PrintMinutes of December Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 15th January 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding
-
Cllr. Liam O'Looney, Méara
Councillors present
- Tom Prendeville
- Deirdre Culligan
- Stephen O'Gorman
- Colie Sweeney
- Marian McMahon-Jones
- Tom Clyne
- Christy O'Malley
- Jack Fennell
Officials present
- Mr. Leonard Cleary, A/Director of Service & Town Manager
- Mr. John Corry, Town Clerk
- Mr. Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
- Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer
The Mayor welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2009 and wished them a Happy New Year.
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of December Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th December 2008 at 4.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman:
The Minutes of the December Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 2: Adoption of Minutes of Annual Budget Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th December 2008 at 3.30 p.m.
Cllr. Culligan stated that she wanted it included in the minutes of the Budget meeting that she queried how much Clare County Council had put towards the Civic Office Fund as it was being funded 50/50 by Kilrush Town Council & Clare County Council. Leonard confirmed that he didn’t have the figures to hand but that he would inform the members at his earliest convenience. Cllr. Prendeville estimated it to be in the region of €100k.
Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Gorman cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:
The Minutes of the Annual Budget Meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 3: Superloo Contract
Following discussion it was noted that as a sanitary authority Kilrush Town Council was not obliged to provide a public toilet and therefore the council wouldn't be in breach of any legislation if a decision was made to remove the Superloo. It was further noted that should the council decide to remove the Superloo that 12 months advance notice of removal was required, but the decision to remove or not was a matter for the members to decide. It was agreed that before a decision was made consultation needed to take place between the council, Shannon Development, Kilrush Chamber of Commerce and any other relevant bodies/tourist providers.
Item No. 4: Ar Moladh Cllr. Fennell cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville
"That this Council renew the request to have the Vehicle Testing located in Kilrush."
Following discussion on the matter it was agreed that contact should again be made with the Road Safety Authority strongly requesting that a test centre be opened in Kilrush for the West Clare area, particularly now that in this recession people wouldn’t be changing their cars as often and the centre in Ennis was so busy that they were outsourcing to Limerick.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville
"That this Council would request the Town Engineer to renew the pedestrian crossing white lines at St. Senan's Primary School."
In a written reply circulated dated the 15th January 2009, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that :
"I wish to confirm that the existing lines forming the pedestrian crossing, will be re-marked on the next occasion that the road-marking contractors are in the Kilrush / West Clare area. It is expected that this will happen in early February."
Cllr. Prendeville was satisfied with the reply as given.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Malley
"That this Council, in the context of proposed local government reform, calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to investigate alternative funding options for local authorities at town and county levels as the current year-on-year arrangements are untenable and only serve to place local democratic structures on a virtual and continuous life-support machine."
Following discussion on this matter it was agreed that Kilrush Town Council should make a substantial submission on the White Paper for proposed local government reform and Cllr. Prendeville undertook to prepare a submission for the AMAI.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Sweeney
"That this Council would request the Minister for Health to consider the re-establishment of regional Health Boards to restore public confidence in the delivery and quality of public health services and to oversee the supply, management and delivery of quality health services at local, regional and national levels."
The members expressed their annoyance with the HSE and the fact that they were not accountable to anybody only the Minister. Under the old system of Health Boards there was local representation. Following discussion it was agreed to circulate this motion to all local authorities in the mid-west region, Prof. Brendan Drumm, Minister for Health and Clare Oireachtas members requesting that all services should remain as they currently were until alternatives had been put in place. It was further suggested that HSE personnel should be invited to address a meeting of Kilrush Town Council. The members complimented the 3 people who undertook a trip to Limerick Regional Hospital as part of an operation to see how long the journey would take from West Clare.
The members were informed of the removal of the early morning and late return bus services from and to Kilkee and it was suggested that Bus Eireann should be written to expressing the members' dissatisfaction with this.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"To ask the Town Engineer to arrange for the filling of pothole at Factory Lane beside the new Riverwood nursing home on the Killimer Road."
In a written reply dated the 15th January 2009, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer circulated a letter as follows received from Leahy & Conway dated the 23rd December 2008 Architects in response to a request to reinstate this roadway surface:-
"I refer to your letter tome of 19th December together with an enclosure of 6th March, 2008 which I passed to my client's Messrs. Mowlam Healthcare who have now taken over this development from Kilrush Forest Park Ltd. As you may know there were contractural disputes with the main contractor of the project earlier in the year and my clients will now engage a new contractor to complete site works and other external works to the rear portion of the development. This will include for reinstating the road as per your letter and it is hoped that these works will take place early in the new year. I have again passed your letter to my clients and asked them to contact you early in the new year with a view to getting these works carried out."
Derek confirmed that a small amount of maintenance would be carried out in the interim.
