PrintMinutes of May Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 10th May 2007 at 4.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Kilrush
Presiding:
Cllr. Stephen O'Gorman, Méara.
Councillors present:
Tom Prendeville, Deirdre Culligan, Colie Sweeney, Marian McMahon-Jones, Liam O'Looney, Tom Clyne, Christy O'Malley, Jack Fennell.
Officials present:
- Mr. Leonard, A/Director of Service & Town Manager
- Ms. Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk.
- Mr. Derek Troy, Executive Engineer.
- Ms. Siobhan Garvey, A/Marketing & Development Officer.
- Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer.
Apologies:
Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service & Town Manager.
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of April Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 12th April 2007 at 4.00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
The Minutes of the April Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Item No. 2 : Manager's report on Planning & Development Acts (part 8) - 33 St. Patrick's Terrace, Kilrush.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne:-
The Manager's recommendation was accepted.
Item No. 3: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-
"That this Council would ask the Planning Section to advise on appropriate painting and colour schemes for all new developments that would be environmentally sensitive to our Heritage Town status
In a written report circulated Ellen Carey, Executive Planner advised that:
"A grant of permission for new developments, particularly in the Architectural Conservation Area, includes a condition that details of all external finishes including colour and texture would be submitted to the Planning Authority for written agreement prior to the commencement of development. The permission of the planning authority to a paint scheme on an existing premises is not required.
The Planning Authority is also happy to assist with any queries regarding external finishes and these can be directed to the under signed or Dick Cronin, Conservation Officer."
Members and the acting manager recalled how a recommended town centre paint scheme had been prepared some years ago in which the paint company Crown had been involved. Members were satisfied that paint schemes for new developments were subject to approval and that advice was available from the local authority to all businesses with respect to external finishes.
Item No. 4: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville:-
"To ask the Marketing & Promotions Officer of Kilrush Town Council to report on recent initiatives undertaken to promote the social, commercial and economic welfare of the town."
Siobhán Garvey, A/Marketing & Development Officer circulated her report dated 10th May 2007 and gave an update to the members on progress to date under the following headings - Kilrush Brochure, Website Re-Development, Kilrush Tourism, Promotion-Overseas Market, Promotion-Domestic Market, Clare Heritage Circle, Clare Tourist Council, Clare Tourism Forum, Cantata, Tourism Culture & Heritage Implementation Group, Chamber of Commerce Liaison, Tidy Towns Liaison, Civic Receptions, Casual Trading and Assistance to the Arts.
The members complimented the A/Marketing & Development Officer on her report and also how well the town is looking. The A/Town Manager also thanked Siobhán and highlighted the success that can be reaped from working in partnership with elected members and others.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-
"That this Council would ask the Town Engineer to bring forward a proposal to provide much-needed additional parking spaces in the environs of the town centre."
In a written report circulated the Town Engineer advised that :
"Kilrush Town Council are currently investigating the provision of further car parking at locations within Kilrush Town. The provision of public carparking also forms part of a number of developments currently at pre-planning and planning stage. Other suitable sites are being looked at with a view to acquisition for the purposes of provision of a public carpark. The provision of further parking places is subject to funding being available."
Following discussion on the matter it was agreed that the Town Engineer would report back to the June monthly meeting with available options and it was felt that the Council's land at Place de Plouzane should be extended for car parking.
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney :-
"To ask the Manager to state how the €210,000 and €1m housing funds received for housing from the Department of the Environment will be spent."
In a written report circulated the Town Clerk advised that :
"Kilrush Town Council was recently notified of our housing capital guideline allocation. €1m was allocated for 2007 for the Remedial Works Scheme Pilot Phase and €250K in respect of the house acquisition programme. Additionally, there is a contractor on site at a Crawford Street house under the IWILL scheme and the works to 1 St. Senan's Terrace and to a derelict St. Patrick's Terrace house compulsorily acquired will be done this year also. The extension project to a local authority dwelling at Island View is almost complete. Kilrush Town Council's capital expenditure on housing will exceed the Department's guideline allocation and I will be reverting to the Department for an increase in this allocation sum."
