Nollaig/ December 2019 Tuarascáil Mhíosúil ón Phríomhfheidhmeannach Monthly Management Report PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Pgs. 11-13 PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Pgs. 14-26 FINANCE & SUPPORT SERVICES Pg. 5 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Pgs. 6-10 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Pgs. 2-4 1 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040 Clare County Council signed contracts with Haley Sharpe market positioning. The project value is €398k + VAT and will be Consultants to prepare a new Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040. completed over 15 months with key deliverables at scheduled The consultants comprise a multi disciplinary team who will points. Miriam Kennedy, head of Wild Atlantic Way confirmed devise the strategy that will inform future developments at the commitment of Fáilte Ireland to work with the Council on the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. This is a joint initiative this iconic product and the new strategic path. between Clare County Council and Fáilte Ireland. Chairperson of Cliffs of Moher centre Ltd., Bobby Kerr, said Deputy Mayor of Clare, Cllr. Clare Colleran Molloy, stated that that “The strategy is a critical piece of work in informing what’s the challenge of this Strategy, and its component master plan, is required for this iconic site and dovetails with the Clare strategy to deliver a world class visitor experience utilising best practice ensuring the Cliffs is a driver for tourism in the rest of the visitor management and environmental management practices county” to ensure the future of the natural asset is safeguarded. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Cliffs of Moher Visitor Chief Executive Pat Dowling said that the opportunity is to Experience to work with experts who will take a holistic provide adequate facilities onsite while securing a continued perspective to develop the much needed site improvements” contribution to the wider economy, to ensure commercial and environmental sustainability into the future maintaining Geraldine Enright Director. Kilkee Town has received a WTM World Responsible Tourism Dr. Senan Cooke, Dunhill Ecopark, Ballyphilip, Dunhill, Co. Award for ‘Best for Reducing Plastic Waste’. The Award was Waterford gave a presentation to the Clare Rural Development presented in London to Cllr Cillian Murphy. Forum on 12th November 2019 on Social Enterprise 2 2 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Clare Comhairle na nÓg A wheelchair basketball mini tournament took place recently This event was organised to encourage minority sports and in the fantastic facilities in Gurteen, Co. Clare. Clare Comhairle tackle discrimination. na nÓg and Kilmaley Youth Club joined with Clare Wheelers Basketball Club to learn the basics of the game and to let the young people have a little of the experience of being a wheelchair user. “A really enjoyable day even if I am exhausted” was the verdict of one of the young people. While another said that “we would never had a chance to see what it was like to use a wheelchair if we didn’t get to come today”. James Murrihy of Clare Sports Partnership who sits on the Comhairle Steering Committee said they were delighted to be able to facilitate the event and looked forward to working with Clare Youth Service to help it grow in 2020. He praised the young people from Comhairle na nÓg for coming up with the idea and organising the day. Comhairle na nÓg gives young people a voice in decision making and allows them to take action in areas of importance to them. Visit from Eastern Holland Rural Development staff recently facilitated a study visit by Ms. Anne Marie van Oldeniel-Boerhof. Anne Marie is from a rural region in Eastern Holland. She has a keen interest in rural and community development, in addition to involvement in a variety of voluntary activities in her own region. During her two- day visit, Anne Marie had the opportunity to attend the recent Rural Development Forum. She also observed the November meeting of Clare County Council and a Budget Briefing for Elected Members. Rural Development staff and Anne Marie also had the opportunity to exchange ideas and compare the Irish and Dutch systems of Local Government. International Tourism Awards – Cliffs of Moher shortlisted. The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience was among one of the The Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe added “It’s a fantastic finalists shortlisted at the World Travel Awards in London on achievement for the Clare County Council owned facility to be Tuesday 5th November. Ireland was very successful with two acknowledged at an international level.” visitor attractions listed in the Best Visitor Attraction category. “Recognition at this level highlight the success of tourism • Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience by Clare County Council development in Co. Clare and provides rationale for future • Dark Sky® Alqueva: A Star Destination by Dark Sky investment and development” Leonard Director of Services Association Rural Development. • Les Villages Nature Paris by Groupe Pierre and Vacances • Sengan-en, Shoko Shuseikan Museum, and Satsuma