Chief Executive’s Management Report
April 2020
Purpose of CE Report ...............................................................................................2 Our Mission ..............................................................................................................2 Our Vision.................................................................................................................2 Our High-Level Goals and Strategic Objectives .........................................................2 Our Values ................................................................................................................2
Pay Parking Income.................................................................................................36 Park & Ride Vehicle Numbers .................................................................................37 Public Bike Scheme .................................................................................................37 Enforcement ...........................................................................................................37 Road Offence Breakdown – to March .....................................................................38 Road Offence Location - to March .....................................................................38
People & Organisation Development ........................................................................ 3
Infrastructure Projects ............................................................................................ 39
Contact Centre ......................................................................................................... 3
Urban Regeneration & Development Fund: ............................................................40 Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation Projects: ..............................................................40
Service Requests ......................................................................................................4 Roads .......................................................................................................................4 Housing Maintenance ..............................................................................................5 Environment.............................................................................................................5 Emergency Services Incidents...................................................................................6 Fire Prevention .........................................................................................................6 Building Control........................................................................................................7 Building Control Functions Housing Requests..................................................7
Asset Management ................................................................................................. 41
Mahon Golf Course Fees - Closed due to Covid-19 .................................................41 Lifetime Lab – Closed due to Covid-19 ....................................................................41
Environment........................................................................................................... 42
Covid 19..................................................................................................................42 Illegal Dumping .......................................................................................................42 Waste prevention Grant Scheme ............................................................................42 Monthly Waste Tonnage.........................................................................................45
Community Content ................................................................................................. 8
Library Service........................................................................................................ 12
Licensing ................................................................................................................ 46
Membership & Visits .............................................................................................. 12
Street Furniture Licensing .......................................................................................46 Dog Licences ...........................................................................................................46
Arts & Events ......................................................................................................... 13
Sport & Sustainability ............................................................................................. 15
Strategic & Economic Development......................................................................... 47
Development Management .................................................................................... 17
Covid Supports for Business during Covid 19 Crisis. ................................................47 Training and Webinars ............................................................................................47 New COVID-19 Business Loan .................................................................................47 Mentoring...............................................................................................................48 Trading Online Voucher Scheme.............................................................................48 LEAN for Micro........................................................................................................48 LEO Financial Supports............................................................................................49 Planning Policy........................................................................................................49
Planning Applications Granted by Cork City Council: .............................................. 17 Planning Enforcement Cases .................................................................................. 18 Planning Decisions confirmed by An Bord Pleanála ................................................ 19
Housing Directorate ............................................................................................... 19
Rent Collected ........................................................................................................ 23 Social Housing Stock ............................................................................................... 23 Housing Applications .............................................................................................. 24 Housing Assistance Programme (HAP) ................................................................... 25 Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) ................................................................... 26 Private Housing Grants ........................................................................................... 26 Housing Maintenance ............................................................................................ 27 Voids ...................................................................................................................... 27 Vacant Dwellings .................................................................................................... 28 Homeless Services .................................................................................................. 28 Emergency Accommodation................................................................................... 28 Rough Sleepers....................................................................................................... 29 Bishopsgrove .......................................................................................................... 30 Cork Foyer .............................................................................................................. 30 Capital Works ......................................................................................................... 31
Corporate Services & International Relations ........................................................... 50
Chief Executive’s Office ...........................................................................................50 Council Services ......................................................................................................50 Payments Processed ...............................................................................................50 Franchise - Register of Electors ...............................................................................51 Numbers added to register .....................................................................................51 Communications .....................................................................................................51 FOI/GDPR/Reviews & Requests ..............................................................................52
Finance Directorate ................................................................................................ 53
Expenditure ............................................................................................................53 Income by Source ...................................................................................................54 Key Collection Levels...............................................................................................54
Roads..................................................................................................................... 33
Roadworks Programme .......................................................................................... 33 Pavement Surface Condition Index (km) ................................................................ 34 Regional Roads Grants (km Strengthened) ............................................................. 34 Roads Maintenance Programmes........................................................................... 34
Transport ............................................................................................................... 36
1
Purpose of CE Report __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Every month, the Chief Executive of Cork City Council publishes a report with the latest updates, statistics and figures from around the organization. This Chief Executive ’s Management Report is part of the reporting structures within Cork City Council and aims to: assist the elected members to carry out their governance responsibilities; oversee the executive in the delivery of policy that has been decided by council; provide oversight of the Chief Executive’s discharge of her executive duties. Our Mission __________________________________________________________________________________________________ • We deliver excellent public services to the people of Cork by working collaboratively with our strategic partners. • We are a city of ambition, working with our neighbourhoods, communities and businesses to support economic development and facilitate investment. • We value our culture and heritage and ensure that Cork continues to be successful as an attractive place to live, study, visit and work.
