ITEM NO. 24 COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT MARCH 2013
1. ROADS AND HOUSING DESIGN
(a) Additional Funding for Drainage Works
(b) Redistribution of Roads Grants
(c) Specific Improvement Grants
2. HOUSING AND CORPORATE SERVICES
(a) Social Housing Investment Programme
(b) Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability
3. WATER AND ENVIRONMENT
(a) Operation of Civic Amenity Sites
1. ROADS AND HOUSING DESIGN
The Council has received a number of circulars from the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport in relation to the non national roads grants already notified for 2013, along with some further indications regarding grants for 2014 and beyond. Copies of the circulars are attached as appendices. These notifications can be summarised under headings (a) and (b) below.
Additional Funding for Drainage Works
The Department has notified the Council of additional funding of €180,166 for drainage works for the county. The Department requires that any specific locations where works are carried out are identified and this should be agreed at an electoral area level by the 28th March and Members have been meeting on this locally already.
Flexibility on Restoration Improvement Roads Grants
The Department have confirmed greater flexibility in the allocation of funds under the roads strengthening grants for 2013, as follows:
We are permitted to transfer up to 30% of the Restoration Improvement Grant to the Discretionary Grant.
There is now no minimum length of scheme requirement under the Restoration Improvement Grant for 2013.
There is no longer a requirement that a minimum of 90% of works in the Restoration Improvement category must be road reconstruction.
The Department requires that the Council notify it of the revised discretionary maintenance and restoration improvement works by the 27th March. Meetings have been ongoing locally and a central workshop has been held in this regard.
(c) Specific Improvement Grants
The Department has also notified the Council that the Specific Improvement Grant will have to be terminated with effect from 2014 in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work.
2. HOUSING AND CORPORATE SERVICES
(a) Social Housing Investment Programme
Donegal County Council has received from the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government, by letter dated 21st March, confirmation of funding in the sum of €1,310,535 under the above programme for 2013. This allocation is for Donegal County Council and the Town Councils in the County.
The breakdown of this funding allocation is as follows, with the corresponding initial allocations from DECLG for 2012.
Heading 2013 2012
LA Housing € 0.345 M € 1.2 M
Voluntary – CAS € 0.474 M € 0.8 M
Travellers € 0.088 M € 0.3 M
IWILs/Extensions €0.083 M €0.154 M
Improvement of Housing Stock € 0.319 M € 0.545 M
Totals €1,310,535 €2,999,022
The allocation under LA Housing of €345,000 meets existing commitments in the current year and will enable the commencement of the second S.I. dwelling which was approved last July. The Department has advised that the projected capital allocations under LA Housing in 2014 and 2015 are likely to be further reduced, ruling out the potential for substantial carry-forward commitments into future years. The Department has further advised that, as a result, no new proposals will be considered for funding approval at this time. It is nonetheless expected that the 2014 allocation will include provision for the final S.I. dwelling, as this has already been approved under the three year programme.
As Elected Members will note, a sum of €319,000 has been made available for Improvement of Housing Stock. There was considerable discussion during the adoption of the Budget 2013 in relation to the Housing Maintenance provision. While the 2013 provision from the Department is lower than what was available in 2012, the provision of €319,000 is welcome nonetheless and will assist the Council in terms of delivering on our overall objectives in this area.
(b) Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability
The Council has received notification of a combined allocation of €827,280 for the above schemes in 2013, which includes the Council’s own contribution of €165,456.
At the end of 2012, €615,000 (200 applications) was spent, with works to a value of €63,000 (12 applications) under way at the 31st December. Commitments in respect of Grants, which had already been approved but not commenced at the end of the year, amounted to a further €181,000 (65 applications). There were a further 87 applications in the system at various stages of processing at an estimated value of €335,000. €37,000 has already been spent this year to the end of February.
Given the budgetary limitations in 2013, the Council had confirmed that the co-funding requirements would be funded from the ring-fenced funds in preceding years, and where necessary from the Internal Capital Receipts account. In light of the allocation as now notified, I can confirm that sufficient monies are in place to meet the Council’s contribution and will enable the Council to continue to process grants in line with existing policy.
Overall, it is believed existing policy is primarily meeting the objectives set and grants are now more targeted at delivering for those most in need, with essential works getting carried out.
Elected Members have previously indicated their desire to review policy in this area and the Director of Service and the Chair of the Housing & Corporate Strategic Policy Committee have confirmed their willingness to review same at SPC level.
3. WATER AND ENVIRONMENT
(a) Operation of Civic Amenity Sites
Following a public procurement process, the Council intends to enter into a concession contract with Bryson Recycling for the operation of the six Civic Amenity Sites at Laghey, Dungloe, Stranorlar, Letterkenny, Milford and Carndonagh. Bryson Recycling will operate the centres on the Council’s behalf and the contract, which will run for a period of three years, is expected to commence in April. The contract provides for an annual amount to be paid to the service provider in addition to the retention of gate fees. It is a condition of the contract that the existing charging regime and opening hours will be maintained. It is open to the contractor to reduce the charges and extend opening hours as they see fit.
As the Members are aware, Bryson has been operating three sites (Stranorlar, Letterkenny and Milford) during 2012 arising from a previous public procurement process. The level of activity and customer feedback have both been positive during 2012. It is anticipated that, with the addition of the three centres, the upward trend in activity levels will continue.
It is the Council’s intention, in collaboration with the service provider, to plan a comprehensive public awareness campaign and the Members will be updated with relevant information as the promotional campaign is rolled out.
___________________
Seamus Neely
County Manager
ITEM NO. 24
ADDENDUM TO COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT
MARCH 2013
(Adjourned meeting of Donegal County Council – 15th April 2013)
1. FINANCE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
(a) Gorse/Wild Fires
1. FINANCE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
(a) Gorse/Wild Fires
Donegal has experienced an increased incidence of gorse fires in the period from Thursday 28th March through to Sunday 14th April inclusive, with a total of 167 incidents throughout the County occurring during this period. Many of these incidents required multiple brigades to respond, particularly in instances where properties and commercial forestry were at immediate risk of damage and destruction. The retained fire fighters also responded to calls for assistance in neighbouring Counties Leitrim and Sligo, while a number of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service brigades attended in areas where first response arrangements with them are in place.
All brigade areas were called upon to a very great extent and the duration and scale of the incidents placed a substantial demand on the firefighters in a number of areas of the County in particular. I would like to acknowledge the commitment shown by the officers and members of the fire service during this very demanding time.
I also want to thank the members of the Civil Defence, An Garda Síochána, Coillte and the members of the public who acted in a support role or who offered their assistance to the fire service during this time. The role of the media is also acknowledged in publicising the need for care during this time.
Many areas of the County will remain susceptible to wild fires if the current period of rain comes to an end prior to the growing season starting in earnest. I would again call on land owners and members of the public to continue to be vigilant and to exercise caution to take all necessary measures to prevent gorse, heather, forestry and similar fires.
Despite the best efforts of everyone, substantial damage has taken place throughout the County with properties damaged, commercial forestry lost and, sadly, loss to wildlife that can only be estimated. It is concerning that, in some instances, it would appear that the cause of ignition was not accidental. I would appeal to anyone, if aware of such instances, to advise their local Gardaí accordingly and to continue to be vigilant in future and that, should anything untoward be spotted, they advise their local Gardaí accordingly whilst also alerting the Fire authorities on 999 or 112 if any fire is noted.
The additional costs associated with these incidents and call outs, the majority of which are un-attributable, will be calculated in due course and will be reflected in our accounts for the year.
Number of Wild Fires in County Donegal – 159GORSE
____________________
Seamus Neely
County Manager
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