PrintMinutes of February Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council Held on the 14th February 2007 at 4.00 p.m. in the Courthouse, Moore Street, Kilrush
Presiding :
Cllr. Tom Clyne, Vice-Mayor
Councillors present :
Tom Prendeville, Deirdre Culligan, Colie Sweeney, Marian McMahon-Jones, Liam O’Looney, Christy O’Malley, Jack Fennell
Officials present :
Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service & Town Manager
Ms. Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk
Mr. Steve Lahiffe, Executive Engineer
Apologies :
Cllr. Stephen O'Gorman, Méara.
Item No. 1 Adoption of Minutes of January Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th January 2007 at 4.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :-
The minutes of the January meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 2: Adoption of RIMS Minutes of 25th October December 2006.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney :-
The Minutes of the RIMS meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 3: Rental Accommodation Scheme – Ms. Madeleine McCarthy, Clare County Council.
This item was deferred, owing to the unavoidable absence of Ms. McCarthy.
Item No. 4: Brothers of Charity - Access Audit - Antonio Cebas.
At this point, agenda item 10 was taken and agreed, so the vice-mayor welcomed Antonio Cebas and the other people in attendance at the meeting from the Brothers of Charity. Mr. Cebas said that the Brothers of Charity had as an aim the encouragement of self-advocacy, so that people could articulate their own concerns about obstacles to full integration into the community. He then welcomed the first of 4 speakers:
Ms. Kathleen O'Leary
Ms. O'Leary said she was a Kilkee Road resident in Kilrush and found the road very dangerous with cars travelling at speed. She said that she thought a pedestrian crossing along the Kilkee Road would be good to help pedestrians to cross the road and that she had written to the Council about this previously. She said that kerbs were a trip-hazard in many places and there was a discussion about cars obstructing dished footpaths, making it difficult for people. It was felt that even some of the dishing still made it very challenging for anyone in a wheelchair to get over, without feeling vulnerable.
Ms. Mary O'Dea
Ms. O'Dea was a Cappa Drive resident. There were problems trying to cross the road at Supervalu, lower Francis Street, and that the roundabout there made it even harder to know where to cross. She felt a pedestrian crossing would be good at this location to help people to cross.
Ms. Kathleen Ryan
Ms. Ryan said that she was living with her mother in Quilty but would love if she could get a Council house that was fully accessible, so as to be fully independent.
Ms. Patricia O'Dea
Ms. O'Dea said she was currently living with her family and parents but that she too would love to have a house that was wheelchair accessible. She also asked whether the Council employed people with disabilities.
The town manager confirmed that Clare County Council had a positive action programme and the Human Resources department operates special panels. She said she would arrange for someone from HR to meet with group and explain any opportunities there. The town clerk said that she could also meet with the group to talk about the various housing issues raised. The members said that pedestrian crossings at the Kilkee Road and at the Orchard had been discussed by them at the RIMS committee and they would revisit the question of pedestrian crossings now, along with the roundabout at Lower Francis Street.
The vice-mayor congratulated the deputation for their clear presentations and Mr. Cebas and all the deputation members thanked the mayor and the members for the opportunity to talk to them and the town clerk said she would be in touch with them shortly.
Item No. 5: Final Draft of An Scéim Teanga – Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh
Gabh Emer buíochas don Comhairle as an opporunity caint leo agus duirt sí go raibh an Comhairle Contae sasta an Scéim a ghlachach. Duirt na comhairleoiri go raibh siad lan sasta an Sceim a glachach agus thug siad comhgairdeachas do Ms Ni F, as an méid obair a bhí deanta aici. Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O’Malley, - The Sceim Teanga was adopted.
Ms. Ni Fhlaitheartaigh gave invitations to the members to the launch of the policy document to the members before this item concluded.
Item No. 6: Report on Statutory Review of Kilrush Development Plan.
