PrintMinutes of February Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th February 2010 at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding:
Cllr. Marian McMahon-Jones, Méara.
Councillors present:
Liam Williams, Ian Lynch, Tom Clyne, Tom Prendeville, Stephen O'Gorman, Liam O'Looney, Mairead O'Brien.
Officials present:
Ms. Nora Kaye, Director of Service & Town Manager.
Mr. John Corry, Town Clerk.
Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer.
Apologies:
Cllr. Paul Moroney.
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of January Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 14th January 2010 at 7.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Lynch :-
The Minutes of the January Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 2: Presentation by Marketing & Development Officer on Tourism & Marketing.
Siobhán Garvey, Marketing & Development Officer briefed the members under the following headings :
- Kilrush Town Brochure.
- Website Re-development and Maintenance.
- Kilrush Tourism Development.
- Promotion - Domestic Market.
- Promotion - Oversees Market.
- Marketing Support.
- Chamber of Commerce Liaison.
- Tidy Towns Liaison.
- Casual Trading.
- Assistance to Arts/Community Projects.
- Parking Fines and Permits.
- Public Relations.
- West Clare Economic Task Force.
Siobhán concluded by strongly urging the members to lobby for Shannon Airport. She also indicated that an absence of a hotel is an issue for Kilrush. The members complimented Siobhán on her work as Marketing & Development Officer and agreed with her that a hotel is badly needed in the town.
Item No. 3: Corporate Plan 2010 - 2014.
The Town Clerk advised the members that the Corporate Plan was the vision for what the Council hoped to achieve over the lifetime of the Council and it was being brought before them so that they were aware of the document and the role of Kilrush Town Council as part of Clare Local Authority.
Item No. 4: Kilrush Town Development Plan.
The Town Manager apologised to the members for not having before them a report on this matter as she was detained at the High Court in Dublin. She suggested that a Special Meeting be convened to discuss the Kilrush Town Development Plan and also the County Development Plan. It was agreed to hold this Special Meeting on Monday 1st March 2010 from 4pm-6pm and it was further agreed that the Planner be in attendance.
Item No. 5: Set Date for Meeting to be held at Kilrush Community School.
Following discussion it was agreed that the Town Clerk would liaise with the Principal Mr. Rock Kirwan in an effort to determine what the students might like discussed at the meeting as it was felt that the motions should be geared towards the students.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Lynch :-
“To ask the Manager to investigate the possibility of applying for an Urban Renewal Scheme for Moore Street."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th February 2010 the Town Clerk reported that :
"The Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government have advised that any application for an Urban Renewal Scheme for upgrading residential properties would have to have obtained planning permission before December 2004 & that works should have commenced before July 2008.With regard to commercial premises the Minister for Finance designates approved locations & his department have advised me that in the current climate it seems likely that no further locations will be approved .I will continue to maintain close contact with the DoEHLG & the Department of Finance to ensure that if there is a possibility of a window being opened for approval of future schemes that Moore Street would be included."
The Town Clerk reiterated that there was funding available for Urban Renewal Schemes at present, but should this window open at a later date Kilrush Town Council could submit an application. However, following discussion it was agreed that Moore Street was in urgent need of remedial works and that maybe Development Contributions could be used in this regard and in order to achieve an increase in Tidy Towns Awards marks areas such as Moore Street need a facelift. It was further agreed that a meeting needed to take place with the residents of Moore Street. It was also noted that the town centre was suffering because of the increase in developments on the outskirts of the town and that an incentive needed to be introduced to encourage development back to the town. It was suggested that a rate derogation be put in place or some form of rate relief for commercial properties, particularly in Moore Street. The Town Manager pointed out that there was no legislation in place to facilitate this, but it was suggested to her that Kilrush Town Council ask for a resolution. The Town Manager also advised the members that Clare County Council are reviewing the Development Contributions Scheme and she suggested that a letter issue to the Department seeking the re-introduction of the Urban Renewal Scheme. Furthermore, she suggested that this matter be discussed with the Planner at the Special Meeting scheduled for the 1st March. It was also agreed that the AMAI delegates would bring forward the request for the introduction of an Urban Renewal Scheme for small towns and villages to the next AMAI meeting.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones :-
“That this council would correspond with the Department of Arts, Heritage and An Gaeltacht after receiving the professional advice of both the Conservation and Heritage Officers from Clare County Council regarding the derelict 6th century church on the grounds of the Church of Ireland graveyard at Crawford Street with a view towards funding an essential repair and restoration works programme because of its alarming deterioration in recent decades."
Following discussion it was agreed to set in motion an action plan to deal with this deteriorating building now before it falls into further disrepair and in this regard Dick Cronin, Conservation Officer and Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer are to be invited to a meeting of Kilrush Town Council.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones :-
“That this council would organise the annual 1916 Commemoration Ceremony on Easter Sunday, April 4th."
It was agreed that Kilrush Town Council would be involved in this ceremony and that they would fund the purchase of a commemoration wreath and hiring of the PA system.
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. Moroney cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville :-
“That this council could ask the Minister of the Environment John Gormley T.D. as to what stage the proposed new sewerage treatment plants for Kilrush and Kilkee are at."
