PrintMinutes of October Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 9th October at 4.00 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
- Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service & Town Manager
- Mr. John Corry, Town Clerk
- Ms. Geraldine Quinn, Assistant Staff Officer
Item No. 1: Adoption of Minutes of September Monthly Meeting of Kilrush Town Council held on the 10th September 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne :-
The Minutes of the September Monthly Meeting were duly adopted.
Matters Arising
Cllr. McMahon-Jones enquired as to the up-to-date position regarding the Land Registry Search and the town clerk confirmed that work had commenced on same, but pointed out that it was a long process.
Cllr. McMahon-Jones referred back to Sections 69 and 138(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 2001 and sought a reply from the town manager.
When questioned, the manager confirmed that Kilrush Town Council were complying with the Act.
Cllr. McMahon-Jones proposed seeking legal advice on this matter and the town manager confirmed that this would be a matter for the members as a body, but that she was satisfied with the functions she had carried out as an executive.
Cllr. McMahon-Jones sought a break-down of the sum of €250,702 and the town clerk replied that €215,143 was transferred from Revenue on foot of a resolution adopted by the members on 12th June 2008. The balance of the €250,702.07 was made up of inter Capital transfers relating to proceeds from the sale of two sites and also to a credit balance re the town hall.
With regard to the nomination to the Board of Clare Local Development Company, Cllr. McMahon-Jones requested that it be noted that in her opinion she did not second her own nomination to this Board. She added that if she had not received a seconder that she would have withdrawn her name. In reply, the Mayor referred to Standing Order No. 19 and stated that the way it was recorded was the way it would remain.
Cllr. O'Gorman referred to the issue of flooding of gardens at Island View and confirmed that he would discuss this directly with the town clerk and town engineer.
Item No. 2: Budget 2009 in new costing format
The town clerk advised the members that the 2009 Budget, in the new costing format, was being circulated to the members for their information and that approval of same was not necessary. He explained to the members the reason for the new costing format and the advantages of same.
Item No. 3: Disposal of Council's interest in the following
"Freehold interest in a substation site at John Paul Estate, Kilrush, together with an underground cable easement, to the Electricity Supply Board pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001 and Section 211 of the Planning & Development Act 2000 as per Notice dated 15th September 2008."
Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne :-
Having regard to the contents of the Notice dated 15th September 2008 the disposal to the Electricity Supply Board was agreed to.
At this point Cllr. Sweeney made an enquiry regarding the attendance of an E.S.B. representative at a council meeting on the issue of public lighting in the town and the town clerk confirmed that repeated efforts had been made in this regard without any success to date.
It was agreed to take Item No. 4 and Item No. 6 together.
Item No. 4: Joint Policing Committee
Item No. 6: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman
"To ask the Manager to brief the members on the recent roll-out of the new guidelines on Joint Policing Committees."
The town clerk circulated comprehensive guidelines and advised that members would be allowed due time to consider same before the November monthly meeting.
It was agreed to welcome the new Superintendent Michael Comyns to Kilrush and extend an invitation to him to attend the November meeting . It was further agreed to send a letter of thanks to the outgoing Superintendent Declan Brogan for the work done by him during his time in Kilrush.
Item No. 5: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. Clyne
"That this Council calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to consider the re-introduction of a Home Improvement Grant Scheme to assist low-income families in meeting the cost of undertaking essential housing repairs."
Following discussion on the matter it was agreed to send a letter to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government along the lines of this notice of motion seeking the re-introduction of a Home Improvement Grant Scheme as the Government needs to boost and upgrade schemes to assist low-income families. It was further agreed to circulate this motion to the Local Authorities in Clare seeking their support.
Item No. 7: Ar Moladh Cllr. Prendeville cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney
"That this Council calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to establish an independent commission on the adequacy of existing legislation to simplify the procedures for extending town boundaries."
Following discussion on the matter it was agreed to circulate this motion to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The town manager advised the members that the extension of town boundaries is dealt with in the Local Government Act 2001 and she undertook to circulate the relevant extract.
Item No. 8: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan
"That the minutes of the Kilrush Electoral Area meetings be distributed to all of Kilrush Town Council as previously agreed."