Our Vision __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Leading Cork to take its place as a World Class City.
Our High-Level Goals and Strategic Objectives __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our Values __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Public Good
Trust & Integrity
Respect
People Centric Approach We engage with people in a fair, courteous and timely manner. We strive for continous improvement.
Responsibility
Innovation
We provide high quality services and address peoples’ needs in a manner that is both inclusive and equitable.
We act honestly, openly and fairly in all our dealings.
We treat all people equally with due regard for their needs and rights.
We are accountable and transparent and act responsibly in our dealings and decision making.
We continually seek progressive and creative approaches in the services we deliver.
2
People & Organisation Development __________________________________________________________________________________________________ In response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, as an employer the City Council had to adapt very quickly to support and assist our employees during a time when the City Council was a key player in supporting the city and its communities. With short notice a lot of work was undertaken to allow for the redeployment of staff. Staff were redeployed to the HSE to undertake important contact tracing work as part of the national response to the COVID-19 crisis. More staff were redeployed to the Customer Service Unit to support the Community Response Forum helpline and the Business Restart programme and up to 125 staff were redeployed to fill Parks Social Distancing Ranger assignments across 18 parks. COVID-19, as a public health issue, impacted on every employee in the organisation. To support the wellbeing of our staff very quickly the People & Organisation Development Directorate created an in-house employee helpline for staff to contact, where calls are taken by members of the directorate. In addition to this a frequently asked questions document was created and made available to staff. Regular engagement with our occupational health providers ensured that we were following best medical advice at all times. A dedicated staff wellbeing webpage was created which detailed all the supports and resources available to our staff in-house and nationally. COVID-19 induction was rolled out throughout the organisation with the assistance of all directorates and a Work Safely Manual was compiled to provide guidance for staff. When responding to the challenges posed by COVID-19 the directorate has been quick to use technology as assist with communicating with our colleagues and service users. In a short space of time the recruitment section has adapted the recruitment process to online interviews and the training section is now also delivering training online where possible. The requirement to complete the return to work form and contact tracing requirements have been addressed using electronic solutions. The ability to communicate with staff is important and again, with the help of technology, a system is now in place where we have the ability to contact staff and a weekly text message has issued since the initial national lockdown.
We would like to thank all staff and directorates for their assistance and co-operation during this demanding situation.
Contact Centre __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7,984 calls were received by the Unit in April on the 492 4000 line. This is an average of 399 calls per working day. However, while the regular calls to the 492 4000 line reduced slightly in April, the CSU were also handling all calls coming into the new 1800 freephone Covid-19 community helpline. For the month of April, the CSU answered an additional 1,567 calls on the Covid-19 helpline. These calls varied in nature from requests for the collection and delivery of food, essential household items, medication and fuel, to requests for social isolation supports, meals on wheels deliveries, and other garda or medical related requirements. The CSU agents liaised daily with the Community area co- ordinators to ensure that all calls were responded to. This community helpline operated 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm throughout the month of April. The number of call agents expanded further in conjunction with this, thanks to the cooperation and redeployment of our colleagues in other directorates, allowing the CSU to pick up all calls and refer them onwards to our colleagues in the Community section.
