Social Development Directorate The Social Development Directorate which incorporates the functions of Housing, Culture, Sport and Recreation commenced a number of new projects during the year including the new Housing Customer Relations Management (CRM), the new Planned Maintenance Plan for the council’s entire housing stock, a traveler accommodation audit, and significant advances were made in respect of the new County Library delivery and the upgrade and rollout of new sports facilities in Ennis and Kilrush. The overarching vision for the Social Directorate (Housing) Team Plan is: “The Social Directorate will deliver a sustainable, community-centered County, underpinned by a vibrant social housing sector through a high standard of built environment and comprehensive arts, sport and culturally advanced support programme which will be central to the future of social development advancement of County Clare”. The overarching vision for the Social Directorate (Culture, Arts, Sport and Recreation) Team Plan is: “Clare will be a regional/national centre of culture, sport, arts, heritage, business and built environment, ensuring Clare is a preferred international destination for investment and innovation where the people and businesses of Clare are supported by the council”. The Directorate Senior Team and entire staff have worked tirelessly to deliver work outputs set out in the Directorate Team Development Plan 2017. The directorate is responsible for the construction, purchase, leasing and renting of homes, traveller accommodation, provision of homeless accommodation as well as the ongoing maintenance and management of 2,500 housing stock. In the provision of high quality essential housing services to the people of Clare, the council relies on close working relationships with customers and a range of other statutory agencies and external service providers. Allied to this, a close working relationship with the Elected Members of the council is essential as are inputs to policy direction from the Social Strategic Policy Committee (SPC). The Social SPC met on six occasions in 2017 and agreed a range of
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