Council Meeting 5th April 2011

Minutes

MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF CLONAKILTY TOWN COUNCIL

HELD ON TUESDAY 5^th APRIL 2011 AT 6.30 PM IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, OLD MILL, KENT ST, CLONAKILTY.

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Members Present:    Cllr. Kevin O’Regan (Mayor), Cllr. Aidan Pendlebury, Cllr. Cionnáith Ó Súilleabháin, Cllr. Anthony McDermott, Cllr. Humphrey Deegan, Cllr. Anne Cullinane, Cllr. John Loughnan, Cllr. Phil O’Regan, Cllr. Michael O’Regan.

The Mayor began the meeting by proposing a suspension of standing orders to facilitate a presentation from Sustainable Clonakilty and a presentation from Clonakilty Hospital Action Group. This proposal was seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan.

Following presentations by both groups standing orders resumed.

1.          CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

a) Minutes of March 2011 Monthly Meeting

On the proposal of Cllr. Michael O’Regan and seconded by Cllr. Pendlebury, the minutes of the March monthly meeting were adopted.

2.         MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

Cllr. Pendlebury referred to item- Hydrant at Convent Terrace. The Town Clerk said he had received correspondence from the Fire Services, Bantry regarding a nearby fire hydrant which could service this location. The Town Clerk will follow up on the matter.

Cllr. Loughnan referred to item- Survey of River Walls. He enquired whether the repaired section of the wall in Kent Street Car Park would have a stone faced finish. The Town Engineer said that the w     all at present was only a temporary structure.

Mayor O’Regan referred to item- Dog Fouling. He informed the Members that the dog fouling campaign had been launched.

Cllr. Loughnan referred to item- Personal Debt. The Town Clerk informed him that MABS currently meet clients one or two days per week at Clonakilty Credit Union. Cllr. Loughnan suggested that this should be publicised.

However, Cllr. Phil O’Regan said that these meetings were by appointment only. If a person wanted to meet a representative from MABS they should first send in their details to MABS. Cllr. Pendlebury suggested that a link to MABS could be put on the Town Council website.

 3.        VOTES OF SYMPATHY

• The O’Brien Family, 22 Strand Road, Clonakilty on the death of their    

   father, Ned O’Brien.

•The Hayes Family, Tawnies Crescent, Clonakilty, on the death of their  

   brother, Tommy Hayes.

•The O’Donovan Family, 12, Rossa Street, Clonakilty on the death of their

  father, Mick O’Donovan.

•The Hourihane Family, Tawnies Crescent, Clonakilty on the death of

  their uncle, James Hourihane.

•The Hurley Family, Stags View, Castletownshend, Skibbereen, Co. Cork 

   on the death of their mother, Monica Hurley.

•The Worsfold Family, Clogheen, Clonakilty on the death of their mother,

   Mary Worsfold.

•Japanese Ambassador, Japanse Embassy, Nutley Building, Merrion

   Centre, Nutley Lane, Dublin on the recent tragic events in Japan.

•The Kerr Family, Beragh, Co. Tyrone on the death of their son and

   brother, Ronan.

VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS

  To:-

•Clonakilty Community College on their success in the Green Dragon

   Innovation Challenge competition for secondary schools.

 •Clonakilty Tidy Towns Committee for the organised clean-up on

   Saturday 2^nd April 2011.

            •Clonakilty Community College football team who have reached the All-

               Ireland Vocational Schools Senior Football Final.

•Allegria Singing & Music Group for their recent show “Jesus Christ

  Superstar”.

•Organisers of the 2011 St Patrick’s Day Parade.

•West Cork Rally Committee and Cork Motor Club on the staging of the 

  West Cork Rally in March.

•West Cork Model Railway Village for the establishment of an audio-

   visual room at the West Cork Model Railway Village.

• Organisers of Daffodil Day 2011 in Clonakilty.

• Sustainable Clonakilty for the publication of the Renewable Energy  

    Study 2011.

• Damien McCarthy and Eamonn Hayes for their performance in the 2011  

    West Cork Rally.