3
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Calls Abandoned
Calls Forwarded
Calls Received
Calls Served
Housing Other Services
Litter/Waste Roads & Traffic
Housing
Litter/Waste
Other Services
Roads & Traffic
Total
Calls Abandoned
57
10
22
7
96
Calls Forwarded
133
34
27
12
206
Calls Received
5204
1035
1336
409
7984
Calls Served
5147
1025
1314
402
7888
Mary and Laura taking calls for the CSU and 1800 Covid-19 Community helpline. Mary and Laura relocated to the Old Cork Waterworks last month to adhere to social distancing protocols.
Service Requests __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Roads Service Requests Status of Roads Service Requests
38
800
800
700
700
706
600
600
367
500
500
9
400
400
185
394
300
300
13
8
32
200
378
200
79
220
100
192
209
171
100
100
0
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Closed Open
2020 Emergency Routine Urgent
4
Roads Service Requests by Month/Year
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2018
2019
2020
Housing Maintenance Service Requests Received
Service Requests Outstanding
Service Requests Closed
7,000
6,000
1000
6,000
900
5,000
742
800
660
5,000
700
4,000
527
600
4,000
500
3,000
3,000
400
310
2,087
1,842
2,000
300
1,427
2,000
1,420
1,1001,110
200
1,058
521
1,000
100
1,000
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-
-
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
Types of Calls
2,500
1,914
1,747
2,000
1,301
1,500
914
1,000
500
160
132
111
86
13
12
9
8
-
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Emergency
Routine
Urgent
Environment Litter
Street Cleaning
Trees
350
500
300
100 120
250
400
200
20 40 60 80
300
150
200
100
100
50
-20 0
0
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2018
2019
2020
2018
2019
2020
2018
2019
2020
5
Emergency Services Incidents
94, 11%
300
250
278, 33%
154, 18%
108
200
66
53
150
51
80
67
90
100
84
52
50
54
26
12 22
30
29
23
0
321, 38%
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Cardiac First Responder
False Alarms
Cardiac First Responder
False Alarms
Fire
Special Services
Fire
Special Services
Fire
Special Services
108
120
250
100
200
66
80
150
51 53
60
84 90
80
100
67
40
50
20
0
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-20
-50
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
False Alarm
Cardiac First Responder
80
35
30
29
70
30
23
54 52
60
25
50
20
12
40
15
26
22
30
10
5
20
0
10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
-5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-10
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
Fire Prevention Fire Certs
Fire Licensing
Inspections
60
160
30
140
50
22
25
120
40
20
100
15
14
30
80
15
9
60
20
10
40
10
3 2
5
1 0
1 2 2 2
20
0
0
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
6
Building Control
Month
Year
Total
Apr
2020
Building Control Site Inspections
0
Apr
2020
Commencement Notices
6
Apr
2020
Completion Certificates
4
Apr
2020
Dangerous Structures Complaints
6
Apr
2020
Disability Access Certificates
22
Apr
2020
Outdoor Events & Concerts
0
Apr
2020
Housing Grant Requests
0
Apr
2020
% of Commencement Notice
0
Apr
2020
New Building Inspections
0
100
0 -
0 -
17
80
12
Outdoor Events & Concerts
5 0 -
Housing Grant Requests
60
24
Disability Access Certificates
43
20
40
0
Dangerous Structures Complaints Completion Certificates
25
22
20
37
28
16
0 6 4
0
0
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Building Control Functions
Housing Requests
35
120
30
100
25
80
20
60
15
40
10
20
5
0
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
2018
2019
2020
2018
2019
2020
7
Community Content __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ballincollig Community Response
LOCAL CALL TYPE
#
It was a busy week for … Westgate foundation is particularly busy during this week, providing phone support to over 100 service users and people cocooning/self-isolating that may not normally avail of Westgate foundations service. They have also increased their numbers availing of meals and wheels and still continue to provide this service within Ballincollig and Surrounding areas. Ballincollig GAA club have been dealing with all groceries queries and requests, they have a pool of volunteers that have been responding to all requests in quick turnaround. Where the person requires groceries that day they will have them. Ballincollig Community Forum has been liaising with all stakeholders to ensure that all information was being distributed locally and all requested are being dealt with in a prompt time to ensure the person looking for support is getting their essentials as quickly as possible.
