New council chief wants a thriving city
“We are far better together. Together, we need to ensure that Cork city is a location of choice for people – to give people compelling reasons to work here, invest here, live here, study here and spend time here.”
Those were the words of the newly appointed Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O’Sullivan as she spoke on Wednesday at a Cork Business Association (CBA) event where she outlined her vision and priorities for the coming year.
She emphasised the importance of continued open dialogue and collaboration between Cork City Council, CBA and the business community in their collective effort to make Cork a thriving and dynamic city.
Recognising the need for increased efficiency and impact, Ms O’Sullivan stated three guiding principles will now shape the council’s approach in the years ahead. This is to keep it simple, decide, deliver. “We need to make things happen quicker for Cork city.”
In her first week, she restructured the organisation to put a strong focus on the city centre, on the planning and project delivery process, service delivery and housing supply.
Key initiatives in her plan for the coming year, already in progress, include:
A renewed focus on the city centre, with a commitment to improving public spaces
A new cultural quarter in the city, a strong vibrant programme of activity around Christmas, and continued support of festivals
Piloting new approaches to the Living Over the Shop challenge
The launch of the Cork Futures Group, a task force dedicated to setting clear, actionable goals for the city’s future similar to the Dublin Task Force
The council will partner with CBA and An Garda Síochána on the introduction of a community warden service, ensuring a stronger city presence and enhanced safety measures
An accelerated approach to tackling dereliction, which is an issue for every city and town.
She stressed the need for increased national funding: “If we are the second city, if policy states we are second, then implementing policy means giving us the second biggest share of national funding and removing the barriers to pace.”
Ms O’Sullivan and President of CBA Aaron Mansworth both urged businesses and stakeholders to embrace the opportunities ahead together.
After the event, Mr Mansworth said: “This event was a clear signal of the ambition and drive shaping Cork city’s future. Valerie’s vision aligns with our shared goal of making Cork a more vibrant, business-friendly city where people want to shop, live, work, visit and play. Strong collaboration between local government and the business community is key to delivering meaningful progress, and we will continue to work with Valerie and her management team as a critical friend to ensure Cork city thrives.”