The manager reported that 50 submissions had been received in relation to the review and this was an exceptionally positive level of interest from the community. Credit was due to Ms. Candace Ingram and John Bradley for their work in engaging interested parties in the process and in preparing the report now before the members. The involvement of the schools was particularly welcome and commended. The report covered a broad range of issues: traffic, environment, energy, recreation and leisure, community and youth facilities, retail and commercial facilities.
The members proposed that a special workshop for the members would be scheduled at which a full discussion could be had. This was set for Tuesday 27th February at 3pm and it was expected that the meeting would proceed for 3 hours. Ms. Ingram and the town manager said that the workshop could facilitate the members to make a determination at the March meeting, as would be required by the statutory review process.
Item No. 7: Feasibility Study – West Clare Community Facility.
The town clerk introduced this item, saying that the members had been previously advised of the participation of Kilrush Town Council in a group that had commissioned a feasibility study (using Leader funding) to look at the need for a community facility for west Clare. Joe Saunders Research and Communications had won the tender and Mr. Saunders would now present his report, which had just been distributed to members.
Following Mr. Saunders presentation, the members expressed a positive response to the study and indicated their awareness too of deficits in community facilities. Members felt that a modern premises that would be an asset and they discussed the growth and vibrancy of the voluntary and community sector in west Clare. Members had queries regarding possible funding and management and the manager said the concept was at an early stage and that those items had not been part of the feasibility study brief. The manager and the town clerk said that what would be done now would be to revert to the 17 agencies/groups that had been consulted in the study and to share the results of the study with them. If there was a commitment and interest from some of those agencies, the next steps would involve a representative group exploring the idea of a multi-use facility further. It would be expected that possibly in late summer, a status report could be brought to members again.
Item No. 8: Schedule of Uncollected Rates 2006.
The town clerk presented a report dated on the above, which compared collection accounts for 2005 with 2006, and highlighted a 7% improvement over the period. The members and manager welcomed the improvement, noting the importance of this and all collection accounts in the continuation and improvement of services provided by Kilrush Town Council.
Item No. 9: Civic Reception – Spirit of Kilrush Crew – 2nd March, 2007.
The town clerk confirmed that arising from previous discussion with the members and with the crew & Chamber, this would be on Friday 2nd March at 7 p.m. Members would be further advised closer to the time. The venue would be the Vandeleur Centre and food would be provided.
Item No. 10: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
"That this Council would receive a deputation from the Positive Change Group which seeks a partnership and consultative initiative with Kilrush Town Council on a range of disability issues."
This item had been taken as item no. 4.
Item No. 11: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Prendeville :-
"That this Council, in view of the pending Plouzane delegation visit on July 12th to mark the silver jubilee of the twinning initiative between our towns, would consider extending an official welcome to the Bretagne visitors on that date as it coincides with the monthly meeting of the local authority, and that an exhibition of memorabilia relating to the twinning initiative since 1982 be mounted for the occasion."
The proposal here was to dedicate the July meeting to the celebration of the silver jubilee of the twinning arrangement and to invite the delegation to the statutory meeting. Cllr O’Malley, as the link to the Twinning Committee in Kilrush was asked to talk to the committee to see whether this proposal would be possible, in the context of the schedule of the visiting group, and to bring back news to the March meeting. The Twinning Committee might also have memorabilia that could be displayed as part of the event. The town engineer was also asked to locate the Plouzane Twinning sign that had been on the Killimer Rd, which may have been temporarily moved for roadworks reasons.
Item. No. 12: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
"That this Council would ask the Town Engineer to inform the members when road markings and other relevant works will be undertaken to facilitate the amended 2006 Kilrush Town Council Public Places Bye-Laws."
It was reported that the residents of Burton and John Streets were anxious to have the one-way systems implemented. The town engineer said that some building works on these streets or adjacent had to proceed before the signage and roadmarkings could be done practically. The town engineer said that he would want to have the one way systems implemented before summer and that this would be the case if factors like weather and sub-contractors were in order.
