DECEMBER 2015 MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT 18 TH JANUARY 2016 Page 1 of 11 Free Library membership was introduced from January 1st 2016. This national initiative will encourage people to read and learn. The DoECLG has submitted Tullamore as an entry in the international Entente-Florale competition. Do: Baill Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí To: Each Member of Offaly County Council Tuairisc mhíosúil bainistíochta a bhreithniú i gcomhair tionóil mí Eanáir Monthly Management Report for consideration at the January Monthly Meeting EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS: A schedule of Chief Executive Orders is included with the Council Agenda. FINANCE: Report to the 31 st December 2015 – (Appendix I). DATES FOR YOUR DIARY LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK – Monday 7th to Friday 11th March 2016. Offaly County Council ARTS ACT GRANT 2016 CLOSING DATE EXTENDED to THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY 2016 at 3.00pm The Irish language is a key element of the Offaly's 2016 Commemoration Programme. Beidh an Ghaeilge lárnach sa chéad imeacht i gClár Imeachtaí Uíbh Fhailí do 2016. The first exhibition of the Offaly 2016 Centenary year takes place on Monday January 18 th at 6pm in Áras an Chontae, Tullamore and celebrates the Proclamation signatory Pádraig Mac Piarais and his solidarity with the Irish language.
Transcript
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT
REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 1 of 11
Free Library membership was introduced from January 1st 2016. This national initiative will encourage people to read and learn. The DoECLG has submitted Tullamore as an entry in the international Entente-Florale competition.
Do: Baill Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí To: Each Member of Offaly County Council Tuairisc mhíosúil bainistíochta a bhreithniú i gcomhair tionóil mí Eanáir Monthly Management Report for consideration at the January Monthly Meeting
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS:
A schedule of Chief Executive Orders is included with the
Council Agenda.
FINANCE:
Report to the 31st December 2015 – (Appendix I).
D A T E S F O R Y O U R D I A R Y
LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK – Monday 7th to
Friday 11th March 2016.
Offaly County Council ARTS ACT GRANT 2016
CLOSING DATE EXTENDED to THURSDAY
28TH JANUARY 2016 at 3.00pm
The Irish language is a key element of the Offaly's 2016 Commemoration Programme. Beidh an Ghaeilge lárnach sa chéad imeacht i gClár Imeachtaí Uíbh Fhailí do 2016.
The first exhibition of the Offaly 2016 Centenary year takes place on
Monday January 18th at 6pm in Áras an Chontae, Tullamore and celebrates the Proclamation signatory Pádraig Mac Piarais and his solidarity with the Irish language.
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 2 of 11
PLANNING:
UNFINISHED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
The DoECLG National Housing Survey was
published in December 2015. Three housing
estates in Offaly were removed from the list
of unfinished housing developments –
MacGregal in Birr, Cluain na Spideoga in
Cloghan and Gallen Demesne in Ferbane.
At the end of 2015, 11 estates in Offaly
remain on the list. There is ongoing activity
in respect of a number of developments.
DERELICT SITES
Offaly County Council has now completed
the process of acquiring the site in
Edenderry comprising of a partially
constructed hotel development and lands.
The Vesting Order for same was signed on
16th December 2015, with the site officially
vested in the Council’s ownership with
effect from 7th January 2016.
December 2015
January to
December
2015
Total
2014
Planning
Applications
375
310
Extensions of
Duration
Applications &
Assessments
37 42
Warning Letters
and (Enforcement
Notices) issued
80
(22)
180
(45)
HOUSING:
Housing Operations December 2015
Dec
Number awaiting social housing support at 21st December 2015
2,045
Number of assessment / re-assessments in the month of December
32
LA/RAS/Leasing allocations: 17
Number of LA tenancies surrendered:
2
Nominations to AHB*
0
Number of HAP tenancies signed in December
23
*AHB – Approved Housing Body
Social Inclusion December 2015
Dec
New Homeless Presentations: 5
Number of new Anti-Social Behavior Cases in November
3
Energy Efficiency upgrade works in 2015,
453 LA houses:
Private Housing Grants 2015
Housing adaptation Grants paid 36
Mobility Aid Grants paid 7
Housing Aid for Older people
Grants paid 65
Number of Maintenance Calls
logged in December 2015 290
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 3 of 11
VOID / PRE-LETS 2015
Tullamore Birr Edenderry TOTAL
Total VOID to date (A) 26 46 23 95
Works Complete (B) 19 31 18 68
Voids Allocated 18 28 19 65
Works Started or Ongoing 4 7 2 13
Total VOID on hand (A-B) 7 15 5 27
Under Technical Assessment (C) 1 6 1 8
To be referred to Technical (D) 2 2 2 6
VOIDS Pending (D+C) 3 8 3 14
HOUSING QUARTERLY REPORT Q4 2015
HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT - HAP
Offaly County Council was designated as a
pilot site for the new Housing Assistance
Payment (HAP) in June of 2015 by
Ministerial Order. HAP is a new form of
social housing support payment which, over
time, will replace the rent supplement
payment administered by the Department of
Social Welfare.
