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Minutes of April Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 12^th April 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush

In Attendance:

Cllr. Christy O'Malley, Méara.
Comhairleoirí: Tom Prendeville, Deirdre Culligan, Colie Sweeney, Marian McMahon-Jones, Stephen O'Gorman, Tom Clyne, Jack Fennell.
Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service & Town Manager
Ms. Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk

Apologies:

Cllr. Liam O'Looney

Adoption of Minutes of March Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 12^th April 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Tom Clyne :-

The Minutes of the March Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Official Languages Act 2003 – Preparation of Languages Scheme for the County. Attendance of Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh

Emer O’Flaherty was unable to attend the meeting but the town clerk circulated the presentation Ms O’Flaherty would have made to members and members were invited to make contact with Ms. O'Flaherty directly.
Set Date for RIMS Meeting

Thursday 4^th May at 3:00 p.m. in the Vandeleur Garden was set as the date for the RIMS meeting to consider the submissions received on the proposed parking bye-laws.
Kilrush Road Works Programme 2006

The proposed programme for 2006, including roads, lanes, footpaths and public lighting, had been circulated dated 12^th April 2006, along with a summary of previous motions from members.

Following discussion, the draft road works programme for 2006 was proposed by Cllr Prendeville and seconded by Cllr Sweeney.

At this point Supt Joe McKeown was introduced and welcomed by the mayor. The superintendent had been invited arising from a discussion at the March meeting about speeding motorists. Supt McKeown confirmed to members that 31 speeding detections had been made during March and to date in April and confirmed the Gardai would do speed checks at any location if advised by members of a problem at a particular location or by a particular motorist.

The senior executive engineer said that a speed counter was being installed on the Cappa Road and the superintendent and Mr. McNamara agreed to meet with a view to siting it in the optimal location.
Proposed Variation No. 4 to Kilrush Development Plan

The town manager referred to the minutes of the March meeting and to the general approval by members of the proposed variation no. 4, pending receiving clarification. The town manager clarified the following for members :

Where development proposals for permanent housing come forward, such proposals are provided for through Policy H7 on land that is zoned either residential or as Other Settlement Land. This is in the interest of the proper planning and sustainable development of the town.

The zoning objective for Other Settlement Land is to conserve and enhance the quality and character of the area, to protect residential amenity and allow for development appropriate to the sustainable growth of the settlement. Within this zoning appropriate development proposals for any type of land-use is open to consideration, including amenity space/play areas, commercial, residential (permanent and non-permanent occupation), recreation and community facilities. The importance will be to ensure the existing character of the area be maintained and where possible reinforce it further whilst also seeking to support and strengthen the service base.

In clarification therefore, policy H7 provides for permanent residential development on Other Settlement Land, but this does not preclude proposals for other types of development being open to consideration on land zoned as Other Settlement Land in line with the zoning objective as presented above.

All proposals for development are subject to assessment in relation to all aspects of site suitability.

Provision of a text amendment to Variation No. 4 to provide clarity in this regard was as follows:

That paragraphs 28 and 29 of Variation no. 3 would be substituted by the following text proposed in Variation No. 4:

Other Settlement: Land Areas of the town that are designated Other Settlement Land seek to accommodate development proposals which are in keeping with the character of the surrounding area. Within this zoning appropriate development proposals for any type of land-use is open to consideration, including amenity space/play areas, commercial, residential (permanent and non-permanent occupation), recreation and community facilities. The importance will be to ensure the existing character of the immediate area be maintained and where possible reinforce it whilst also seeking to support and strengthen the service base. Thus clarified, the proposed Variation No. 4 was unanimously approved by members to go to public notification.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan:
"That this Council would show its support of 'The West Clare Friends of Ennis General Hospital' & write to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tanaiste Mary Harney and Prof. Brendan Drumm, Chief Executive of HSE (the latter has yet to answer questions put to him back in December) regarding their lack of commitment to the hospital to date."

There was a discussion about who constituted the west Clare friends of ennis General Hospital and members agreed that the Ennis hospital issue was more than a political issue and that politics should be put aside by all in order to come together to support the hospital.

Following discussion, it was agreed that letters should issue from Kilrush Town Council, along the lines of the motion as presented.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan :

"That this Council would include the footpaths in Moore Street, in their 2006 programme."