Prescriptions & Medical needs
8
Jobs in House
3
Grocery Deliveries
12
Meals on Wheels
12
Other Deliveries
10
Phone Support
120
CRF Helpline
12
We’re doing this well … The Ballincollig Community Response felt it was quiet at the beginning and decided to design a poster with local contact details of stakeholders and clubs/organisations they are involved with shows that locals could identify in conjunction with Cork City Council helpline. This has proven to be efficient and more calls are coming in locally that is fed back through Cork City Council weekly. AWhatsApp group was set up with all group members and all requests are assigned to different individuals and each request is dealt with quickly. Posters and Facebook sharing of information is getting the information out there. Meals and Wheels distribute a poster to all clients in receipt of meals and wheels to ensure they had the contact information.
We are noticing … People who are ringing locally through the numbers on the posters saying that just even having a name and number available that should they require assistance helps reduce anxiety and provides a sense of comfort. People who have received support either from deliveries ,or support are using the support more than once as they are happy with the no fuss, quick response and community looking after each other. Howwe’re reaching out … All team numbers, and organisations are advertise locally; WhatsApp is set up for stakeholders; Community alert scheme notifies its data base of service; Various Facebook sharing of information; Ballincollig Newsletter has printed poster of contact information weekly; Posters are available in all local shops, chemists, post offices, petrol stations in the locality; Residents associations have been contacted to disseminate information to residents Mayfield Community Response
It was a busy week for … Newbury House Family Centre: Manned 2 local phones for Mayfield Response Team and fielded queries onto volunteers/other community team members/other organisations; Mayfield Priority Shoppers – 52 volunteers. – coordinated and supported volunteers; Set up pension collection procedure and collected 5 pensions – 8 collectors; Set up pharmacy WhatsApp group and linked with local pharmacy – 9 collectors; Link with local volunteer groups – Mayfield GAA, Brian Dillions, Scouts; Family supports – phone support/video activity links/online parenting programme/family shopping requests. 18 video link family counselling sessions this week; Community Supports – family support worker & counsellor – online counselling & phone support; Mayfield Arts Centre – activities online; Provided Childcare Family Activity and food packs
LOCAL CALL TYPE
#
Prescriptions & Medical needs
7
Jobs in House
8
Grocery Deliveries
115
Meals on Wheels
2
additional customers this week; 500 meals per week in total
Other Deliveries
81
Phone Support
142
CRF Helpline
7
8
Mayfield GAA collected 6 full trolleys from Dunnes customers for Cork Penny Dinners & volunteered on Mayfield Priority Shoppers Team
Brian Dillon’s GAA: Volunteers on Mayfield Priority Shopping Team, Undertaking Food Drive for Cork Penny Dinners
Lotamore Family support: Family & Elderly Service Users Phone support; Lead the Meals on Wheels programme, supporting the volunteers on MOW
Mayfield CDP: Lead on the Pharmacies Group; Mayfield Matters – collated the information, designed and printed the newsletter; Available for printing and posting forms as requested by the public; Provided Childcare packs to families; Participated in the delivery of Covid19 information; St Josephs Community Centre: Houses meals and wheels; Phone and admin support to the community We’re doing this well … A few weeks ago we included lots of local resource information and Covid-19 response material in the Mayfield Matters newsletter, produced by Mayfield CDP for the area. Given the restrictions on movement, we recruited 35 volunteers to deliver over 5,000 copies directly to local homes. A lot of people have found the information on the wealth of resources available in Mayfield to be very beneficial and have reached out for support where they need it. To meet the challenges of dealing with requests for groceries from cocooning or vulnerable local residents we set up the Mayfield Priority Shoppers group. Coordinated by the amazing staff at Newbury House Family Resource Centre, our shopping volunteers are linked via a Whatsapp group and quickly respond
to requests. Newbury developed step-by-step procedures and coordinated with shop managers to ensure no wait times in queues for our volunteers. As the weeks have passed, many of these volunteers are checking up and staying in contact with the service users they have dealt with, fostering those direct person-to person links in the community. The effect of responding to this crisis for the Mayfield community is not just on an individual basis, but is also having an impact on how different agencies, charities and organisations respond: our initial 9 shopping volunteers have had their ranks swollen considerably this week as the shopping elements of work being done by the exceptional people at Brian Dillons and Mayfield GAA clubs moves under the coordination of Newbury. This means there are now 52 volunteers playing their part in the success of the Mayfield Priority shoppers initiative.