Following discussion on this matter the town clerk advised the members that once the minutes have been adopted that they are available to the public on the internet. Cllr. Prendeville confirmed that he would sponsor a motion at the next Electoral Area meeting to this effect.
Item No. 9: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Gorman
"That this Council would convene a meeting composed of young people and representatives of community organizations, especially those concerned with young people to highlight the need or lack of facilities for the youth of Kilrush."
Following discussion on this matter it was agreed that facilities for the youth of Kilrush needed to be improved upon and the numbers of volunteers needed to be increased. It was further agreed that Kilrush Town Council would facilitate the clubs/organizations in convening a meeting in December and the Mayor undertook to chair this proposed meeting. In advance of such a meeting liaison needed to take place with the clubs/organizations to ascertain their needs, the numbers in their club/organization, etc.
The town clerk confirmed that at a recent meeting of Clare Sports Partnership it was acknowledged that West Clare/Kilrush needed a mini Lees Road development and this acknowledgement was welcomed by the members.
The town manager addressed the members by advising that preparatory work needed to be done in advance of the meeting and that a sub-committee/working group needed to be formed to include a representative of Comhairle na nÓg. The manager further suggested that a guest speaker, perhaps Catherine O'Hara, should be invited to address the meeting.
Item No. 10: Ar Moladh Cllr. Culligan
"That the Manager would inform the members of this council when work will commence on the up grading of Kilrush Waste Water Treatment Centre."
In a written reply circulated ,dated the 9th October 2008, Hugh McGrath, Senior Executive Engineer, Water Services reported that :
"Kilrush Sewerage Scheme is grouped with Kilkee Sewerage Scheme. The Preliminary Report (PR) is not yet approved by the Dept. of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. On approval the PR it could be expected that it will take up to 12 months to prepare Contract documents, advertise and assess tenders and award the contract. The earliest date for starting this contract will be late in 2009, subject to the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government approval."
Cllr. O'Gorman asked if Mary Burke's house ,42 St. Patrick's Terrace could be checked to see if it contained lead piping. The town clerk advised that investigations regarding piping were being carried out in the county and that Kilrush Town Council's housing stock would also be examined.
Item No. 11: Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones cuidithe ag Cllr. O'Looney
"That the Town Engineer would investigate the traffic-calming measures for the Doonbeg Road, and that the traffic calming plans that were drafted for Cappa be re-opened."
In a written reply circulated dated the 9th October 2008 Derek Troy, Executive Engineer reported that :
"Clare County Council has requested funding for safety improvement works at N67 Doonbeg Cross. However, funding has not been made available in 2008. It is hoped that funding will be made available in 2009.
With regard to the Doonbeg Road, the existing footpath is currently being surfaced with tarmac. Special planning contributions have been requested on planning applications for the provision of footpath from Doonbeg Cross to the existing footpath on the Doonbeg Road, and also on the N67 Kilkee Road from Doonbeg Cross to the site on the western side of the nursing home.
With regard to traffic calming for Cappagh, I have been unable, to date, to source any existing plans or drawings of a proposed traffic calming scheme. Traffic speed and volume surveys have been completed as requested in June 2008 on the R473 Cappagh Road between the mart and Cappagh Village. Results showed average speeds of 52kph in one direction and 56kph in the other over a 24hr period. This would indicate that the speed limit of 50kph was being exceeded by a number of vehicles at the time of the survey. Based on the results of the survey, I have requested that the Road Design Section investigate options for traffic calming measures."
Following discussion on this matter a number of items were raised :-
There are differing speed limit signs when turning off the Doonbeg Road to those on the Kilkee Road;
Gardaí be requested to carry out speed checks on the Doonbeg Road/Kilkee Road as traffic calming efforts need to be enforced;
Introduction of rumblers and/or 'Children at Play' signs on the Doonbeg Road.
Public consultation with the residents at Cappa is needed regarding the provisional plans for works at Cappa.
It was suggested that these matters be discussed with the Superintendent and perhaps this meeting could be held in committee.
Item No. 12: Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones
"That all Councillors be kept informed of all that is happening within Kilrush Town Council and that no councillor take it upon themselves to assume that any one councillor may or may not agree with the topic at hand regardless of their political beliefs."