This matter had been dealt with at item 4 and footpaths on Moore Street were included in the 2006 programme.
Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones :

"Is this Council aware of any application for CCTV, have we been asked to adopt a supporting role by any agency as per July 2005 meeting."

In a written reply, the town clerk replied:

"The Chamber of Commerce Liaison Committee has discussed the potential benefit of CCTV in the town centre and the Chamber of Commerce is considering the issues concerning a CCTV installation in the town centre. The Gardai have indicated support for such an initiative in the town centre. Kilrush Town Council would participate as a supporting agency to a community CCTV scheme application for the town centre.

Kilrush Town Council is currently researching possibilities with regard to CCTV installation in John Paul Estate. This includes the technical possibilities and challenges and the resultant financial installation and maintenance/monitoring costs. Kilrush Town Council will become the lead agency in a CCTV scheme for John Paul Estate, if suitable funding can be sourced. The Gardaí have indicated support for such a CCTV initiative in the John Paul estate area, as has the multi-agency group hosted by the Town Council."
Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones :

"That the manager would give an update on our Christmas lighting."

In a written reply, the marketing and development officer replied:

"At the February liaison meeting with Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber asked if the Town Council would consider making the full investment required in Christmas lighting for the town. The Town Manager agreed to examine this request in the context of the revenue budget process and revert back to the Chamber executive at a future liaison meeting

A full investigation of costs and sources of finances is now being progressed. The Marketing & Development Officer has sourced two lighting companies. Both Rossa Lighting, Cavan and Fantasy Lighting, Dublin have been asked to conduct a site visit to the town and prepare full quotations. This is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks."

Members raised questions about the annual contribution of the Kilrush Town Council towards Christmas lighting in town. The manager confirmed that based on a survey carried out among town councils, that Kilrush Town Council was receiving value for the contribution. The town clerk said that she understood that the contribution of the Council, €3,000 in the 2006 budget, was used for two purposes: to pay the electrician and to buy the town Christmas trees (including lighting them). Local businesses supplied the electricity for the street lights from their own premises.

Members asked if they could be circulated the minutes of the Chamber of Commerce Liaison Committee meeting. The town clerk indicated her understanding was that the link between members and the committee was set by the members delegate being the chair of the committee, but agreed to the documentation circulation request.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville :

"That the Manager would report to the elected members on a timescale for the proposed Review of the Kilrush Town Development Plan."

In a written reply, the town clerk replied:

"The schedule for the review of the Kilrush Development Plan is such that it is set to commence in September/October 2006. It will be a long process, which will involve periods of consultation with members, opportunities for the public to make submissions, opportunities for the public to inspect draft proposals, public meetings. The review process aims to ensure that the reviewed plan will be for adoption to replace the existing plan by the time the existing plan expires in March 2008.

The development plan review process is a statutory process, and is dictated by the Planning and Development Act 2000 at sections 9 through 12.”
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville :

"That the Town Engineer would report on the 2006 Roads Programme for the urban area."

This had been dealt with at item 4 above.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville :

"That the Manager would report to the elected members on affordable housing units made available in Kilrush under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 since its enactment, the criteria applied in respect of eligibility under the scheme and the number of applicants to date."

In a written reply, the town clerk replied:

"No units have as yet been made available in Kilrush. However, negotiations are live on a number of planning decision files and it is anticipated that the legal agreement for a number of affordable houses will be finalised this year. Affordable houses that are subject to such legal agreement would then be advertised as an affordable scheme when the houses become available.