Pension group – names in garda station – employees of local charities. Procedures set up
Challenge of connecting and supporting vulnerable families
Whatsapp Groups. Posting staff videos/ideas/information/general phone support
Delivery food and activity packages, individual phone support/forwarding referrals for support from family support work/meals/shopping/etc. online positive parenting programme
Provide shopping supports/progressing to zoom group classes/online workshops
We are noticing … T his week we have seen a marked increase in people’s perception of their isolation or their loneliness. We’re a few weeks into these restrictions, and as time has gone on familial relations are often s training, people in addiction recovery are really struggling now, and many others are grieving in isolation. However, we have also witnessed a groundswell of community spirit, as many people engage with local services and each other. Trust is being built up in and between local agencies and organisations and many people are overcoming any previously perceived stigma of asking for help. We’ve found that as there are so many local people involved in responding to the current crisis, the vast majority of referrals or requests for assistance are coming directly to the on-the-ground membership of the Community Response Team rather than through the 1800 Helpline number. How we’re reaching out … Mayfield Matters Newsletter (Mayfield CDP); Mayfield Priority Shoppers; Whatsapp; Newbury House Family Resource Centre helpline; Facebook: Mayfield CDP - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001612428625; Mayfield Community Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/327955444026570/ ; https://twitter.com/BrianDillonsGAA ; https://twitter.com/MayfieldGAA ; https://www.facebook.com/Newburyhousefamilycentreltd ; https://twitter.com/mayfieldcs
9
Douglas & Rochestown It was a busy week for … Douglas Meals on Wheels deliver 210 meals per week. This is all completed through monies received from the HSE and the working of the Local Douglas meals On Wheels Group who work 365 days a year to service those in the community in need of Meals on Wheels. During this crisis the City Council and the Douglas Frankfield Men’s Sheds are both assisting with deliveries. The Douglas Frankfield Men’s Sheds have been busy doing essential works: including replacing a tap for a person with disability and responding to a call from a cocooning person who badly needed her garden strimmed and then cut. They also replaced a small fridge for a man in the city. The fridge donated by a member of the Sheds Group. This is again a great example of an already well connected group with an overall Men’s Shed Organisation servicing needs with in the community during this crisis. We’re doing this well… The Covid-19 Community Team has delivered leaflets to 1500 houses in Douglas Grange and Rochestown. We feel that as an area Douglas Rochestown with a high population of older
LOCAL CALL TYPE
#
Prescriptions & Medical needs
6
Jobs in House
3
Grocery Deliveries
10 - 12
per week
Meals on Wheels
210
meals
Other Deliveries - 40 Food Hamper deliveries young at heart. Delivered by An Gardai Phone SupportCare-ring Douglas Young at Heart; 402 people are contacted 3 times a week; 10 volunteers CRF Helpline 4 to 6 calls mostly grocery and some essential household fixes
people, need to keep offering help and clear information to those cocooning to
ensure they know we are here and where to access specific information and services. Innovation: Care-ring Douglas Young at Heart 402 people are contacted 3 times a week by 10 volunteers. The HSE supplied the volunteers with phones enabling the volunteers to socially insolate while still maintaining their high level of calls. This Service has seen a marked increase over the last month. We are noticing … There has been an increase in the number of people access personal alarms through ‘Young at Heart Douglas’ with 12 people contacting the group this week alone! This is an ongoing trend in this programme. (Phil Goodman is the lead for Douglas Young at Heart and is herself Socially Isolating while completing many community functions remotely and from her home.)
