Draft Corporate Plan 2019-2024

• That the people of Limerick are supported by a professional, proactive and accessible local government structure, which is at the heart of a wider public service.

• That Limerick is acknowledged for the inclusive participation of all of its citizens in the development of their community. Query raised as to why the vision is about being acknowledged.? Should not the vision be to achieve this.? It is felt that a more appropriate vision would be to foster/ facilitate/develop/create (or whatever) inclusive participation?

• That Limerick offers a real and unique competitive advantage for business development, and an unparalleled quality of life (maybe slightly ambitious for even a vision – should this be a bit more achievable, for example ‘maximising everybody’s opportunity for health, cultural enrichment and educational opportunities) resulting in cultural enrichment and educational opportunity.?

The rationale for the above comment is that this undermines credibility. There is no way that a 5 year plan for Limerick is going to create an ‘unparalleled quality of life’. Our view is that the proposed timeframe is just simply not long enough to influence such change. More realistic expectations in this regard would give the document more credibility.

• That Limerick and the Mid-West rival other Tier 2 cities throughout Europe in terms of business, tourism, education and investment. –

Could we consider suggesting that health and wellbeing is included in the vision as it is a fundamental component of any measurable determinant.

That Limerick’s new brand identity will unlock advantages and experiences for all of its audiences, making the most of Limerick’s physical and cultural connections.

What sort of experiences? Hopefully positive ones. Not sure why the term ‘audiences’ is used here.

In our view this reads well as a goal

We will:

• Work in collaboration with our communities, Government Agencies and private partners to secure funding and other resources to create a more sustainable future, with an enhanced urban and rural environment where the people of Limerick can enjoy an excellent quality of life.

( In our view this is a worthy and appropriate goal and the language used is in accordance with fundamental objectives of any coherent, well intentioned plan.)

• Maximise all potential revenue sources to fund services and development projects in Limerick while achieving value for money. Take an integrated, coordinated and more commercial approach to public procurement to maximise the return on Limerick’s investment. - yes

• Actively pursue the implementation of the Limerick 2030 : An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick, resulting in a vibrant and dynamic Limerick. We will work to ensure our communities in the City and County are rejuvenated. yes

• Deliver the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan in conjunction with communities and partner agencies. –yes

Goal Two - Grow our economy and create opportunity in Limerick – yes.

We will:

• Position Limerick as a competitive knowledge economy, known for its skills base and excellence in a range of sectors thus creating a vibrant and diversified economy with a mix of economic uses and a strong education presence.

• Work with our partners to create the conditions for long-term economic growth, with a focus on job creation in Limerick and correspondingly develop rural economic nodes around our principal towns that dovetail economic opportunities with Strategic Uses for Industrial Zoned Lands.

• Provide direction and vision around digital infrastructure provision with an objective of Limerick becoming more attractive to new investors and supporting local business to gain competitive advantage in the digital market place. We will also work to yield economic benefits for Limerick from the impact of disruptive technologies. – not too sure what this is referring to.?

• Complete the review and preparation of the first joint City and County Development Plan for Limerick aligned with the strategic aims and objectives of the National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040 and the Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy and maybe National climate adaptation plan and could we suggest, the relevant provisions outlined in the Healthy Ireland Plan.?

• Deliver on our Tourism Strategy to enhance the tourism offering in Limerick including new areas of recreation, activity-based and heritage and cultural tourism, and to expand visitor and revenue generation for Limerick from tourism – no issues here.

• Work with our partners in public agencies, the community and voluntary sector and local businesses to maximise local employment and training opportunities in those areas experiencing persistently high levels of unemployment and economic inactivity.

Goal Three - Invest in Limerick’s Infrastructure, project its natural and built environment and unique heritage mix

We will:

• Integrate sustainable travel infrastructure into new developments and optimise the continued investment in roads and transport infrastructure in partnership with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and deliver a smart integrated transport network that improves connectivity and increased use of sustainable travel modes - OK

• Advance key transport infrastructure projects over the next five years including but not limited to the N/M20 Cork to Limerick motorway, Foynes to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme (including Adare Bypass), O'Connell Street Public Realm Scheme and the Limerick Northern Distributor Road.

• Protect our infrastructure through the provision of flood protection schemes under the CFRAMs and other flood protection programmes – there is a full Climate Adaptation Plan for Limerick that looks at this – should be referenced here.? Also, could we suggest that some focus be given to positive climate action strategies rather than just climate mitigation measures.?

• Promote opportunities to enable the development of new cooperative housing models for specific groups including affordable housing, adapted housing and smart aging homes – (We are of the opinion that this should be more than promote. Should be incentivise and support.)

