PrintMinutes of March Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th March 2010 at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding:
Cllr. Marian McMahon-Jones, Méara.
Councillors present:
Paul Moroney, 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.
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of February Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 11th February 2010 at 7.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Clyne cuidithe ag Cllr. Williams :-
The Minutes of the February Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Matters Arising
With regard to Item No. 5 the Town Clerk confirmed that he had written to the Principal and spoken with the Civics teacher with a view to holding a meeting of Kilrush Town Council at Kilrush Community School. It was agreed that the meeting to be held would not be a monthly meeting, but a Special meeting where each member might choose a topic and speak for about 3 minutes and then invite questions on same. The Town Clerk advised the members that he would revert to them on this matter when he heard back from the Principal.
Item No. 2: Presentation to Elected Members on the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017.
The Town Manager explained to the members that on foot of the Work to Rule there would be no Planner in attendance at the meeting and that she would brief the members on the draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017.
The Town Manager advised that there were 5 volumes to the plan, i.e. Text; Maps; Strategic & Environmental Assessment; Record of Protected Structures and Wind Energy Strategy which comprised a very large document and therefore same would be circulated to the members on CD. She apologised for not having the CDs at the meeting, but confirmed that the Town Clerk would circulate same and advised the members that when they had perused the CD and if more clarification was needed that a meeting could be set up during the working day to ensure that a Planner would be available to attend. The Town Manager advised that the closing date for submissions was 6th April 2010.
Item No. 3: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
“That this council, in its review of the Kilrush Development Plan 2008-2014, would revisit the section 'Population Projections' and analyse the population structure figures contained therein as against the projected growth in population for the plan period."
Following discussion it was felt that one of the main priorities of the plan should be population increases and in order to retain services the population will have to be sustained.
Item No. 4: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Williams:-
“That this council calls on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Health and Children to amend the appropriate provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to add firmer regulation and control on the increasing range of synthetic cannabinoid products and mood-altering substances which are currently available in so-called head shops."
Following discussion on this matter the following Resolution was proposed by Cllr. Prendeville, seconded by Cllr. Williams and adopted :
"That Kilrush Town Council recommends to the Minister for the DOEHLG to amend relevant provision within the Planning and Development Act to allow local authorities the power to issue a licence to practice to prospective business enterprises within their catchment area in order to regulate and control certain commercial operations."
It was agreed that this be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and furthermore that a letter should issue to the Department of Education requesting that they put an awareness programme in place for students in advance of the summer holidays.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Lynch:-
“That this council would ask the Town Engineer to report to the members on whether there is any plan in place to relay the water service connection to adequate depths from the public water main to local authority houses affected by the recent freezing conditions in order to prevent a re-occurrence of the inconvenience caused by the prolonged loss of water supply to householders and their families."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th March 2010, Derek Troy, Town Engineer reported that :
"There are currently no plans to relay the water service connections to local authority houses affected by the recent freezing conditions. Water meters will be replaced as required. If there are any specific houses that were severely affected they will be dealt with within the coming month."
Following discussion on the matter Cllr. Prendeville indicated that he was happy with the Town Engineer's reply.
Mention was made of some sub-standard work that was carried out on council estates in previous years that might have contributed to the problems which arose and the Town Clerk confirmed that the Clerk of Works now in Kilrush is very capable and experienced and shoddy workmanship will not be signed off on.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Lynch cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
“That this council, in conjunction with Shannon Development, will facilitate the future construction of a public accessible slip way for launch and recovery of pleasure craft."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th March 2010, Finbarr Brougham, Regional Development Manager, Shannon Development, reported that :
"Shannon Development went out to tender for the sale of the Marina and boatyard and I can confirm that we have received a number of submissions under the tendering procedure and we are currently in the process of completing assessment and evaluation of these submissions with a view to selecting a preferred developer in the near future.
The development of a slipway may have to be an issue that is taken up with the preferred developer when he is selected as we are in the process of evaluating submissions at the moment."
Following discussion it was suggested that pressure be put on Shannon Development to look at development outside the lock gates and it was agreed to ask Finbarr Brougham to keep Kilrush Town Council informed of developments.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Lynch cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
“That this council would carry out a full review of the Litter Management Plan for Kilrush Town and would request that Clare County Council under their review of the Clare County Litter Management Plan would abolish the previously introduced recycling centre fee."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th March 2010, John Corry, Town Clerk reported that :
"Kilrush Town Council is currently reviewing its Litter Management Plan. A draft plan will be presented to the Elected Members and put on public display in April. Clare County Councils Litter Management Plan is currently on public display. Any submissions on the plan need to be forwarded to the Environment Dept. at Clare County Council by Friday 12th March 2010."
During discussion Cllr. Lynch expressed his delight that the Litter Management Plan was being reviewed and suggested that an Action Plan be put in place in conjunction with the Litter Plan. The members voiced their annoyance that people are now being charged to recycle which was free during the Celtic Tiger. Cllr. O'Brien urged her fellow members to be careful of people leaving bags into houses looking for unwanted clothes. The good clothes were being kept, but the bad ones were being thrown from vans along the roadside.
It was agreed that this would be an ideal topic for the meeting at Kilrush Community School.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Williams cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
“Kilrush Town Council would seek an update on plans by Shannon Development to develop lands owned by them at Creek Marina and old port area of the town."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th March 2010, Finbarr Brougham, Regional Development Officer, Shannon, Development, reported that :
"Shannon Development went out to tender for the sale of the Marina and boatyard and I can confirm that we have received a number of submissions under the tendering procedure and we are currently in the process of completing assessment and evaluation of these submissions with a view to selecting a preferred developer in the near future.