How we’re reaching out … The News Letter produced by CCC is being used as a door to door leaflet drop which we are completing on a 2 week cycle to targeted 1500 houses across the area. Online the groups are sharing Cork city Council/Government and HSE info and local helpline. The Care ring service is locally getting many requests for support.
Tower & Blarney It was a busy week for … Since we delivered our first meal on St Patrick’s Day, March 17th, we hav e gone from delivering 10 meals per day to more than 50 every day as the crisis has deepened. Delivering a hot lunch with smile and a chat every day, whilst being extremely careful to observe all safety protocols,
LOCAL CALL TYPE
#
Prescriptions & Medical needs
10
Jobs in House
12
Grocery Deliveries
12
has given us unique access to many of the vulnerable people in our community and allowed us to build up relationships and offer help in other areas. I feel even those who don’t use our service rest a little easier as they know we are there, and that reassurance at this time of such uncertainly is so important. At the outset a note was put through many local doors (attached) offering help to those who may be vulnerable and may not know here to go to look for help, subsequently leaflets supplied by Cork City Council were also delivered.
Meals on Wheels
300+
Other Deliveries
8
Phone Support
10
10
At Easter we delivered Easter eggs and treats to over 160 people cocooning, giving us the opportunity to see if we could be of any help to them in other areas without being intrusive. Practical jobs undertaken range from chicken wire being erected under eaves to stop swallows nesting, and gutters were cleaned, outside lights fixed, and steps painted to make them safer as one man’s house became a home thanks to the attention of our volunteers. We have delivered shower heads and cooking equipment to frontline workers, replaced 'Iggle Wiggle' for a child for whom this toy was particularly important, sourced a tablet for a gentleman to play (ironically) solitaire after his laptop gave up, and delivered a game of scrabble to a gentleman who wished to play remotely with his overseas daughter. One lucky gentlemen received a bottle of rather good wine which we purchased and delivered from his Swedish family, and a lover of world war two books had his library replenished thanks to a generously answered appeal for books, as did a lady who received the entire collection of Alice Taylor books. DVD players and DVDs, hand sanitising bottles and baking ware were donated and delivered to a residential unit for young adults with intellectual disabilities, plants and seeds collected for a lady who just had to get out into the garden and many happy readers contributed to and continue to carefully use our book exchange in Centra Blarney village.
A lady in isolation was delighted that her much loved dogs got out for a walk every day, and our offering of litter pickers to families who wished to get out and help Tidy Towns received a lovely response from a few local families. Our isolation art completion, in conjunction with the Muskerry News is receiving great entires from young people up to 18 years of age as they tell us with a poem, story, painting or drawing how their life has changed during this crisis, and we encouraged local houses to light up at night to encourage walkers passing, and our cocooners to fly a flag and stay home and stay safe. Through the Muskerry news we put up regular encouraging notes and suggestions of help, all of which reach on average of more than 6,ooo local people and always received a request for help. So as another busy week in Blarney comes to a close we have seen nearly 300 hot meals delivered, we have collected medication, shopping and pensions, posted letters, and taken away those all important phones to get them fixed and returned to their relieved owners, and hopefully spread the message that we really are all in this together. Two members of our group have been working from behind the front door, Pat who is cocooning and Kate who contracted the virus and has been working from her computer and can’t wait to get out delivering again next week!