When questioned as to the position at Beal an Inbhir the Executive Engineer advised that this matter was being pursued through planning.
With regard to pothole at Woodfield, off Killimer Road, the Executive Engineer confirmed that the contractor needed to be pressed to fill same and therefore it was a matter for Clare County Council planning.
When questioned regarding the area from Quay Mills to Pella Road Cross, the Executive Engineer confirmed that re-alignment work was needed and during the course of this drainage works would also need to be carried out, but he confirmed that it was difficult to put a date on this.
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"To ask the Manager to write and complain to the Regional Manager of the ESB about the quality of public lighting service we are receiving here in Kilrush and to ask why this council has been snubbed repeatedly whenever we invite ESB representatives to address the council on these serious matters."
Following discussion it was agreed that upgrading of public lighting needed to be carried out in conjunction with footpath repairs. The Executive Engineer confirmed that the ESB were paid for maintenance and any upgrading was part of the Roadworks Programme. It was agreed that the members would come forward to the Executive Engineer with submissions for the Roadworks Programme.
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney
"To ask the Town Engineer if these is any possibility of cleaning the Wood River of overgrown vegetation, tree debris and natural stiltation as this town bids to further enhance our high standing in the National Tidy Towns competition."
In a written reply circulated dated the 15th January 2009, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that :
"Proposed tidy towns works for 2009 will be discussed at the upcoming Monthly Tidy Towns Liaison Meeting – Kilrush Town Council & Kilrush Tidy Towns. An inspection will take place to establish if areas, within public view, can be cleaned without major expense being incurred. Any works that may be undertaken on this river will have to take into account flooding issues on the N67 Killimer Road and on the R473 Cappagh Road. A letter has been sent to the Office of Public Works requesting information on any proposed maintenance works on the Wood River and also seeking advise on what works may be appropriate at this location."
Cllr. Sweeney expressed his satisfaction with the reply as given.
Item No. 11: Correspondence
The following correspondence was read and noted :-
E-mail dated 5th December 2008 from Laois County Council regarding affordable housing.
Letter dated 3rd November 2008 from Eddie Lynch regarding vote of sympathy for John Lynch.
Letter dated 8th December 2008 from Killarney Town Council regarding Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program for teenage girls.
Letter dated 12th December 2008 from Portlaoise Town Council regarding education.
Letters dated 15th December 2008 from Skibbereen Town Council and 16th December 2008 from Monaghan Town Council regarding road tax, together with original correspondence.
Letter dated 10th December 2008 addressed by Tralee Town Council to the Minister for Health & Children regarding social work service.
Letter dated 17th December 2008 from the Department of Transport, together with copy letter dated 20th September 2005 regarding the Harbour.
Letter dated 5th January 2009 from the Health Service Executive regarding Health Service in West Clare, together with copy of original correspondence.
Letter dated 2nd January 2009 from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding boundary extensions, together with original correspondence.
Item No. 12: 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
Tourism IG held at Ennis Civic Offices on the 3rd November 2008.
Public Relations & Communication Skills for Councillors held at the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal from the 14th to 16th November 2008.
LAMA Winter Seminar held at TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on the 26th and 27th November 2008.
It was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville and seconded by Cllr. O'Looney that Cllrs. McMahon-Jones, Culligan and O'Malley would attend the AMAI Spring Seminar to be held on the 13th and 14th February 2009 at the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
The town clerk advised the members that he has been in contact with his colleague the Town Clerk in Listowel Town Council regarding the civic reception for Jack McKenna (founder of Shannon Ferry) and they have proposed deferring same until the ferry was operating at a later time and the members acknowledged this.
It was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville and seconded by Cllr. O'Looney that Cllr. Sweeney would attend the 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance of the Clare Mans Association in Dublin to be held on the 30th January 2009 in The Red Cow.
Kilrush District Hospital were complimented on being nominated for a National Excellence Nursing Home Award by LAMA.
It was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville and seconded by Cllr. O'Looney and agreed to hold the February monthly meeting on Wednesday 11th February 2009 at 4.00 p.m. to facilitate the members who were travelling to the AMAI Spring Seminar.
Leonard Cleary, A/Town Manager, advised the members that he was awaiting a date for the County Manager to attend a forthcoming meeting of Kilrush Town Council.
Votes of Sympathy
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :-
Mrs. Edel Glynn and family, Frances Street, Kilrush on the death of her husband Mr. Charles Glynn.
Mrs. Patsy Linnane and family, 7 Griffin Road, Kilrush on the death of her son Mr. P. J. Linnane late of Sycamore Drive, Kilrush.
Mr. Fintan Keating and family, Frances Street, Kilrush on the death of his mother Mrs. Theresa Keating late of Frances Street, Kilrush.
The meeting then concluded.