DRAFT Annual Report 2017 | Limerick City and County Council
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1 ANNUAL REPORTDRAFTDRAFT DRAFT 2017 Annual Report 2017 | Limerick City and County Council 2 JOINT FOREWORD BY CONN MURRAY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND COUNCILLOR STEPHEN KEARY, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LIMERICK 2017 has seen many significant milestones occur for Limerick city and county as we continue to develop Limerick as a place for the future. Our ambitions for Limerick are clear. We want to position Limerick as the best placed English-speaking city in the European Union to capitalise on post Brexit inward investment opportunities. Limerick’s vision for the Opera Site received the backing and support of the European Investment Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank. In total €170 million is being provided by the two banks to Limerick City and County Council, which highlights the confidence both institutions have in Limerick’s plans for the city centre. Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC made significant progress in helping to enhance the economy of Limerick. Construction commenced on the Gardens International on Henry Street and which is on track to be completed by 2018. Masterplans were advanced for the Cleeve’s site and the housing development in Mungret, while Troy Studios is up and running with the NBCU/ Netflix series Nightflyers DRAFTbeing filmed there. 3 2017 has been one of the strongest years ever for job Central to this strategy is the re-launched Limerick.ie creation in the Limerick city region. More than 3,000 digital platform, which is one of the most comprehensive jobs and €354 million of investment were announced and advanced websites of any local authority. with Limerick being one of the fastest growing regions for foreign direct investment in the country. Limerick.ie will be used as the platform for all new services being developed by the council. The importance Companies are drawn to Limerick by the partnership of Limerick.ie was evident when it was named as one of and proactive approach adopted by the Council, third the world’s top tourism websites by global intelligence level institutions and local and state agencies and platform Skift.com - the only Irish website and one of this continues to be an important selling point for the only four sites in Europe to be honoured. Limerick city region. Over the course of 2017 a number of significant projects Allied to these FDI jobs is a strengthening entrepreneurial were announced or progressed. Elected Members sector. Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Limerick’s supports adopted a variation to the city and county development has resulted in an additional 122 net new jobs, while plans to allow the Limerick Northern Distributor Road Innovate Limerick opened ENGINE to drive innovation to be advanced. Work on Phase 1 of the project from forward, by providing individuals and companies with Coonagh to Knockalisheen has progressed significantly facilities to match their ambitions and needs. over the year. When completed, the road will open up the entire northside of Limerick city for potential The Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for investment. Limerick, now in its second year continues to promote economic, social and community development across Limerick City and County Council is the lead authority the city and county. for a new M20 motorway linking Limerick to Cork which was given the go-ahead by the government in October The Council also operated an enhanced set of financial 2017. supports for rate payers including the Small and Medium Business Support Scheme and a Tourism Sector The M18 to Galway was opened, and when the M20 Support Scheme following their adoption by the elected is completed Limerick can act as the fulcrum for the members. western corridor counterpole to the capital. Limerick City and County Council is very conscious Significant background work was carried out on the new about how important it to plan for the future. Limerick to Foynes road, to allow for the development of our main port in the west of the county, while in the city A newDRAFT Limerick Digital Strategy was adopted by the widespread and very details consultation has taken place Council including the Smart Limerick Roadmap 2017- as part of the rejuvenation of O’Connell Street. 