How we’re reaching out … Local phone lines, Whatsapp/facebook groups, Newsletters/print, Websites/Blogs, Noticeboards, Door to door
Mahon It was a busy week for … Mahon Community Development Project hand delivered interactive creativity packs to 150 older people who are engaged with their service and 30 packs to children who use their Creche. These packs were made up by the staff of the CDP with particular attention being paid to the interests of their service users. Included in the interactive packs for older people were homemade cookies, homemade playdough and the recipes to recreate these yourself, as well as bubbles, exercise guides, wildflower seeds and poetry written by local people.
LOCAL CALL TYPE
#
Prescriptions & Medical needs
13
Jobs in House
4
Grocery Deliveries
20
Phone Support
60
Last week though the CDP linking with the Community Response Forum we were able to provide these vital interventions for two local people ; a fridge for an older man in Mahon who is cocooning with serious health problems and a washing machine another man who had been washing his clothes in the bath. Mahon Community Centre continue to support people locally in particular through providing small repairs for local residents as well as jump starting cars and fixing punctures. Mahon Community Association are providing fresh bread and veg to the residents of Arus Mhuire a 30 unit sheltered housing complex on the Skehard road. The Rainbow Club are delivering food hampers to families in Mahon and further afield who have linked with them for support. Local volunteers
11
continue to collect pensions/prescriptions/shopping for neighbours who are cocooning. One of our community response team visits graves for those who are cocooning and lays flowers on them as well as sends pictures of them to relatives who cant visit graveyards at present. We’re doing this well … Local solutions have been very positive the provision of busy bee packs though the Yew Tree Project as well as interactive creative packs by the CDP have engaged people and have kept them linked in with services. The Blackrock/Mahon community Gardai have set up their own phone number for people who are cocooning to be able to contact to get help with jobs such as collecting pensions and prescriptions. Phone number 089 459 8574 this has been a vital addition to supporting local people in accessing services especially pension collections and linking with older residents who are cocooning. This number gives local people a direct link into the Community Gardai. We are noticing … Connection is essential feeling connected through a phone call is a lifeline for people especially those cocooning. As time at home goes on families require support to keeps children engaged and busy the youth workers and drugs task force projects have come together and have identified families who require additional support and they are working with the community response team to develop specific packs to support families.
A great support for older people cocooning has been having the graves of their beloved families checked up on and as anniversaries have past having flowers places on the graves and having them tended to has been a huge comfort for people. This is being done by a local volunteer who is part of the community response team, who sends the person an update and a picture. How we’re reaching out… Local phone lines are keep for keeping in touch as is whatsapp and zoom calls by youth workers; Facebook groups are providing support to local people for example the Rainbow Club facebook page is supporting members of the club.
Library Service __________________________________________________________________________________________________ As noted in the March metrics the Covid-19 emergency has had a huge impact on the performance of the library service. Libraries have been closed to the public since 12 March, following an instruction from central government, and library staff have been redeployed to a range of HSE and other Council locations. For the first time in almost a century, since the years after the destruction of the Carnegie Free Library by Crown Forces in 1920, there were no visits to libraries for the month under review. The only items borrowed were by Housebound patrons, thanks to the Council’s expanded home service. This is not the full story, however, as we operate in a dual physical | digital environment. Membership is up – to 34,379 [from 24,024 in this month last year]; this is because of people joining to download online resources (where you need to be a member and have a PIN). Downloading of eBooks and eAudio books continues to rise by huge amounts – 9,786 in April 2020. This is well over three times the volume in April 2019 [3,061]. Again, this is a spinoff from people being confined to home. Membership & Visits Membership Library Visits
34,361 34,379
36000
32,789 32,568
85000
34000
76,108 75,051
32000
75000
30000
65000
28000
55000
26000
45000
24000
22000
35000
25,465
20000
25000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
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Items Borrowed
Online Library Visits
29000
27,676
80000
27000
70000
25000
56,810 55,398
60000
23000
21,343 21,643
50000
21000
18,230
40000
19000
24,618
30000
17000
15000
20000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2017
2018
2019
2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
eBooks/AudioBooks
Public PC Use
10500
9,786
6,405
9500
5,873
6500
8500
5500
6,891
7500
4500
6500
5,138 5,097
5500
3500
4500
2500
1,592
3500
1500
2500
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
2019
2020
2019
2020
Online Event Promotion
Item Returns
79000
29000
27,676
27000
69000
25000
59000
52,015
23000
2017
21,343 21,643
2018
21000
49000
18,230
2019
19000
37,297
39000
2020
17000
29000
15000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
19,199
19000
2017
2018
2019
2020
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Arts & Events _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Creative Ireland Only two out of fourteen Creative Ireland projects will need to be deferred to 2021. This year’s underspend will facilitate an opportunity to nominate a young person to represent Cork City as part of a nationwide audio series by RTÉ initiated by Creative Ireland and also to explore professional development supports for creative contributors (and potential contributors).