The main criteria operated for affordable housing are: that the repayments on a loan for a similar house at the full price would exceed 35% of the applicant’s net monthly income.
- applicant must have sufficient income to meet mortgage repayments on loan required to purchase affordable house.
- applicant must be a first time buyer.
- the house must be occupied as the normal place of residence.
- no history of anti-social behaviour.
Number of applicants The County Council, which operates regarding Part V affordable housing county-wide, has invited applicants to complete an "Expression of Interest” form indicating their interest in affordable housing. It also requests their top three location preferences in order and an indication of their income. This information is kept on a database and consulted when houses become available in a particular location. A full application form is then sent to each such applicant. In addition an ad is placed in the local press inviting applications for the particular scheme. A total of 258 "Expression of Interest” applications have been received by the County Council. The greatest demand is for Shannon, listed by 86 applicants as their first preference, followed by Ennis with 69. There are currently no applicants who have listed Kilrush as a preference. However, as above, when a Part V legal agreement is finalised in respect of a Kilrush planning permission, the Kilrush affordable scheme will be advertised." Members felt that developers should not be able to contribute money rather than units of housing. The town manger confirmed that Clare County Council had begun negotiation with the CIF on the subject of social housing units becoming part of Part V agreements as part of reviewing the current housing strategy. Members suggested that the government should bring forward an incentive or scheme for first time buyers of affordable housing.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :

"That this Council update the street lighting in Grace Street & St. Senan's Terrace to correspond with Lower Moore Street and John Paul Estate lights, also to resurface, line and proper signage to be put in place in Grace Street & St. Senan's Terrace."

The senior executive engineer confirmed that Grace Street and St Senan’s Terrace are Clare County Council’s budget area and traffic calming measures & signage upgrade are being designed for that area currently.

Members’ attention was drawn to the electoral area meeting on Tuesday next at 3.45 in the Vandeleur Garden, where it was hoped that the overall result would be to divert HGVs away from this residential area.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :

"That this Council welcome the 20 Million Euro Development Plan for Ennis Hospital and requests in the 1 st Phase of the Development Plan, priority be given to additional beds and Catscan."

Unanimous support was expressed for Ennis General Hospital and recent investment was unanimously welcomed although it did not include for the provision of a catscan.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman :

"That this Council would invite Senator Brendan Daly to the next monthly meeting to give an update on Kilrush Decentralisation and Ennis General Hospital Development Plan.

There was discussion that referred back to item no. 6 of this meeting and it was eventually agreed to issue invitations along lines of motion, but to also invite Peadar McNamara of the Ennis General Hospital Development Committee.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne :

"To ask this council for an update as to when works will begin, to alleviate flooding of gardens in Island View."

In a written reply, the town clerk replied:

"Kilrush Town Council is currently seeking to establish a source funding for this work, via the Department of Environment and Local Government."

It was also confirmed that Kilrush Town Council will be trying to establish the technical design considerations that had been taken into account in the planning of Island View in the first instance.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne :
"To ask this council for a report on a motion I submitted previously regarding the project of putting in place a right of way at top end of Pella Rd. in Island View."

The senior executive engineer said that priority always had to be given to replacement and upgrade of existing paths. There was a discussion about whether making a path at this location has wider estate design implications, since elsewhere, lanes were being removed.
Correspondence
- Letter from Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh regarding submissions for the Language Scheme.
- Letter dated 28^th February 2006 from Tralee Town Council regarding the Civil Legal Aid Means Test.
- Letter dated 7^th March 2006 from An Post regarding the provision of ramp access to Kilrush Post Office.
- Letter dated 2^nd March 2006 from Clonakilty Town Council regarding the awarding of building contracts.
- Letter dated 8^th March 2006 from Cobh Town Council regarding the training of second level students in CPR.
- Letter dated 13^th March 2006 from Ballinasloe Town Council regarding the implementation of a 'Household Waste Collection Voucher'.
- Letter dated 15^th March 2006 from Skibbereen Town Council regarding Community First Responder Projects/Committees.
- Acknowledgement Card received from the family of the late Mary and Martie Looney.
- Letter dated 20^th March 2006 from Passage West Town Council regarding the planting of genetically engineered crops in Ireland.
- Letter dated 20^th March 2006 from Passage West Town Council regarding food production in Ireland.
- Letter dated 29^th March 2006 from Clonakilty Town Council regarding planning laws.
- Letter dated 30^th March 2006 from Edenderry Town Council re support for Stardust victims.

The meeting then concluded.

Signed : ______________________________

Cllr. Christy O'Malley
Mayor

Signed : ______________________________

Fiona Mooney
Town Clerk

Dated this the day of 2006.

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Minutes of April Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 12th April 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush

In Attendance:

Apologies:

Minutes of April Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 12^th April 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush