Corporate Services
The Corporate Service Directorate is responsible for delivering a wide range of services to the general public, the elected members and staff. The Directorate is responsible for co-ordinating the various meetings of the council, preparing the register of electors, administering the Higher Education Grants Scheme, and providing information and communication services.
- Customer Services Desk - County Hall
CUSTOMER SERVICES
The Customer Services Desk continues to provide a first point of contact both for telephone callers and face to face customers, and enables Sligo County Council to provide an informed and prompt response to customers. The Customer Services Desk provides general information, application forms, and brochures for every service area of the Local Authority and dealt with in excess of 9,300 queries in 2006. The majority of contacts related to Roads, Environment, Planning and Housing.
Staff from the Customer Services Desk participated in the Sligo Access Conference organised by the Disability Federation of Ireland and provided information on the services offered by the Local Authority.
Sligo County Council continues to undertake a number of initiatives to improve its customer care such as:-
- Ongoing development of the website
- Production of information leaflets and brochures
- Installation of touch screen information kiosks at public service areas
Customers can be confident that their query will be dealt with efficiently by trained members of staff.
PROCUREMENT AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT THE TEAM:
The project team which was originally put in place in October 2005 has in 2006 been further expanded to include additional staff. This expansion is indicative of the project team’s performance in developing best practice in the procurement function and overseeing some of the city and county’s major capital projects.
While the team continue to be involved in the delivery of the public private partnership (PPP) housing schemes in Carney and in Ballinode, other projects include the development of a new Sligo Museum, the extension of the Model Arts and Niland Gallery, planning for the development of the associated cultural precinct at the Mall/Connaughton Road, the new Sligo Library and Library Headquarters, the establishment of Framework Agreements for specific services for use by the local authorities, the proposed Riverside One Stop Shop, the continued development of Waterpoint, Enniscrone and the establishment of a parking meter system for Sligo city and the county’s other major towns.
- Artist's Impression of new facility behind Model Arts Centre
NEW SLIGO MUSEUM
Sligo County Council plan to develop a new museum on a city centre site in Sligo. In mid 2006, planning permission was sought for the development of the new Sligo Museum and the extension to the Model Arts and Niland Gallery. Planning permission has since been granted and detailed design is in progress. It is anticipated that construction will commence late 2007.
The museum will have a county wide service brief, and will fulfil a range of functions in respect of the material heritage of the county, the communities living in the northwest and visitors to the region. The museum will be located within a new two storey purpose built landmark building on a prominent city centre site at The Mall/Connaughton Road, contiguous to the existing Model Arts and Niland Gallery. Both facilities will form two sides to a new high quality civic space being provided through a separate PPP project which will also feature a substantial car parking facility and commercial development. The individual facilities combine as elements of a new urban space and in the context of creating a new vibrant cultural quarter within the city. The combined facilities, located in close proximity, will enhance significantly the City and County’s cultural facilities and infrastructure and form a major visitor attraction.
NEW CITY LIBRARY
In April 2006, Sligo County Council advertised a competition to engage architectural consultants for the purpose of assessing the suitability and the
potential of the existing library site at Stephen Street, Sligo to accommodate the library project. Consultants will be appointed early in 2007. The study will evaluate the capacity of the site to accommodate a library as envisaged or should that not prove feasible, the extent of facility possible thereon and propose an outline form for any new structure.
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS
The Team has undertaken the lengthy process of procuring design services on behalf of both Sligo County and Borough Councils. Framework Agreements have been put in place for Architects and Quantity Surveyors, the services of whom have been made available for forthcoming projects in Sligo city and county for a maximum period of four years. Agreements in respect of Civil and Structural Engineers and Mechanical and Electrical Engineers will be completed early in 2007.
DEVELOPMENT AT RIVERSIDE:
A masterplan for the development of the Riverside site has been completed. The plan includes the development of a One Stop Shop Facility on the site. Discussions are ongoing with Teagasc in respect of the intended project.
PROCUREMENT:
In association with the Local Authorities’ Finance Sections, preparation of a Corporate Procurement Plan has commenced. It is envisaged that this will provide a model for best practice in terms of procurement and purchasing.