In the absence of Cllr. Moroney this motion was tabled by Cllr. O'Brien.
During discussion the Town Clerk confirmed that a preliminary report was with the Department for a significant time and that Clare County Council had prioritised Kilrush and Kilkee treatment plants and it was hoped to get approval for this report as soon as funding became available.
In the meantime it was agreed to send the letter to the Minister as requested.
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. Moroney cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville :-
“That this council would review it's contract with the ESB for the repair of faulty lighting and replacement of light bulbs on the public lighting in Kilrush."
In the absence of Cllr. Moroney this motion was tabled by Cllr. O'Brien.
Following discussion it was agreed that this contract needed to be reviewed as it was felt that Kilrush Town Council should be getting more from the supplier.
Item No. 11: Ar Moladh Cllr. Moroney cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney :-
“That this council would request that Clare County Council would reverse it's decision not to allow our street cleaners to work over the weekend period in Kilrush."
In the absence of Cllr. Moroney this motion was tabled by Cllr. O'Brien.
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th February 2010 the Town Manager reported that :
"We are endeavouring to review street cleaning in Kilrush & other towns during the winter months & will revert to the Council in due course."
Following discussion the Town Manager confirmed that due to road grant reductions the council were not in a position to pay overtime to street cleaners and an arrangement for time in lieu was put in place, with union agreement. Then with staff shortages, etc. staff were not able to take the time off and cutbacks were made for the winter weekends. However, she further advised that this matter will be reviewed and possibly from May onwards the street cleaning will recommence.
Item No. 12: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones :-
“That this council would write to all councils to protest against water rate charges."
Following discussion it was agreed that a letter issue to the appropriate Government body strongly protesting against the introduction of water charges as the members felt that it would be the most vulnerable in our society that would be affected by this charge and that people cannot afford any more payouts. It was further agreed to circulate this motion to all local authorities and that same be brought to the AMAI.
Cllr. Prendeville expressed his hope that the water function would not be privatized. He further said that there was outrage in the town over water and waste water bills that have been issued and he hoped that hardship circumstances would be taken into account.
As the time allowed for the meeting had expired it was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville and seconded by Cllr. Lynch to suspend Standing Orders to allow the remaining items on the Agenda be dealt with.
At this point Cllr. O'Gorman expressed his view that presentations should not be included in the 2 hour meetings; that they should be dealt with separately.
Item No. 13: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman cuidithe ag Cllr. McMahon-Jones :-
“That this council would put into perspective resurfacing, road marking & road lining of Moore St."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th February 2010 the Town Engineer reported that :
"Funding for improvement works to the National Primary and Secondary road network is provided by the National Roads Authority (NRA) under an annual programme. The section of the road in question at Moore Street is part of the National Secondary road network i.e. the N67. Unfortunately Clare County Councils 2010 allocation from the NRA did not include any specific funding provision for improvement works at this location."
Cllr. O'Gorman expressed his dissatisfaction with the reply given and indicated that compared to other streets in the town such as Frances Street, Toler Street, Henry Street, etc. Moore Street is in a very poor condition and furthermore that Kilrush will not win the overall Tidy Towns Award with the present condition of Moore Street.
It was agreed to refer this matter again to Clare County Council.
Item No. 14: Ar Moladh Cllr. Cllr. O'Gorman cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville :-
“That this council would ask the Engineer when are the relaying of pipes in Crawford Street & resurfacing of roads will take place."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th February 2010 the Town Engineer reported that :
"The Preliminary Report for Kilrush Sewerage Scheme is with the Department awaiting approval. In the 2010-2012 Assessment of Needs, Clare County Council has prioritised the construction of this contract to commence in 2011, subject to funding being available and all planning complete, and inclusion in the Water Services Investment Programme expected to be issued by the DEHLG later this month."
It was agreed that as this was a regional road the matter needed to be referred to Clare County Council.
Item No. 15: Correspondence
Letter dated 8th January 2010 from the Department of Health & Children regarding Nursing Home Fees.
Letter dated 8th January 2010 from Monaghan Town Council regarding recent decreases.
Letter dated 15th January 2010 from Killarney Town Council regarding retention of minimum wage. This letter received the support of the elected members.
Letter dated 19th January 2010 from Mary-Jane Burgess regarding Family Resource Centres.
Preliminary notification of Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) Annual Conference to be held on 9th and 10th April 2010 at the Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo.
Letter dated 20th January 2010 from the office of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding renewable energy sources.
Letter dated 2nd February 2010 from Bus Éireann regarding wheelchair accessible buses.
Item No. 16: Conferences
With regard to seminars/conferences attended, reports completed in accordance with Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001 were made available at the meeting in respect of:
There were no seminars/conferences attended.
The Mayor referred to the matter of jet ski usage and it was agreed that Cappa Beach Bye-Laws would be on the agenda for the March meeting.
Votes of Sympathy:
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :-
Mr. Pádraig O'Dea, c/o Mrs. Mary O'Dea, Frances Street, Kilrush on the death of his brother Mr. Thomas O'Dea late of Dublin and formerly of Henry Street, Kilrush.
The meeting then concluded.
Signed :
Cllr. McMahon-Jones - Mayor
John Corry - Town Clerk