Current SPCs are not fit for purpose.
"The role of each of the Strategic Policy Committees is to assist the full Council in the formulation, development and review of policy in relation to functions of a strategic nature, subject to the relevant statutory framework. The Council is and remains the decision-making authority, and it is the task of the SPCs, as committees of the Council, to advise the Council in the context of policy formation and development." (Source: https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/our-council/council-meetings/strategic-policy-committees/ 14 August 2024)
In my experience SPCs withing SDCC operate as follows:
- SPC meetings occur on a quarterly basis.
- As far as I can ascertain the agenda is set by SDCC executives and it usually arrives via email three business days ahead of the meeting. My one attempt to have something placed on an agenda was refused.
- Typically an Agenda consists of a) minutes of the last meeting b) five reports by SDCC executives a) AOB
- The agenda tends to be a selection of largely unrelated items.
- Each agenda item usually consists of a report by a SDCC executive followed by comments and questions from SPC committee members.
- As the SPC meetings last just 90 minutes invariably there is no time for AOB.
- In my experience there has never any been any committee discussion, or the opportunity to have any discussion that could in any way help to "...assist the full Council in the formulation, development and review of policy in relation to functions of a strategic nature..." . Neither has there ever been an opportunity "...to advise the Council in the context of policy formation and development."
It is my opinion that the current structure and operation of SPCs are not fit for purpose.