Kiriko “We are very proud to be on the centre stage of best attractions Glass works Renovation Project by Shimadzu Ltd in the world. Being shortlisted is an affirmation that the Cliffs of • Spike Island by Spike Island Development Company Moher Visitor Experience is world class, this acknowledgment • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry gives recognition to the staff who maintain the site meticulously Potter by Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and serve the customer to the highest standards” Geraldine Enright - Director Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience The Cliffs of Moher is part of the UNESCO Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and is Ireland’s most visited attraction with 1.58 million visitors in 2018. The Awards celebrate the success of national, regional and city tourist boards and recognises outstanding private sector companies and individuals. Organised by World Tourism Market (WTM) London, along with an independent panel of expert judges, the 15 awards showcase the best in class of the global travel & tourism industry, in front of an audience of 500+ senior industry professionals. 3 3 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Annual Tourism Policy Workshop The 10th Annual Tourism Policy Workshop took place in Dromoland Castle Hotel on 22nd November 2019. This event was supported by the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. Clare Association Dinner International Tourism Awards Mid West Tourism Ball Pictured at the Irish Hotels Federation Mid West Tourism Ball 7th Annual Fundraising Tourism Bally in the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare are: Standing: Joan Tarmey, Tim Madden, Nicola Killeen, Cllr Cillian Murphy, Philomena O’Connell, Cllr Pat Hayes, Deirdre O’Shea; Seated: Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy and Deirdre Power. 4 4 FINANCE & SUPPORT SERVICES CORPORATE SERVICES Register of Electors The List of claims are now prepared and will be published this week, Pat Wallace, County Registrar will oversee the Revision Courts for the purpose of hearing claims, objections and the revision and amendment of the several Lists of Voters (Dail, Local Government and European Assembly) for the County of Clare. This will be held in Court 3, The Courthouse, Lifford, Ennis, County Clare on Wednesday 4th December at 2.30p.m. for all and every voting area of County Clare PROCUREMENT: The following tender competitions were published in November 2019 HUMAN RESOURCES November was a busy month for staff training with many operatives up skilling in the fields of Load Securing, Abrasive Wheel Operation, Location of Underground Services and PHECC First Aid Response. New this month were a Self Care Workshop for Housing Staff and a Stop Food Waste Workshop for all staff, while online training in Manual Handling, Employee Wellbeing and Children First are regular features on the Learning & Development calendar The final workshop/information sessions for the Fire Services were delivered in November with the crews from Kilrush and Killaloe stations attending and participating at their respective stations Freedom of Information & Data Protection: Statistics to 30/11/19: There are 14 recruitment competitions currently running • 162 Freedom of Information Requests including Burial Ground Register, Executive Engineer, Technician • 14 Freedom of Information Internal Review applications Grade 1, Temp. Part-time School Warden (Ennis MD and West • 3 appeals to Information Commissioner Clare MD), Senior Executive Technician and Retained Fire • 28 Access Requests (Data Protection) Fighters (Killaloe). Councillor Cases Application An application has been developed in-house to allow Councillors to make representations in a more efficient manner and to allow both Councillors and staff to record and track the progress on queries/representations lodged. This app is accessible using PowerApps and is free to download on a tablet or smart phone. The App has been loaded on Councillors Phones/Tablets and training is being provided on an individual basis. When the Councillor logs and saves a case, it will go directly through to ‘Customer Service’ who will set the status to ‘In Progress’ and assign the case to the relevant staff member / group (the assignee), for action and reply. The case will be updated as appropriate and the Councillor can view the status of the case and the last action which was taken, at all times. The app will provide a good tracking system for Councillors, staff and management, and allow Councillors access and visibility on their representations in one secure location. The Business Review Team are available to assist with any queries in the roll out of the application. 5 5 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Housing November saw the completion of two Council direct build schemes at Clonlara and Feakle with 22 household’s allocated new homes in time for Christmas. Also by the end of this month 31 dwellings at Tullyvarraga, Shannon are complete and purchased by Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) and are shortly due for allocation by CHI to households nominated by this Council to CHI. The remaining 16 units are due for completion before year end.