4.         STATUTORY BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

a)      Fixed-Term Tenant Purchase Scheme for long-standing tenants

The Town Clerk brought this to the attention of the Members. 

On the proposal of Cllr. Michael O’Regan and seconded by Mayor Kevin O’Regan, the Scheme was adopted.

5.         REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEES OF THE       COUNCIL

a)      Minutes of Flood Sub-Committee Meeting 22/3/2011

The Town Clerk gave an update on a recent meeting of the Flood Sub-Committee.

      b)  Minutes of Bye-Laws Sub-Committee Meeting 15/3/2011

            The Town Clerk gave an up-date on a recent meeting of the Bye-Laws

            Sub-Committee.

Cllr. O’Suilleabháin proposed that the Town Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Clonakilty (Regulation, Control and use of Public Parks and Open Spaces within the Town of Clonakilty) Bye-Law 2006 and this was agreed by the Members.

6.         REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF OFFICERS OF THE      COUNCIL

a)   Planning Applications

Planning applications that had been received since the previous meeting were laid before the meeting.

b)     Managers Orders

Manager’s Orders signed since the previous meeting were laid before the meeting.

c)      Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Town Engineer informed the Members that works were starting this week to clean out lines and flush all pumping stations.

Cllr. McDermott said that residents from McCurtain Hill had wished to make a deputation to the Council before the meeting about the smell in their area. He was disappointed that the deputation was not allowed to speak to the Council. It was agreed to receive a deputation before the next meeting.

d)     Windows and doors replacement programme.

The Town Clerk informed Members that this item could be taken off the agenda as the works had been completed at Casement Park.

Cllr. McDermott congratulated the Town Clerk and his staff for their work on the Windows and Doors replacement programme.

(e)    Tidal Barrage

The Town Engineer presented the Members with an update on the above.

7.                  NOTICES OF MOTION

a)                  Motion from Cllr. Aiden Pendlebury

“That this Council agrees there is a need for a new financial mechanism to be developed quickly by NAMA (National Assets Management Agency) and the government to solve the growing problem of unfinished inhabited NAMA estates. That this mechanism would allow local authorities to access funding to complete any necessary infrastructural work on these estates within their area boundaries. 

If this motion is passed that it would be forwarded to other local authorities and relevant Ministers of State for their consideration. “

This motion was proposed by Cllr. Pendlebury. It was seconded by Cllr. Deegan.

Cllr. Pendlebury said that where local authorities take over unfinished estates, a mechanism should be developed to allow them to access funding to finish off the estates.

Cllr. Deegan concurred with Cllr. Pendlebury. He said that the staff of Local Authorities will inherit these problems at some stage. He said that there should be liaison between NAMA and Local Authorities.

The motion was passed.

b)                 Motion from Cllr. Phil O’Regan

“That this Council in aid of encouraging the rejuvenation and use for commercial and retail purposes of property in this town’s core shall as a matter of urgency review our Development Contributions Scheme and agree a minimum 35% reduction in our contributions requirements for infrastructure and amenity in respect of:

(a)   Commercial Developments (including retail) in existing premises in this town core as defined on the map displayed in the chamber at this meeting and showing the affected streets as coloured yellow.

(b)   Living over the shop residential development in existing premises in the same town core area. (excluding residential property development for letting) conditional on the planning applicant entering into a S47 Agreement with this Council incorporating an unconditional undertaking to permanently reside in the subject property for a minimum period of 7 years from the completion of the development – timed from the date which is no more than 24 days after a completion notice filed with this Council is verified by the Town Council’s technical, engineering or architectural staff (as appropriate).

It shall be an express condition of the reduction of the Development Scheme Contributions than the Amendment shall only apply to:

1.      Existing commercial and retail development in the town core streets, as shown coloured yellow on the map and shall not apply to new developments on presently vacant sites.

2.      To those planning applicants who specifically enter into S.47 agreements to personally reside in the ‘over the shop’ residential accommodation (and for the avoidance of doubt shall not apply to lessees, tenants and/or assignees).

