April 2022
Hi, there! — Welcome to my new monthly newsletter, where you can keep up to date on my work in Cork City North East.
Let me know what you think about the newsletter. I'll incorporate feedback as we learn what's good for you. If you have questions or want to raise an issue, let me know at oliver.moran@greenparty.ie.
All the best!
Oliver
Motions and notions
Every month, each councillor can submit up to four motions to Cork City Council and ask two formal questions to the Chief Executive. One of these questions is asked at the Local Area Committee and must be about local operational issues.
Before the deadline each month, I meet with my local group, the Cork City North Greens, and we agree motions and questions for the month ahead. We call this our "motions and notions" meeting :-)
If you have ideas or suggestions for a motion, or have a question you want asked, just let me know!
Questions
“To ask the Chief Executive to report on delays in processing planning enforcements by Cork City Council.”
"To ask the Chief Executive the status of the pedestrian crossing on Lower Glanmire Road at the steps leading up to Clifton Terrace, which is non-functional since its installation over a year ago and which was installed in the path of a cycle lane, (but which is otherwise very welcome), and of the steps leading from this crossing down to the area around the railway station."
Motions
"That Cork City Council will provide a statement on accessibility to accompany proposed housing and transport infrastructure works brought before Council for consideration, such a statement should include identification of changes to the locations of disabled parking bays, addition or removal or drop kerbs, and other relevant changes affecting people with disabilities."
"That Cork City Council will report on progress to tenant social housing properties that are voids of different categories.”
"That Cork City Council will prepare a report on examples of best practice in design of shared surfaces, including to avoid conflict at junctions, and how to implement these practices in the city's pedestrian and cycle infrastructure."
"That Cork City Council will report on energy efficiency among the city's social housing stock, including a breakdown by BER rating and 2022-2023 plans for energy retrofitting; for a report on how procurement works for energy retrofitting works undertaken by the city; and whether there are any plans to take advantage of economies of scale as the city’s retrofitting programme expands?"
What's happening?
Ward budget
New since 2021 is that each ward in the city has an annual budget funded by the Local Property Tax. This year, that budget is €350,000.
The North East ward Local Area Committee committee met on Tuesday, 5 April to begin budget discussions. We agreed in principle that €125,000 will go towards estate roads resurfacing, with the remainder set aside for other projects.
Again this year, this is very different to other wards, where councillors spend all of this money on roads resurfacing.
Last year, we funded a disability swing in Ballyvolane, a pedestrian crossing in Mayfield, and improved footpaths and traffic calming across the ward, as well a new bins and benches in our parks and more.
The potential projects we are examining this year include:
Pedestrian crossings at locations in Glanmire, the Glen River Park and Leycester's Lane.
Traffic calming measures, like table top crossings, children at play signs and radar speed signs.
Relining of roads and existing speed ramps, disabled parking bays, and updating yellow junction boxes.
New amenities like dog fouling bins, water fountains, waste bins, benches, etc.
There was also an interesting proposal to fund additional electric car charging points in the ward using this budget, which we are examining.
We have requested a report from officials on each of these potential projects. There's nothing definite yet, but I am working with all ward councillors on these proposals.
I’ll keep you updated on progress.
Glen River Park and City Development Plan
A few good news points about the Glen River Park from the City Development Plan meeting on Tuesday, 15 March.
The areas designated to preserve the Glen River Valley will be expanded both east and west. The Glen River Valley will now be protected from its source in Mayfield to where it enters the culvert system at Blackpool.
Thank you everyone who emailed councillors about the 30m green buffer in the Upper Glen between Lios Rua and Barnavara Crescent.
There was a determined effort to remove this but myself, John Maher and Ted Tynan put up a staunch defense, supported by independents and colleagues in the North West. The 30m green buffer is now secure!
There was a small loss to an area of green space near the Ballyhooley Road but overall we set out to create a vision for the park and stood by it. We were supported by the Sinn Féin group, John Sheehan and Tony Fitzgerald from Fianna Fáil, Fiona Ryan from Solidarity and independents.
There was an unscheduled amendment to remove green area between Brookvale and the river. We didn’t expect to have to defend this site but well done to all the elected members who rallied again to the defence of this part of the Glen River Valley.
The proposed amendments to the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 are now available for public consultation at the link below.
Ukraine refugees in Cork
A local Green Party member asked about democratic oversight of the city's response to the Ukranian refugee emergency. I spoke with a senior official last week about this.
The Chief Executive (Ann Doherty) was the first in the country to reconvene the "community forums" from the COVID response to now meet the refugee emergency.
There are about 50 different people involved in that, representing the HSE, Together Razem, Tusla, etc. That is seen as the most useful local authority response. It has been extended now to include business groups as well.
However, I asked how this ties in with the elected council. The official agreed to discuss this issue and come back with a proposal.
As a result of that contact, the Chief Executive will now provide a briefing on the city’s response to the Ukranian refugee emergency to Cork City Council on Monday, 11 April.
In the news...
'It’s happening year-on-year': Calls for ranger following multiple fires in northside park
The latest in a series of fires was dealt with by Cork City Fire Brigade, who warned that the lighting of fires in the park could have dire ...
Controversial rezoning amendment passed by Cork City Council despite warning of 'potential landslide'
“This is mad. Landslide. Landslide. Are ye hearing the words that’s being advised to us by the bloody executive? Landslide. Good Lord."
Call for regional park to be developed on wetlands once called 'the Riviera of Cork'
Locals say the land is an area of outstanding beauty and environmental importance that needs to be preserved for future generations.
Keep in touch
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Have a good month!