A commitment was given by the DECLG to
support 2 additional staff in the Housing
Department to support the roll-out of HAP.
Since its introduction in June there have
been 95 new HAP tenancies agreed with
applicants and landlords. For the purposes
of the quarterly report, 56 of these were
signed in Quarter 4 of 2015. The HAP
system is supported by a central payment
hub administered by Limerick County
Council. In the last 3 weeks of 2015 there
was an average of 6 new applicants per
week which isthe target set for Offaly by the
central hub.
Issues facing the full roll out of HAP in
Offaly
The Department had requested that a
minimum of 17 existing Rent
Supplement recipients be contacted by
the local authority by the end of 2015
with a view to transferring their
payments across from DSP to the Local
Authority and HAP. This has not been
achieved as the staffing support
available through DECLG funding in
2015 was sufficient only for the signing
up of new applicants. Additional
resources will be required for the
substantial administrative task of
transferring the 886 existing rent
supplement recipients in Offaly across
to HAP.
Admendments to existing HAP tenant
files are starting to increase with rent
reviews, changing family circumstances,
repossession orders etc.. This is time
consuming and may affect the meeting
of targets for HAP applications in the
immediate future.
Staff training is required on new
software systems that support HAP.
Inspections of HAP properties must
commence in February 2016 and will
require the support of technical staff in
the Municipal Districts. This is an
additional burden on the Council’s own
resources.
A review by DSP of rent supplement
cases has resulted in a large increase of
HAP queries to the Local Authority.
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 4 of 11
Rent ceilings are set and do not meet the
cost of private rents in Offaly currently.
HOMELESSNESS
The planning and delivery of Homeless
Services is directed by the provisions of Part
2, Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 2009 and the Housing Act
1988. The 2009 Act provides the statutory
framework for the Regional Homeless Fora
and the Homeless Action Plans.
TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION PLAN
2014-2018
Offaly County Council exceeded its targets
under the above plan in 2014 (167%) and
2015 (175%). In total 56 Traveller families
have had a social housing allocation since
the beginning of 2014. 14 of these were
allocations on the permanent halting site in
Tullamore and 1 on a site in Birr. 29 were in
standard housing and 12 were in voluntary
housing. A review of the Traveller
Accommodation Plan will take place in
2016. Offaly County Council was selected
as a partner for CENA – an Approved
Housing Body for Travellers in 2014 and is
working towards the delivery of a Traveller
Group Housing project in Tullamore.
HOUSING STRATEGY FOR PEOPLE WITH A
DISABILITY 2011 – 2016.
In 2015 Offaly County Council were
designated by the Housing Agency as part
of a pilot project, along with Laois County
Council, the Mental Health Team in
Laois/Offaly HSE and HAIL (Housing
Association for Integrated Living). The aim
of the project is to look at the transfer of
low and medium care residents from the
HSE to the Local Authority or an Approved
Housing Body as per the above Strategy.
There is one such property in Offaly County
Council’s ownership and discussions are
ongoing regarding the best option for the
continued support of the residents.
Offaly County Council has facilitated an
interagency group on this Strategy and has
submitted a draft Strategy to the Housing
Agency for their consideration. The
Housing Agency has requested further data
from some of the partner agencies in Offaly
for input into a national strategy on this
issue.
SOCIAL HOUSING STRATEGY OFFALY
2015-2017
Offaly County Council has met its targets
for house acquisitions under the above
strategy for 2015, it has exceeded its target
for the return of voids for the year but has
fallen short of its 2015 target under SCHEP
– the Social Housing Current Expenditure
Programme (Leasing & RAS). It is
anticipated that leasing targets and targets
under the direct construction programme
and the Capital Assistance Scheme (in
partnership with Approved Housing Bodies)
will be met in the course of the 3 year
programme subject to planning approval
etc.
A table showing the Summary Statistics for
Housing for 2015 is included in Appendix II
of this Report.
ENVIRONMENT / WATER SERVICES:
IRISH WATER - EMERGING PREFERRED
OPTIONS FOR EASTERN MIDLAND WATER
SUPPLY PROJECT
On the 26th November 2015 Irish Water
published a Preliminary Options Appraisal
Report which identifies abstraction from the
Parteen Basin in Co. Tipperary with a
pipeline serving the route from there to
Dublin as being the ‘Emerging Preferred
Option’ for a new source of water supply
for the Eastern and Midlands Region.