3.      Where, if the permanent residential user is breached the full Development Contributions which would otherwise apply at the date of this motion are resubstituted automatically and immediately become due and payable.

4.      That every qualifying planning permission granted for redevelopment in the amended Development Contribution Scheme area shall be conditioned accordingly.

5.      That this amendment to the Development Contribution Scheme shall apply to all complying developments for which planning permission is granted in the specified areas for 3 years from the date this motion if passed, amends the existing Development Contributions Scheme.

                       Cllr. Phil O’Regan outlined the background to this motion. She said   

                       that the object of her proposal was to try and encourage some

                       development in the Town Centre area. She referred to a map in the            

                       Council Chamber which showed the relevant area of the town.

Cllr. Michael O’Regan proposed that the motion would be deferred to next month’s meeting. Cllr. McDermott seconded this.

                        It was agreed to defer the motion to next month’s meeting.

Cllr. McDermott proposed an extension of time which was seconded by the Mayor.

8       CORRESPONDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

9.            CORRESPONDENCE FROM OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND          

PUBLIC BODIES

a)      Motion from Monaghan Town Council

“Iarrann an Chomhairel se oar an Rialtas nua-tofa agus go h-áirithe ar a Thaoiseach cinntiú go gcaomhnófar céad teanga oifigiúil na tire seo agus go gcinnteoidh sia starraiceacht s’aici sa chóras oideachais”.

“That this Council calls on the newly elected Government and particularly it’s Taoiseach to ensure the preservation of our first official language and promote its prominence in the education system.”

On the proposal of Cllr. Ó Suilleabháin and seconded by Mayor O’Regan the motion was adopted.

10.        ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a)      Flooding Works.

The Town Engineer informed the Members that a Part VIII Planning Application is required for the above works. The Members agreed to the Town Engineer commencing the Part VIII process.

b)     SEAI Sustainable Communities

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin  referred to the above. He informed the Members that a workshop is being held in Dundalk to assist those towns in preparing their application for this project.

c)      Traffic And Transportation Study

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin enquired when the report on the submissions would be available to the Members. The Town Clerk advised the Members that the closing date for submissions is 19^th April and it was hoped to arrange a special meeting in May to consider the report.

d)       Joint Policing Committee

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin enquired as to when the next meeting of the JPC would be held.  The Town Clerk informed the Members that the next meeting would be on Thursday 5^th May 2011 at 10.30am.

e)Taking over Estates

Cllr. McDermott enquired about the above. The Town Manager suggested that the Town Engineer would prepare a report regarding this matter for the next meeting.

f)         Houses at McCurtain Hill

Cllr. McDermott referred to the allocation of vacant houses.  The Town Clerk informed him that allocations would be made shortly.

g)        Closure of West Cork Railway

Cllr. Loughnan referred to this item. He informed the Members that a plaque commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the closure of the West Cork Railway was unveiled near the former railway station. He suggested that a heritage sign (about the former railway station) be erected on McCurtain Hill. The Town Clerk said that there was a sign for the former railway station on McCurtain Hill. 

h)     Footpath as Scallys

Cllr. Deegan referred to this item. The Town Clerk confirmed that the footpath width met with planning requirements.

i)        Re-surfacing at Roundabouts

Cllr. Deegan requested that when resurfacing works are being done, that work would be done at the Fax-Bridge Roundabout.

j)         Fingal County Council – Reduction in Rates

Cllr. Deegan referred to the above and in particular reduction in rates granted to the Hotel Industry.

The Town Clerk said that he would contact Fingal County Council for further information.

            k)  New Fire Station

 The Town Clerk told Members that both he and the Town Manager were scheduled to meet the Director of Services, Emergency Services on Thursday next.

            l)  Land Search- Tawnies Crescent

 Cllr. Pendlebury referred to this. The Town Engineer informed the Members that he was awaiting the results of the recently requested land search.

            m)  Chamber of Commerce Tourism Easter Promotion

                  Mayor O’Regan brought to the Members’ attention that the Chamber  

                  of Commerce were having an Easter Shopping Promotion in 

                  Clonakilty.

This concluded the official business of the meeting

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