Cllr. McMahon-Jones advised the meeting of the background to her submitting this notice of motion. It stemmed back to July 2008 where, due to a clerical error, a notice of motion submitted by her for the July monthly meeting was omitted from the Agenda. This notice of motion was subsequently included for the July meeting following phone calls made by the Mayor to some members of Kilrush Town Council. Cllr. McMahon-Jones said that all councillors should be contacted in a situation like this.
The mayor responded by advising that he had apologized to Cllr. Culligan for not phoning her. At the time he thought his apology had been accepted and was disappointed that it was now being raised again.
At this point Cllr. Prendeville proposed the following amendment to the motion submitted by Cllr. McMahon-Jones and this was seconded by Cllr. Sweeney :
"That we, the democratically elected members of Kilrush Town Council, re-affirm our overwhelming confidence in the Mayor to implement fairly and equitably the current Standing Orders for the regulation of the business and proceedings at all meetings of this council and furthermore express our confidence in the ability and willingness of the members, management and council officials to treat all members equally and with the utmost courtesy and respect without fear or favour in an open, accountable and transparent manner."
The following members voted in favour of the amendment :- Cllr. Prendeville, Cllr. Clyne, Cllr. Sweeney, Cllr. O'Gorman, Cllr. O'Malley, Cllr. O'Looney.
The following members abstained from the vote :- Cllr. McMahon-Jones, Cllr. Fennell, Cllr. Culligan.
Item No. 13: Ar Moladh Cllr. McMahon-Jones cuidithe ag Cllr. Culligan
"That this Council would strongly recommend that Central Government return monies accrued from Road Tax in Clare be returned to Clare County Council and for it to be distributed fairly within all the electoral areas."
Following discussion on the matter it was agreed to forward this motion to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and also to circulate it to all Local Authorities so that they in turn could liaise with their TDs in this regard.
Item No. 14: Correspondence
Letter dated 8th September 2008 from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government regarding grant aid to householders.
Preliminary Notification of Local Authority Members Association (L.A.M.A.) Annual Winter Seminar to be held on the 26th and 27th November 2008 at the TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar.
Letter dated 10th September 2008 from Timmy Dooley, T.D. regarding Tidy Towns Competition.
Letter from Ballinasloe Town Council regarding visiting children from Belarus.
Letter dated 18th September 2008 from Bantry Town Council regarding the Cork Swansea Ferry Service.
Letter dated 1st October 2008 from Monaghan Town Council regarding Meals-on-Wheels.
Item No. 15: Conferences
The town clerk advised the members that the Local Government Auditor had requested that in accordance with Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001 members must have available at the meeting completed reports of seminars/conferences attended by them.
The members were advised that Kilrush Golf Club have indicated that their clubhouse is available for use by Kilrush Town Council should the need ever arise.
It was agreed that congratulations should issue to Lillis Travel, Moore Street, Kilrush on the launch of their new website.
Cllr. Sweeney made a presentation to the Mayor of a scroll/wall hanging following on his twinning trip to Plouzane during the summer.
Cllr. Sweeney enquired if there were any further developments on the Inis Cathaigh and the town manager advised that there was nothing further to report on the matter at that point .
The town manager informed the members of the contents of a letter of congratulations from the Board of Kilrush Amenity Trust on the towns great achievement in the Tidy Towns Awards.
The members were advised that representatives of Listowel Tidy Towns Committee would be in Kilrush on Monday 13th October at 11.00 a.m.
It was agreed that Cllr. Sweeney, as deputy Mayor, would attend the Clare Mans Association function in London in November.
Cllr. McMahon-Jones circulated to the members an AMAI Brochure for their perusal - "A Guide to the Town Councillors Expenses and Retirement Gratuity Schemes".
Votes of Sympathy
It was agreed that a vote of sympathy should issue to the following :-
- Mrs. Anna Geaney & family, Leadmore East, Kilrush on the death of her mother Ms. Nancy Carey late of Moore Street, Kilrush.
- Ms. Kathleen Frawley & family, Cappa, Kilrush on the death of her husband Mr. John Frawley late of Cappa, Kilrush.
- Mrs. Nancy Carney & family, Cappa Drive, Kilrush on the death of her husband Mr. Paddy Carney late of Cappa Drive, Kilrush.
The meeting then concluded.