Item No. 13: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Sweeney :-
"That this council would repair the broken pedestrian light at Crawford Street which has been out of action for almost eighteen months."
There was a full discussion about street lights out of order. Following discussion it was agreed to invite an official from ESB to the March meeting.
Item No. 14: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Sweeney :-
"To ask the Town Engineer to report on any progress on the urgent provision of public lighting on the public Right-of-Way at the rear of Fahy's Road, Kilrush which was raised in this chamber over one year ago and which is a great source of a health and safety concern to residents living in the area there."
Item No. 15: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Clyne :-
"To ask for an update as to when the new Council yard will be in place, and would they consider transferring the recycling facilities from Place de Plouzane, to a designated site in the Council yard."
It was confirmed that the Council yard development would be advertised for tender shortly, but that a bring bank site had not been part of the proposed development. Members felt that the new yard would be an ideal place for the relocated bring bank. Members felt there should be a full civic amenity site/recycling centre in Kilrush, and that the County Council, who are the waste management authority for the county, should be advised of this.
The town manager said she would request the Director in Environment, Ger Dollard, to send an officer to address the members in relation to the current waste management plans for the county.
Item No. 16: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. Clyne :-
"To ask this Council and Engineer for an update on the flooding at Island View."
The town engineer said a report from the consultants for Island View had to be examined but that it was likely that Kilrush Town Council would do remediating works (for the garden water logging) to 3 or 4 houses first as a pilot to carrying out those works in all the gardens effected by the problem.
Item No. 17: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. O'Looney :-
"That this Council, on the National day of Commemoration to the Manchester Martyrs, organise a ceremony in conjunction with the day."
Cllr. O’Looney proposed that the Taoiseach and Oireachtas members be invited to this ceremony when it occurs.
Item No. 18: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. O'Looney :-
"That this Council would co-ordinate a programme to tackle the problem of dog excrement on our streets."
The members acknowledged the effort the Town Council had made in terms of signage and public awareness and making available free ‘poop scoops’ available in the shops. The difficulties involved in enforcing the law on owners cleaning up after dogs were acknowledged. Members reported that the problem was very bad between 8 and 9am, when dog owners take their dogs out for a morning walk. The Tidy Towns Committee was asked whether morning patrols could be done by its members and Cllr Clyne said that the committee would request Frankie Coote, the dog warden, to talk to them again, because his first presentation about a year ago had been helpful.
Item. No. 19: Curtha faoi bhraid na Comhairle ag Cllr. O'Looney :-
"That this Council would liaise with the building contractors on various sites around the town to help alleviate a lot of dirt exiting the site and causing problems for neighbours."
Cllr. O’Looney said that there was a conference about energy conservation in Clonmel that he wished to attend and this was agreed. Cllr. McMahon Jones said there was a conference on environmental regulation on in Carrigaline, Cork, which she wished to attend and this was also agreed.
Cllr. Cyne raised the matter of the pending retirement of Alan Cronin, FAS, and it was agreed that Mr. Cronin be invited to the April meeting to receive a presentation from the members.
A motion was passed by all members to send greetings for a speedy recovery and good wishes to the mayor, Stephen O’Gorman, and his family.
Item No. 20: Correspondence :-
Copy letter dated 20th December 2006 received by Tony Killeen T.D. from Tom Parlon T.D. regarding Coastguard Station.
Letter dated 5th January 2007 received from the Department of Finance regarding tax treatment of expenses for tuition for children with dyslexia.
'Thank You' Card from the family of the late Michael O'Sullivan.
Letter from Colmcille Heritage Trust regarding the 18th Colmcille Winter School conference to be held from 23rd to 25th February 2007.
Letter received from the Confederation of European Councillors regarding one day Seminar to be held on the 23rd February 2007.
Signed :
Cllr. Tom Clyne, Vice-Mayor
Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk
Date : 8th March 2007