My first motion at March 16th Municipal District Meeting ” That the council outline in detail all mechanisms and options open to us to challenge the designation of Newbridge as a ‘ Self Sustaining growth town’ in the Regional
Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES) including challenging the lack of representation from this district on Eastern Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) the body that developed and recommended the designations, to include a list of all social and other infrastructure audits conducted of the town over the last 5 years and any other evidence submitted by the council in support of Newbridge being appropriately designated as a Key Town.

Report issued by: Ms A Granville, Senior Planner : The appointment of representatives from Kildare County Council to the Eastern Midlands Regional Assembly is a matter for the members. The Eastern Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) are the Authority with responsibility for the preparation and adoption of the Regional Spatial and Economic
Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern Midlands Region. The RSES designated “Key Towns” within the region and furthermore sets out a series of characteristics to assist Local Authorities in designations for settlements in their respective County
Development Plans. The RSES did not designate Newbridge as a Self-Sustaining Growth Town, this is a function of the County Development Plan. This is the highest designation which can be afforded to a settlement during the development plan review process. The designation of further Key Towns within the County is outside of the
remit of the County Development Plan and is a matter for the mid-term review or
otherwise of the RSES.

Attached are submissions made to EMRA by Kildare County Council during the preparation of the strategy, which have previously been circulated to members.