The Eastern Midland Water Supply Project
is now undergoing rigorous environmental
assessment to ensure that all possible
relevant factors are examined in reaching a
final decision on the best option. As part of
this process a 10 week period of public
consultation on the ‘Preliminary Options
Appraisal Report’ is now taking place and
this will conclude on the 4th February 2016.
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 5 of 11
This Public Consultation process also
entailed an Open Day in the Tullamore
Court Hotel on the 15/12/2015 for the
public to view and provide feedback on
same. Further Information on this is
available on www.water.ie
MULTI ANNUAL RURAL WATER
PROGRAMME 2016-2018
The Department of the Environment,
Community and Local Government are now
developing a new Multi Annual funding
approach for the Rural Water Programme.
In 2016, the sector will be transitioning
towards this new approach with the
development of the Rural Water Multi
Annual Programme 2016-2018. The main
objective of this approach is to provide
enhanced funding certainty for prioritised
investment needs within the sector in order
to support the implementation of proper
planning and sustainable development in
rural areas, meet the requirements of the
Drinking Water Directive in relation to rural
supplies and to support the delivery of
measures identified in River Basin
Management Plans to meet the objectives of
the Water Framework Directive.
TUBBER GWS BOIL WATER NOTICE
LIFTED
A Boil Water Notice was placed on Tubber
GWS on the 6th November 2015 as a
precautionary measure following the
temporary disruption of the scheme’s
chlorine treatment system caused by
incidents of vandalism and following
reports of several cases of illness in the
community.
The Council sought and received approval
for capital funding from the Department of
the Environment for works costing €44,700.
These works were completed in November
2015. As the Supervising Authority Offaly
County Council in conjunction with the
HSE lifted the Boil Water Notice on the 18
December 2015 following the completion of
these works and clear microbiological
results
SEVERE FLOODING DEC 2015/JAN 2016 -
IMPACT ON WATER AND WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANTS AND NETWORKS.
No Water Treatment Plants in the County
have been adversely affected by the current
severe flooding situation. However a
number of Wastewater Treatment Plants and
Pumping Stations have been affected.
Shannonbridge and Shannonharbour
Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) are
off line. The sewage pumping station in
Shannonbridge is operational but the
sewerage pumping station in
Shannonharbour is down because the ESB
supply to that area has been disconnected.
Pollagh WWTP is flooded but is
operational. Killeigh WWTP, Mucklagh
WWTP, Daingean WWTP, Cloghan
WWTP and Bracknagh WWTP have been
washed out with Surface Water and will
have to be reseeded. There have been
inaccessiblility issues with some of these
plants due to flooded access roads.
There has also been a significant number of
wastewater network issues in most of our
towns and villages throughout the county
resulting in a number of localised issues.
Offaly County Council Water Services Staff
have worked throughout the Christmas
period to deal with and respond to the
aforementioned issues.
ENVIRONMENT
SEVERE FLOODING DEC 2015/JAN 2016 -
IMPACT ON RIVERS
On the 14th December 2015, the River
Shannon peaked at a level of 160mm below
the 2009 peak flood level. On the 5th and
6th January 2016 the River Shannon
reached the 2009 peak Flood Levels. This
has led to very significant flooding in the
catchment, impacting severely on Lusmagh,
Banagher, Shannonbridge, Shannonharbour
and surrounding areas.
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 6 of 11
The River Brosna peaked on the 2/1/2016 at
340mm plus over the previous highest level
and this has caused serious flooding
problems in Pollagh, The Cush and
Derrnagun areas.
There was extensive flooding of the
Tullamore River Catchment upstream of
Tullamore Town. The Whitehall Flood
Defenses prevented the estate from flooding
however pumping was required due to
flooding from the surface water sewers. The
area identified as the Tullamore flood plain
flooded as predicted.
There was also extensive flooding of the
River Barrow Catchment resulting in a
number of localised flooding issues in
Portarlington Town.
ROADS:
Offaly County Council (OCC) received
an initial allocation of €619,761 from
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for
maintenance and improvement of the
National Road Network in 2016. This
compares with an initial allocation of
€1,154,654 in 2015. The main
difference is that no initial Capital
allocation has been received in 2016.
OCC intend submitting proposals to TII
for additional funding for a number of
capital improvement schemes on the
national road network in 2016.
No allocation received yet from the
DTTS for Non National Roads.
3 Year Multi Annual Road Restoration
Programme (2016-2018) is under
preparation at present by the Municipal
Districts. This programme will be
brought before each Municipal District
for approval in late January/Early
February.
An initial application has been made to
the Department of Environment for
funding in relation to flooding costs and
damage to the road network. A further
submission will be made once the final
damage can be assessed.
An amendment to the present speed
limit bye laws introducing the 30 KPH
special speed limit for Housing Estates
will be brought to the full Council
meeting in March for approval of the
members.