The town clerk confirmed that the bulk of the housing stock are 3 bedroom houses and in the acquisition programme we are targeting 2 bedroom houses which are a better match to the applicant list.
The town clerk advised that she was happy to be in a position today to advise members that the JPE Pilot Phase contractor is confirmed as Martin Fitzgibbon Builders and there would be a contract signing ceremony shortly. She complimented all involved in the pilot phase, especially the residents, for their co-operation and positivity.
The acting town manager welcomed Fitzgibbons appointment as contractor and acknowledged the budget support of the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government. He advised that the new JPE project manager will be taking up post on the 21st May next.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-
"To ask the Manager to inform the members about relocating the bottle bank from Place de Plouzane and bringing in full recycling facilities for the people of Kilrush."
The elected members felt that recycling facilities in the town of Kilrush are inadequate and the County Council should be asked to look at providing funding in the 2008 budget to expand these facilities in Kilrush and have a recycling facility in the town.
The acting Town Manager advised that further discussion would be arranged with the Environment Directorate and he circulated a letter from Gerard Dollard, Director of Services, Environment & Emergency Services Directorate dated 9th May 2007 in which the following was advised :
" I refer to the above and in particular a motion submitted for the May monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council and your request for an update regarding current policy and resourcing issues for recycling centres.
The current approach to waste management, including recycling, is as set out in the Replacement Waste Management Plan for the Limerick/Clare/ Kerry region 2006-2011.
Currently Clare County Council has provided facilities at Ennis Recycling Centre, Scariff Recycling Centre, Lisdeen Recycling Centre and at the Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff Beg, Inagh. In addition, a separate collection for recyclables is available to householders as part of refuse collection services provided by private contractors. The Council also has some 54 bring bank locations throughout the County where a variety of materials can be recycled.
In terms of future plans, the following items are relevant and are provided for under the Regional Waste Management Plan:
- A major recycling centre to be located in Shannon. This will be in operation in July 2007.
- A further recycling centre to be located in South East Clare by 2010.
- Provision of an additional 32 bring banks in the region up to 2010 of which 10 are to be sited in County Clare.
- The National Biodegradable Waste Strategy which sets out the strategy for dealing with organic waste will also be implemented with the initial target of 35% diversion of organic waste from landfill to be achieved by 2010.
Overall, recycling has been hugely successful in County Clare and the Council’s environmental awareness programmes will now be targeting the reduce and reuse elements of the waste hierarchy. The operational costs of the various recycling centres are significant with over €900,000 being provided in 2007 to fund this service. Currently there is no charge for recycling facilities in County Clare."
The acting town manager suggested that the engineering staff explore issues with the environment section in advance of the June meeting.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Sweeney cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney:-
"To ask the Manager to arrange for the County Engineer to explain the results of the Constraints Study Report carried out by Clare County Council for the N68-N67 Link Road Improvement Scheme otherwise known as the proposed by-pass of Kilrush."
The elected members referred to the presentation they had just had on the Constraints Study and were pleased with the progress at this stage.
It was suggested that the Vintners Association in the town be contacted regarding litter and cigarette butts outside some premises and the Town Clerk confirmed that such a letter would be issued and indicated that tackling this particular type of litter had support at the Chamber Liaison meeting.
Item No. 9: Correspondence
Letter from Portlaoise Town Council re Renewal System for Driving Licenses. This letter received the support of Cllr. Prendeville who requested that a letter should issue.
Votes of Sympathy
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :
Mrs. Kathleen Griffin, Monmore, Kilrush on the death of her husband James Griffin.
Mrs. Jacqueline Foran, Knockerra East, Cooraclare, Kilrush on the death of her mother Mrs. Christina Carey, Ennis Road, Kilrush.
Mr. Michael O'Rourke, Ennis Road, Kilrush on the death of his wife Vera O'Rourke.
Ms. Noreen Twomey, Cappa Cove, Kilrush on the death of her mother.
The meeting then concluded.