Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Tidy Districts Application Form 2017

TIDY DISTRICTS COMPETITION 2017 ENTRY FORM & INFORMATION Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Message from the Infrastructure and Climate Change Director The Tidy Districts Competition gives the County Council an opportunity to reward the many hard working residents associations and tidy towns groups in the County. It is as much a development programme as it is a competition and results in long term environmental improvements in the estates, towns and villages of the County. The competition has evolved over the years to focus not only on the visual aspect of the tidy district, but also education and awareness and the challenges of Climate Change.

Frank Austin Infrastructure and Climate Change Director

This year we’ve reviewed the marking scheme in order to give greater emphasis to community participation, including age-friendly initiatives which will be recognized with a special category award and to the protection of our natural heritage.

The efforts of the volunteers are to be commended, who by giving up their own time, help to build community relations. The competition also strives to foster a sense of pride in not only how well a place looks, but in how people feel about their community. These groups take on the responsibility for their own local environments and these efforts build better and more inclusive communities, not only for those who reside there, but for tourists and visitors to the County alike.

I would encourage as many new groups as possible to enter the competition this year. Participation is possible at every level, through schools, businesses, public bodies and the individual.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants in the competition over the years. With the standard increasing year on year, it can’t be easy to pick a winner and I wish the participants, organisers and judges of the 2017 competition all the very best.

Frank Austin Director of Services Infrastructure and Climate Change

Applications are invited from the following: • Housing Estate/Residential Street • Mixed Use Street • Urban Town/Village Conditions of Entry:

• Entrants must complete all parts of the application form.

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Entrants must include at least 4 photographs, mounted on an A1 board for display purposes at our award ceremony in September 2017. These photos should give a general impression of your area. Photos which are not mounted will not be displayed at the awards ceremony.

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All entrants must include a map which clearly indicates the area to be judged (please highlight the roads and open spaces) and the location of any special features therein.

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Entrants may include supporting documents to support their application and/or clarify particular challenges experienced in the previous 12 months.

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The results will be announced at an Awards Ceremony which will be held in September 2017. Date will be confirmed nearer the time.

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The adjudicator’s decision is final and no correspondence regarding results will be entered into.

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Closing date for receipt of applications – 4pm Friday 26th May 2017

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Judging of Competition – July 2017

Completed Entries should be returned to: Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council, Infrastructure & Climate Change Department, Level 3, County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

OR Email to: environ@dlrcoco.ie

Category Awards for 2017 Best Housing Estate / Apartment complex (5-100 houses) Best Housing Estate / Apartment complex (101 - 200 houses) Best Housing Estate / Apartment complex (201-500 houses) Best Housing Estate / Apartment complex (201-500 houses) Best Housing Estate / Apartment complex (>500 houses) Best Estate Management Area (<= 250 houses) Best Estate Management Area (>250 houses) Best Town/Village pop <3000 Best Town/Village pop >3000 Most Improved Housing Estate Most Improved Estate Management Forum Most Improved Town/Village Best New Entry Litter wardens award Best Biodiversity Initiative Best Engaging Youth Best Age-friendly Initiative Overall Winner Tidy Districts

Tidy Districts Competition Entry Form Name of your Group:

Contact Name:

Last Year of Entry:

Address:

Map Included?

Yes

No

Phone:

Email:

Website (if any):

Category: Please tick the category most relevant to you. 

Housing Estate/Residential Street - Approx. no. of households



Mixed use street - (This category is for an area that does not have a village but may just be one or two shops among residential properties)



Urban Town/ Village - Approx. population (based on the latest census).

If you are unsure please check with the central statistics office, www.cso.ie

I/We have read the conditions of entry and agree to be bound by the rules Signed:

Date:

Completed entry forms must be signed by the Chairperson or Secretary of the Residents’ Association/Community Group.

Neatness & Appearance Presentation and maintenance of all properties - maintenance of frontages, boundary and gable end walls. Gardens, where applicable, should be presented to a good standard.

10 marks (awarded appearance during adjudication).

Road and street appearance: Please give details of grass verge maintenance, weeding, grass cutting, path cleaning and sweeping, etc. Please specify if it is the Council, a contractor or the residents themselves who are involved in each activity.

15 marks 10 marks awarded for community actions during 2016/17 5 marks awarded for appearance during adjudication.

Landscaping: Please give details of landscaping, planted features, etc. Please specify if it is the Council, a contractor or the residents themselves who are involved in each activity.

10 Marks (marks awarded for appearance during adjudication).

Litter Control Litter control: Absence of Litter, fly-posting, and dumping, evidence of litter control strategy, including regular litter patrols, segregation of collected litter during cleanups and promotion of anti-litter awareness throughout community.

20 Marks.

10 Marks awarded for community actions during 2016/17, 10 Marks awarded for appearance during adjudication.

Graffiti Control: Absence of graffiti, evidence of graffiti control strategy, including regular patrols, and promotion of anti-graffiti awareness throughout community.

10 Marks.

5 Marks awarded for policies and procedures to manage graffiti 5 Marks awarded for appearance during adjudication.

Community Participation & Effort in Environmental Improvement Community engagement: Please indicate level of voluntary commitment (general involvement of the community at clean-ups, planting days, engaging new residents, meetings, etc.) All activities which foster community spirit will be considered, with environmental enhancements and climate change mitigating initiatives receiving greater recognition. Note: New special category award for the best age-friendly initiative.

10 marks.

Marks awarded for community actions during 2016/17,

Links to the wider community: Please list all of the agencies, bodies and businesses that have supported your activities through sponsorship, resources, funding, advice, etc.)

5 marks.

Communication: How do you communicate with your community (newsletter, newspapers, public meetings, email, social media, website, etc.)?

5 marks.

Youth engagement: How do you engage with your local schools, youth clubs, etc.?

How do you involve youth with your group?

5 marks.

Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities: How have you increased understanding and awareness of the natural amenities in your area? What initiatives have been implemented to support wildlife, etc? Please specify if it is the Council, a contractor or the residents themselves who are involved in each activity.

10 Marks.

Marks awarded for community actions during 2016/17 (includes maintenance of existing projects)

Completed Entries should be returned to: Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council, Infrastructure & Climate Change Department, Level 3, County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

OR Email to: environ@dlrcoco.ie An Irish language version of this form is also available on request.