N80 Tullamore to Killeigh & N52
Tullamore By Pass Skid Resistance
improvement scheme –Tender awarded
and work to be completed in early 2016
- weather dependant.
N62 Ballycumber Junction
Improvement scheme in Ferbane under
construction.
N62 Roscrea Road Birr pavement
improvement scheme – Tender awarded
with scheme to be completed in early
2016 - weather dependant
LOCAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SECTION:
OFFALY LOCAL COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (LCDC)
The next LCDC next meeting is planned
for 28th January. The LCDC will make
a submission to Irish Water on the
‘emerging preferred option’ for the
proposed Water Supply Project Eastern
and Midlands Region (WSP), by the
closing date of 4th February.
LOCAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY PLAN
(LECP)
The LECP was adopted by OCC in
December and submitted to the DECLG.
Formats for delivery & monitoring of
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 7 of 11
the LECP are being developed by OCC
for the LCDC / SPC.
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVATION PROGRAMME (SICAP)
The deadline for the submission of the
2015 End of Year review and the 2016
SICAP Plan is 15th January, for review
by Pobal and the LCDC and then final
adoption by the LCDC by 19th
February. The 2016 SICAP budget for
Offaly is €738,314.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (LDS)
FOR LEADER
Further information on the Offaly Local
Development Strategy has been
submitted to POBAL.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NETWORK (PPN)
The PPN have prepared a work plan for
2016.
PRIDE OF PLACE 2015
A county co-ordinators meeting on 13th
January was attended by Offaly County
Council staff.
LAOIS / OFFALY WALKING PARTNERSHIP
Signage upgrades for the Slieve Bloom
Way and the Offaly Way routes are
being finalised.
Paper maps have been updated and
reprinted, including the new Offaly
tourism brand/site.
COMHAIRLE NA NÓG
Following the AGM in December, there
are 13 new members on the Comhairle
na nÓg Executive, due to meet mid-
January. A new Dail na nÓg rep for
Offaly has been selected.
TIDY TOWNS NETWORK
The DECLG has submitted Tullamore
as an entry in the international Entente-
Florale competition. OCC is arranging a
meeting with the DECLG, mentors and
Tullamore Tidy Towns
EXTERNAL FUNDS
CEDRA – The Rural Economic
Development Zone (REDZ) Youth
Enterprise Project worker has
commenced and will focus on targeted
groups in Offaly. This is a collaborative
project with Laois Offaly ETB, based at
The Offaly Innovation Centre (The
Junction).
TOURISM
Marketing Services: Offaly Tourism
Group have sought tenders from any
suitably qualified Marketing Company
to provide a range of marketing,
development and co-ordination services
to further the marketing and promotion
of tourism in Offaly. The closing date
for receipt of tenders has passed (8th
January 2016) and the Evaluation Team
for the tendering exercise is completing
the tender evaluation process. It is
anticipated that the successful service
provider will be appointed by February
2016.
Offaly Tourism App: Offaly Tourism
Group have commenced the process of
developing a tourism app. The new app
will provide the most comprehensive
visitor information for Offaly’s key
tourism attractions and the content for
the app will be driven through the
Visitoffaly.ie website.
Offaly Cycling Destination Feasibility
Study: The Offaly Cycling Destination
Feasibility Study was completed on
schedule in December 2015 and was
presented to the members of the
Steering Group. The Masterplan for the
delivery of the project was agreed and
proposals in relation to implementation
structures are being developed
DECEMBER 2015
MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT
18TH JANUARY 2016 Page 8 of 11
OFFALY SPORTS PARTNERSHIP (OSP)
COMMUNITY COACHING: Certificates were
presented to 14 participants who completed
the course requirements. An advanced
community coaching programme will
commence in Portarlington in January. A
community coaching programme for
Tullamore will commence in February.
OPERATION TRANSFORMATION: On
National Walk Day, 9th January, Offaly
Sports Partnership hosted a walk on the
Cloghan Slí 1k. Ballykilmurray Operation
Transformation programme commenced 6th
January. Moneygall Community
Transformation programme commenced 5th
January. Check out
https://www.facebook.com/communitytrans
formationmoneygallfc.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING:
commences with Tullamore College on 14th
January OFFALY SPORTS PARTNERSHIP BOARD: A
new five year strategic plan for the period 2016 – 2020 has been drafted. The OSP
![Surah Al Baqarah: Memorization + Tafseer [Al- Birr/As-Sidq ......Tafseer Al Baqarah Ayat 2/177 (cont Jan 29, 2013) Surah Al Baqarah: Memorization + Tafseer [Al-Birr/As-Sidq] (#16)](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/608ef2a7d4ab171a8c0f953b/surah-al-baqarah-memorization-tafseer-al-birras-sidq-tafseer-al-baqarah.jpg)