Other projects are being adapted for delivery on schedule or simply postponed until later in the year.
Cruinni ú na n Ó g will take place on the 13 th June, largely as an online event. Cork City’s programme is now available to view on the national website. Despite the shorter timeframe and COVID 19 restrictions, we received more submissions than usual which is an testament to the creative problem -solving capabilities of our cultural producers and the Trojan work of our coordinator, Eimear O’Brien. A decrease in in -person activities resulted in a surplus of our Cruinniú na nÓg budget which was channelled into the Lord Mayor’s Creative Call for Children in Cork City. This call invites creative representations of life in the time of coronavirus from the perspective of Under 18 year olds.
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Submissions will be a) presented as a digital exhibition online, b) distributed as printed mini-newspaper to all our city libraries which will include copies for the Local Studies section and c) archived for posterity in Cork City and County Archives.
Cork City of Sanctuary As proposed to the Cork City of Sanctuary Working Group and with the support of the Community Response Team, the Community Arts Coordinator is coordinating an Arts Supplies Drive to Under 18 year olds in Direct Provision Centres to which many Cork City-based cultural institutions have made generous donations. Simultaneously, The Glucksman are delivering activity packs and resources to their target groups in the city and donating remaining supplies to county-based centres. Deliveries are expected to be made from next week. General Update Progress reports by award grantees gathered in the last month have provided reassurance that the vast majority of planned projects and activities will go ahead in 2020, albeit adapted around restrictions imposed by COVID 19. A handful will be postponed to 2021, leaving us with an exciting calendar of events for Q3 and Q4 that will reaffirm our social solidarity despite the necessity of physical distancing. Strategic Programmes supported through Revenue Funding that are revising modes of delivery include: Beag; Cork Mid-Summer Festival; Music Generation; Cork Academy of Music; Cork Butter Museum; Ó’Bhéal literary festival (including The Unfinished Book of Poetry) Recovery Planning Liaison with the Economic and Strategic Development Directorate has revealed opportunities for the delivery of creative activities that will support the arts sector, activate the City Centre and build community confidence through engagement. A detailed proposal has been developed.
Our first step is to be the coordination of online discussion fora focused on very specific categories of cultural production namely:
• Venues i.e. theatre, film, music, dance, performance, literature, festivals • Exchange-based i.e. community arts spaces, studios • Cultural Attractions i.e. galleries, museums • Time-based/Seasonal i.e. festivals, tourism especially those reliant on volunteers • Outdoor/Sports Attractions
Wellness Programming Through a series of conversations and meetings with coordinators of community services incorporating wellbeing programmes, many excellent initiatives have been identified that Cork City residents can be signposted to. This includes an online Wellness Hub for adults developed by a network of social prescribing initiatives across the Cork- Kerry Community Health catchment area (two of which are based in Cork City) and online offerings for U18s by Helium Arts Creative Health Programme in partnership with CUH. A number of projects that can address the needs and experience of specific target groups are being explored in consultation with the 16 areas represented by the newly established Community Response Teams. The target groups include cocooning older people, people living with long term health conditions, minority groups and those affected by mental health issues.
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