abuse in Portobello, and to please consider providing a different type of public bin in the Portobello Area as a means to address the ongoing issue of illegal dumping and litter.  The council has removed a number of bins in the area but the problem is persisting, particularly on Lombard Street / Arnott Street which has been raised before.  Bins with smaller entry points, such as the mixed waste bins that are currently being trialled in the city centre, may help to address the problem. Can the manager please examine the possibility of this and provide a report?

Order: Agreed.  Report rejected.

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Frank Kennedy

At approximately 9.50am on 25 September 2017, residents in certain neighbourhoods (Canon Mooney Gardens) in the Pembroke South Dock ward received a notification from Dublin City Council stating that Dublin City Council Water Services, on behalf of Irish Water, would shut down the mains supply from 9am on that date for a period of approximately six hours. This committee agrees that this notification (a) was completely inadequate and (b) failed entirely and unacceptably to have regard to the possibility of people, such as people with disabilities, having an urgent need to access water and who need time to plan for sufficient alternatives if the mains supply is to be switched off. Accordingly, this committee resolves to write to both Dublin City Council Water Services and Irish Water to seek the following:

 

       i.          An explanation as to how and why notification came so late;

      ii.          What consideration, if any, was given to the position of people with disabilities;

     iii.          Is there a policy in place to address the water needs of people with disabilities where the mains supply is to be turned off; and

    iv.          An assurance that turning off the mains supply with such inadequate notice will not happen again.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Frank Kennedy

Having regard to the deeply worrying and dangerous pattern of anti-social and criminal behaviour in the Portobello area, including the burning out of 12 cars in the past two months, this committee resolves to write to An Garda Síochána calling on them to take immediate and urgent action to address this behaviour and to request that they provide a report to this committee on the actions which they are undertaking.

Order: Report to councillor.