The development of a slipway may have to be an issue that is taken up with the preferred developer when he is selected as we are in the process of evaluating submissions at the moment."
Following discussion it was agreed to keep the pressure on regarding this matter and that a letter issue to Shannon Development advising that Kilrush Town Council are anxious that they would proceed at some stage in the future with the proposed development works at the Marina.
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. Williams cuidithe ag Cllr. Prendeville:-
“That Kilrush Town Council would carry out minor repairs to the slipway at Cappa in time for summer season."
In a written reply circulated dated the 10th March 2010, Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that:
"Kilrush Town Council will carry out minor repairs to the slipway at Cappa in advance of the summer season."
Cllr. Williams advised that he was delighted with the reply of the Town Engineer.
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. Williams cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
“That Kilrush Town Council would support the development of a visitor centre at Loop Head Lighthouse and creation of the 'Loop Scenic Drive' with marketing and any other expertise available to us."
Cllr. Williams listed a route for the scenic drive being proposed by him, with Kilrush as the hub and he suggested that the Marketing & Development Officer bring forward his proposal to the West Clare Task Force. Following discussion the Town Manager suggested and it was agreed by the members that this motion be put on the agenda for the West Clare Local Area Meeting being held on the 22nd March.
Item No. 11: Ar Moladh Cllr. O'Brien cuidithe ag Cllr. Lynch:-
“That this council should look at making beach bye laws for Cappa - As have been set down in other areas."
Following discussion the members expressed their view that beach bye-laws were necessary for Cappa, particularly in the interest of bathers' safety as it was felt that jet skis and pleasure boats seemed to be taking over in the area and they needed to be given a designated area for the launching of their jet skis and boats. If beach bye-laws were put in place it would allow a mechanism to the local authority to police the area which the members felt was necessary. It was agreed that it needs to be clarified where Kilrush Town Council's jurisdiction starts and ends and furthermore that contact should be made with Clare County Council to find out how best to move forward with this matter.
Item No. 12: Correspondence
Letter dated 10th February 2010 from Carrick on Suir Town Council regarding the 'Head Shop' industry. Cllr. Prendeville expressed his disappointment with the resolution adopted by Carrick on Suir Town Council, particularly the words used - "to regulate the Head Shop industry".
Letter received from Tipperary Town Council regarding emergency funding for road damage.
Resolution of Wicklow Town Council regarding 'Head Candy Shops'. This matter received the support of the Kilrush Town Council elected members.
Letter dated 18th February 2010 from Tullamore Town Council regarding Medical Card assessment.
Letter dated 25th February 2010 from Louth County Council regarding National Tidy Towns Conference 2010. Cllr. O'Brien advised that she might be interested in attending this conference and in this regard the Town Clerk undertook to ascertain when the conference was to take place and also the cost of same.
Letter dated 1st March 2010 from Tipperary Town Council regarding South Tipperary General Hospital.
Item No. 13: Conferences
There were no seminars/conferences attended.
A.O.B.
The Town Clerk advised the members that the Minister had capped the conference budget for each Kilrush Town Council member at a maximum of €2,000 subject to same being provided for in the budget. He added that Kilrush TC had only provided €15,300 in its budget for 2010.He undertook to circulate the Circular to each member. The members expressed their view that the cost of conferences had gone outrageous and the Town Clerk pointed out that relevance is the key for future conferences. The Town Manager suggested to the members that a day or half day information meeting be arranged with the various heads of sections in Clare County Council, similar to what Kilkee Town Council were doing on the 7th April next. It was agreed that both councils attend together. Cllr. Lynch advised that he would also like to meet with personnel in Kilrush TC.
On the proposal of Cllr. Prendeville and seconded by Cllr. Williams the following Resolution was adopted by the members of Kilrush Town Council :
"That we, the elected members of Kilrush Town Council, resolved at our monthly meeting of 11 March 2010 to formally request Clare County Council to write-off the €45,420.08 undercharge to 53 customers in the Kilrush urban area from the period August 2003 to mid-2008 under the Consolidated Water and Wastewater charge for the following reasons:
(a) the lack and lateness of adequate formal notification to the said 53 customers
(b) the difficulty prevailing economic circumstances
(c) a doubt regarding the legal standing of the said charges
(d) the time-lapse incurred in the issuing of the formal invoices to the said 53 customers
(e) the possible legal costs that could be incurred by Clare County Council in the event of a legal challenge to the said charges being mounted by one or more of the said 53 customers."
The members were advised that Kilrush Rugby Club are to host an Under 17 team from Tolouse in France on Friday 16th April 2010 and it was agreed to hold a civic reception for the visiting team. The Town Clerk advised that there is a very limited budget for civic receptions, but something could be organised.
At this point it was agreed to wish Kilmurry Ibrickane the best of luck in the All Ireland Club Football Final to be held in Croke Park on the 17th March, 2010 7 that a letter be sent to them from Kilrush Town Council.
Cllr. Prendeville read the contents of a letter received from Andy Pike of Impact Union regarding the Work to Rule. He expressed his annoyance at such a letter being written on Impact headed notepaper and he received the support of Cllr. Williams.
Votes of Sympathy:
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :-
Mr. Joe Meaney and Owen Francis Meaney, c/o Frances Street, Kilrush on the death of their father Mr. Owen Meaney.
Ms. Carmel McCormack, Killimer Road, Kilrush on the death of her husband Mr. Matt McCormack.
The meeting then concluded.
Signed :
Cllr. McMahon-Jones - Mayor
John Corry- Town Clerk