• Support public land activation and work with other state agencies to deliver supporting to deliver supporting infrastructure, increasing the supply of social and affordable homes. – no issues with this.

• Improve the public realm infrastructure to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and so that all people can live, work and access culture and recreation in a safe and friendly environment.

Goal Four - Promote a socially integrated, healthy and safe Limerick – We feel this statement needs to go further than ‘promoting’ this. They should be making it happen. It should be either ‘work towards’ or ‘ensure’.

We will:

• Provide and maintain attractive and safe facilities and public spaces, which are fully accessible to all in our community. – no issue.

• Enhance quality of life in our social housing estates through collaborative, pro-active and supportive estate management, working with partners to promote (wrong word should be support or develop) the work of residents’ associations in private housing estates and support for community engagement.

• Promote and support the development and/or improvement of community facilities, and recreation, sports and cultural amenities for people and communities in the city and county so that we can maximise access to such facilities for people in Limerick and achieve efficiency in provision OK

• Promote equality, diversity and human rights across the functions of Limerick City and County Council. Continue to support inter-cultural integration, a sense of belonging and inclusive environment for all.

• Promote health and well-being by supporting the implementation of key government strategies and through the implementation of a suite of Limerick City and County Council-led initiatives including Healthy Limerick and Age-Friendly Limerick.

We feel that this objective needs to go further. They need to say that they will incorporate protection of health and opportunities for health gain into all areas of their decision making.

• Work with the training and education agencies in Limerick to improve opportunities for learning, education and training and use our library, museum and arts service to enable learning, provide information and promote skills, creativity, ideas and knowledge.

• Through the vehicle of the Limerick Sports Partnership, we will continue to work to increase participation of low participation groups and socially-disadvantaged groups in physical activity and sport. Very welcome.

Goal Five - Actively Engage with our Communities – Ok.

We will:

• Support the set-up of an effective Public Participation Network so that it can play its role in underpinning consultation and participation processes by communities and the voluntary sector – (Welcome this but our view is that this is just a starting point as it is a limited model and only the first step in an overall process/strategy.)

• Support meaningful and effective consultation and participation processes in the development of plans, policy-making and in service and project design and delivery by strengthening our internal systems to ensure they respond to the requirements of public participation processes (this is long). Explore new and innovative ways of connecting and engaging communities, through the use of web-based networks – not just that – why not just stop after communities or state ‘for example’.

• Promote civic participation and support community-led local development by bringing people, resources and planning together so that people can play an active role in determining how their community will develop. We will work together with our partners to build and strengthen the capacity in local communities.

• Work in partnership with organisations and groups providing services in the community to make sure that a person centred approach to delivering services is consistently delivered by Limerick City and County Council and our partners.

• Co-ordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of LCDC Programmes. - yes

• Support communities to maximise the opportunities available to them to enhance their areas and sense of place including supporting access to funding opportunities for community projects. – yes

They need something that explicitly acknowledges the challenges of participation in community development and consultation of social and economically excluded communities. They need a social inclusion strategy.

They also need to implement the clear language provisions in dealing with their communities.

Goal Six - Transition to an environmentally sustainable low carbon resource efficient economy

We will:

• Ensure the implementation of the policy of Government under Ireland’s transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030.

• Develop green infrastructure at local level and promote the use of nature-based solutions for the delivery of a coherent and integrated network.- Probably should be put in clearer and simpler terms.

• Move towards no net loss of biodiversity through strategies, planning, mitigation measures, appropriate off setting and/or investment in Blue- Green infrastructure. – this should be integrated into the Development Plans

• Through strategic noise mapping and Noise Action Planning, promote the proactive management of noise where it is likely to have significant adverse impact on health and quality of life.

• Implement the All Ireland Pollinator Plan including making public spaces more pollinator friendly, raising awareness of pollinators, expanding knowledge of pollinators and collecting evidence to track changes.

• We will promote and support environmental awareness to ensure a healthy living environment for all citizens and future generations. Continue and enhance measures for eradication, control and containment of invasive species.

• Improve water quality in the County’s rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater through the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland. – good to know as it is a legal requirement

• Improve air quality through supporting public transport, walking, cycling (maybe it could be supporting and incentivising) and promotion of energy efficient buildings homes and heating systems.

• Support, facilitate and incentivise the reduction in single use items (presuming not all – for example toilet paper) and the move towards a circular economy.

What about how the Council operates – will there be changes to increase the sustainability of providing their services?

