Unathorised developments in Celbridge electoral area

I have continuously expressed dissatisfaction with the control systems around unauthorised developments.    I am aware of several files that have not had action for protracted periods,  in some cases years.   I received the following report which I continue to be unhappy with,   I  asked if the IT section of the Council could modify the system in a way that it can deliver reports that are useful to the committee.   We are also to be provided with instructions on how to access those files online that have been issued with enforcement notices.

“Councillor Murphy stated that all they wanted was general information relating to the North Kildare area i.e. How many files were open, how many were closed, current status etc. the councillor also requested that the council contact the Computer Services Board regarding the database currently in place and ask them to upgrade the reporting system currently in place throughout the country.

General Information
Files presently open in the North Kildare Area
Ardclough       4
Celbridge       115
Leixlip             113
Maynooth       89
Straffan           35

Files closed in the North Kildare Area
Ardclough       2
Celbridge       82
Leixlip             60
Maynooth       67
Straffan           27

Whereby the information sought in the councillors request can be derived, it is extremely time consuming as the system will run a search on limited criteria.
Putting the above figures together involved running a search on UDs in Ardclough, Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth & Straffan and cross referencing the lists to mark off duplicates i.e. Celbridge Road, Leixlip addresses would be also on the Celbridge report.
It will not be possible to regularly provide the above figures or to provide more detailed information due to workload/staff ratio & system setup.  As any file that has a Warning Letter or Enforcement Notice served on the developer is mapped it would be advisable in the event of queries on a number of cases to carry out a planning search and submit information/representations in respect of the files identified through the search.

The database is only accessed by the planning directorate staff.  However, the database is subject to audits and detailed returns are requested by the DOEHLG in order to supervise the system.  The returns are related to the whole county and are not area specific. (N.B.the whole county outside of the jurisdiction of Naas Town Council and Athy Town Town Council)
As the unauthorised development files are confidential files, the database is used as an internal management system for the cases.  The information available to the public in respect of these files are the Warning Letters & Enforcement Notices or, in the case of a file being closed the complainant will be informed by letter that the planning authority are minded to close the file and comments/submissions are to be received within two weeks of the date of the letter.
Furthermore, where a warning letter and/or Enforcement Notice is served the details are entered on the Planning Register and this information can be searched online.

The Councillor also requested that the council contact the Computer Services Board regarding the database currently in place and ask them to upgrade the reporting system currently in place throughout the country.
The Local Government Computer Services Board has been contacted in respect of upgrading the reporting system currently in place.  A further
digitising system would be required to be put in place to divide/outline the counties electoral areas in addition to the Board upgrading the system.  The Board presently have their work prioritised for the next couple of years and the upgrading of the Enforcement Database is not on the list.  If and when the upgrading works may be listed the Board will draw up the costs involved in making these changes and submit them to the Local Authorities involved.  Budgetary provisions and additional staff would need to be considered before accepting the Boards costs.

In the event of these changes being made the information available to the public will remain the same as the information that can be currently provided under the existing system.  There is a statutory process in place in respect of the administering of UD Files and the Unauthorised Development staff can only process the representations in line with these procedures.”

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Posted by catherinemurphy on January 21, 2011. Filed under Ardclough,Celbridge,Leixlip,Maynooth,Straffan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.