2020. The Strategy aims to lay the foundation for the A new Urban and Village Renewal Department was “Smart Limerick City Region and Communities”, a established in the Council in 2017 to draw up strategy for DRAFT Limerick that uses digital technologies to empower dealing with unused and underutilised sites and buildings communities, create better services, accelerate across Limerick. Our aim to the rejuvenate towns and sustainable social and economic growth and to improve villages so they are attractive for people to remain in and the quality of life for all. to attract for new residents. Annual Report 2017 | Limerick City and County Council 4 Limerick City and County Council also took the lead in In total, 254 homes were delivered in 2017, while a the joint submission from the mid-west region to the Strategic Development and Management Plan for National Planning Framework Ireland 2040. Council-owned land identifies sites for suitably zoned for residential use across Limerick. The Limerick Local Community Development Committee oversaw the delivery of the SICAP Limerick creativity community continued to flourish programme, (€2.3 million per annum) and approved in 2017, under the umbrella of the Limerick Cultural payments to the three Local Development Companies Strategy. The importance of Culture was highlighted contracted to deliver the programme in Limerick. with the creation of a new Cultural SPC to oversee the growth of the culture and arts community in Limerick. The EU Leader Programme (€9.276 million) advanced 2017 saw the consolidation and evolution of a new in 2017 and applications from various community and Operating Model for Limerick City and County Council. A specific interest groups were sought following a series of new Business Improvement Department was established public information and consultation events. to oversee how the council does its work and what improvements can be made in the way we provide Programmes in the four regeneration areas continued services to the citizens of Limerick. a pace, including the completion of the Lord Edward Street Housing Development. Employees are a company’s greatest asset and a commitment to ongoing training and development of Further projects, including new builds, thermal upgrades staff will allow Limerick City and County Council to and refurbishments were completed or significantly maximise their own potential, expertise and resources advanced. for the benefit of all. The Social Intervention Fund (SIF) continued to Limerick City and County Council has positioned itself as support social and economic projects developed a proactive organisation to serve the people of Limerick. and implemented by local community, voluntary Our ambitions are achievable thanks to the hard work of organisations and key statutory agencies with funding of everyone, working together. Limerick is ideally placed to almost €4 million approved. reap the rewards. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan has set out a clear roadmap for the continued targeted investment in numerous areas from housing to social supports and economic development and the government has again stated its continued support for the important and necessary work that is being carried out by everyoneDRAFT in the targeted areas. 5 DRAFT DRAFT Annual Report 2017 | Limerick City and County Council 6 CONTENTS Foreword 2 Council Members 10 Council Meetings and Committees Representation on other bodies 16 Electoral Areas ? Events, highlights and civic receptions ? Economic Development Directorate ? • Limerick Twenty Thirty ? • Investment ? • Innovate Limerick ? • Local Enterprise Office ? • Marketing and Communications Office ? • Tourism ? • Forward/Strategic Planning ? • Digital Strategy ? Physical Development Directorate ? Social Development Directorate ? • Social Development ? • Housing Capital ? Customer Services, Culture and Arts Directorate ? • CustomerDRAFT Services ? • Library Services ? • Culture and Arts ? 7 Service Operations Directorate ? • Community Support Services ? • Operations and Maintenance Services • Property Services ? • Design and Delivery Services ? • Planning and Environmental Services ? • Veterinary Services ? • Urban and Village Renewal ? • Business Improvement Department ? Support Services Directorate ? • Corporate Services ? • Human Resources Services ? • Finance Services ? • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Services ? Regional Services Directorate ? • Fire and Emergency Services ? • Southern Region Waste Management Office ? • Water Services ? • Mid-West Road Design Office ? Housing Assistance Payments Shared Services Centre ? Appendices ? • Conferences/SeminarsDRAFT attended by Members ? DRAFT • Performance Indicators ? Annual Report 2017 | Limerick City and County Council 8 LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS Councillor Stephen Keary Mayor of the DRAFTCity and County of Limerick Councillor Marian Hurley Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Limerick 9 METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OF LIMERICK (consisting of the Local Electoral Areas of Limerick City East, Limerick City North and Limerick City West) – 21 MEMBERS LIMERICK CITY EAST - 8 MEMBERS Cllr. Joe Pond Cllr. Marian Hurley Cllr. Paul Keller Cmhlr. Séighin Ó Ceallaigh (FF) (FG) (SOLIDARITY/PBP) (SF) Cllr. Jerry O’Dea Cllr. Kieran O’Hanlon Cllr. Elena Secas Cllr. Michael Sheahan (FF) (FF) (LAB)