Goal Seven - Be efficient, effective and committed to providing services that will underpin an innovative

We will:

• Be an agile organisation that will be citizen focused through policies, processes and systems – Unsure as to what this actually means in practice.?

• Innovate and adopt new ways of working including the expansion of Customer Services to make access to Council Services easier and more cost effective (more cost effective for whom?) while providing a high quality customer service and experience. – the implication being this is not currently the situation. Would suggest the term “ more user friendly” as being more appropriate.

• Employ data and feedback from users to shape policy and service design.

• Consolidate our services to focus on best international practice.

• Enhance the services provided through increased use of digital platforms. – this does not always enhance a service rather extend it.

• Implement an integrated career based development programme for our staff to make sure that they have the necessary skills and capacity to meet the challenges that will arise during the life of this plan – welcome.

• Implement and publish appropriate performance measurements with targets that are relevant to the public.

• Provide necessary health and safety and wellness programmes for staff to successfully carry out their duties – good

Goal Eight - Work with our colleagues across the public sector and our partners in the private and voluntary/community sector to deliver on a shared commitment to Limerick as set out in the Limerick Charter

We will:

• Lead and support an integrated approach in the development of communities across Limerick for the purpose of education and learning, health and wellbeing, ageing well, support for families and youth at risk through Community participation, Empowerment and Civic Engagement. We will work to ensure that that the Regeneration Areas continue to make progress in social, economic and physical regeneration of the targeted estates as set out in the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan.

• Together with our colleagues in the wider public service, we will created more integrated public service to develop greater sharing of expertise and knowledge and to become more focused on its contribution to the achievement of citizen centred societal outcomes.

• Enable effective inter-agency collaboration through the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), and collaborate with other state agencies including among others, the Integration Working Group, Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC), Comhairle na nÓg, Limerick Childcare Committee, Learning Limerick, Age-Friendly Alliance, Limerick Older People's Executive, Limerick Sports Partnership to achieve their objectives in local community development and social inclusion. – why not include the HSE?

• Together with our partners, we are committed to openness in exploring different and innovative joint service delivery and trading options including co-location and sharing administrative functions and facilities as far as possible.

• Promote individual and community well-being through the delivery of the Creative Ireland Programme and Limerick Cultural Strategy: A Framework 2016-2030 at a local level.

The Environmental Health Service of the above jurisdictions warmly welcomes the development of the above Plan and is pleased to have an opportunity to feed into and submit professional viewpoints on relevant aspects of same relating to health and environment.

General commentary:

As a Mission statement and Policy document for a Local Authority the scope, content, detail and complexity of the overall Plan is wide ranging and extensive. Notwithstanding same we are of the opinion that there are gaps and omissions which are worthy of examination, with a view to inclusion in any revised document.

Specifically we feel strongly that the protection of health has not been adequately addressed and the concept of maximising of health potential being incorporated into the goals or decision making outcomes within the Plan, has not been pursued. It is our strong opinion that health protection and population health should form a fundamental part of any meaningful Plan and that identifying and controlling the critical factors which influence health determinants would constitute a significant part of the plan. In particular we would liked to have seen some commitment to assessing health gain oppurtunities, primarily but not exclusively in the development of the built environment.

The health priorities set out in the Plan for Limerick are clear at:

https://www.lenus.ie/bitstream/handle/10147/584020/Limerick+City.pdf;jsessionid=DA05A1A3E127630296E8A5839624D778?sequence=1

https://www.lenus.ie/bitstream/handle/10147/584048/Limerick+County.pdf?sequence=1

and we would have liked to see some tie in or improved linkage to these, somewhere in the goals that are identified therein.We believe strongly that a primary goal of the Plan as set out, should be to consider and incorporate into the Plan, suitable strategies for maximising health and minimising existing and future health inequalities of populations within Limerick City and County.

The Plan should link better and reconcile more closely to the National Climate Adaption plan which provides the framework and template for appropriate actions and oppurtunities on a National/Regional basis.

https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/media/documents/2019-09/Limerick-City-and-County-Council-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Strategy-2019-2024.pdf

Our view is that the Plan should examine in more detail at how services are delivered and some form of sustainability assessment should be provided for, and details of same set out in the plan.

The Plan, we feel is not specific or focused enough on social inclusion and in identifying appropriate measures to facilitate same, in the community development area.

Likewise, inequalities in health of specific communities and populations, indigineous or otherwise should be the subject of more detailed consideration, in the knowledge that such communities exist within Limerick City and County.

It is felt that the issue of Homelessness/Inadequate/unsuitable/unfit housing and health impacts is worthy of further and closer examination with a view to developing suitable and focused solution strategies that can impact positively on population health.