Council Meeting 2nd February 2010

Minutes

MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF CLONAKILTY TOWN COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2010 AT 7.00 P.M IN TOWN HALL,
KENT ST, CLONAKILTY.
________________________________________________________________

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

Officers Present: Moira Murrell, Town Manager, John Conroy, Town Engineer, Justin England, Town Clerk,

Apologies:   
          

The Mayor informed the Members that, under standing orders, a resolution was required to change the venue of the meeting from the Council Chamber, Old Mill, Kent Street to the Town Hall, Kent Street.
 
On the proposal of Cllr, Michael O’Regan, seconded by Cllr. Phil O’Regan a resolution was passed agreeing the change of venue.

1.          CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

a) Minutes of December Monthly Meeting

On the proposal of Cllr. Michael O’Regan, seconded by Cllr. Phil O’Regan, the minutes of the December meeting were adopted.

b) Minutes of Annual Budget Meeting held on 12th January, 2010

On the proposal of Cllr. Phil O’Regan, seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan the minutes of the Annual Budget meeting were adopted.

 
2.       MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETINGS
 
a) Minutes of December Monthly Meeting

Mayor McDermott informed Members that he wished to arrange the Civic Reception for Clonakilty GAA within the coming weeks. This was agreed and it was also agreed this would be held in the Council Chamber.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin enquired whether the meeting of the Web Group had taken place. The Town Clerk informed the Members that he hoped to meet with Paul McShane (Website Co-ordinator) the following week.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin enquired whether correspondence had been sent to the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding February 2009’s motion requesting additional staff to deal with social welfare applications. The Town clerk informed him that this was done and it was agreed to write to the local Oireachtas members regarding this issue.

 3. VOTES OF SYMPATHY
    To: -
• The Cronin Family, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty on the death of their father Dan;
• Bernie O’Brien, 12 McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty on the death of her son Damien;
• The Hayes Family, “Inis Thiar”, Western Road, Clonakilty on the death John;
• Rose Jennings, Wolfe Tone Street, Clonakilty on the death of her daughter Mary;
• Roy Maguire, Castlefreke, Clonakilty on the death of his mother Mary (May);
• The O’Driscoll Family, Ballintemple, Clonakilty and Chris Maloney, 15 Casement Park, Clonakilty on the death of their mother Kit (Mom);
• The Crowley Family, Bandon on the death of their son and husband, Flor
• Margaret O’Donovan, Larkin Street, Clonakilty on the death of her sister, Sr. Mary Dominic;
• Phil Shanley, Connolly Street, Clonakilty on both the death of her sister, Doreen O’Regan and her brother Finbarr Cullinane;
• Martin Fleming, Ballintemple, Ring on the death of his uncle Michael Brickley;
• Pat Finn, Inis Sioda, Clonakilty on the death of his brother Mattie Finn;
• James McCauliss, 17 Ladies Cross, Clonakilty on the death of his mother;
• James Deasy, Shannonvale, Clonakilty on death of his father Denis;
• Charles McCarthy, 5 Park View, Clonakilty on the death of his sister Eileen;
• Marita Moore, Orchard Grove, Western Road, Clonakilty on the death of her mother Mrs. Birmingham.

VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS
  To:-
• Council Staff, Area Engineers Office and Clonakilty Town Council Staff for their work during recent flooding events;
• Robert Walsh, Mel Long, Aidan Holland and Kevin O’Donovan for their work during recent flooding events;
• Elma O’Mahony for her 40 years service with Community Care;
• St Vincent De Paul on their 150th anniversary;
• Bob Hilliard for achieving the Best Developer award at the recent LAMA awards;
• Hugh O’Reilly, Ardfield Rathbarry Newsletter (The ARC), on recent success at LAMA awards;
• Farmers Market for achieving their Practice Standard, presented by Minister of State, Trevor Sargeant, T.D.

4. STATUTORY BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

a) Nomination of members to Strategic Policy Committee.

On the proposal of Mayor McDermott, seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan, Cllr. Phil O’Regan was nominated.

On the proposal of Cllr. Deegan, seconded by Mayor McDermott, Cllr. Pendlebury was nominated.

  
5. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEES OF THE    COUNCIL

The Town Manager and Town Engineer informed Members that two applications were submitted to the OPW for Minor non-coastal flood relief works totalling €1,000,000 and the Town Engineer gave a brief outline to Members of the contents of same.

The Town Manager informed Members that a larger application for funding incorporating the Tidal Barrage was also submitted.

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

   
7. NOTICES OF MOTION

(a) Emergency motion from Cllr. Cionnáith ó Súilleabháin

On the proposal of Cllr. Deegan and seconded by Cllr. Michael O’ Regan it was agreed that the motion could be moved.

“That this Council, being acutely aware of the financial difficulties and challenges of many of our constituents, in particular those with mortgages, expresses its abhorrence at the 0.5% in mortgage repayments as announced by Permanent TSB last week. That the Council writes officially to the Manager of the local branch of the PTSB stating this fact and asking him to convey this correspondence to the highest offices of the bank”.

The motion was proposed by Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin and seconded by Cllr. Deegan.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin highlighted the fact that many homeowners were presently facing financial challenges and felt that this rate increase would place additional pressures on homeowners.

Cllr. Loughnan disagreed with the content of the motion and felt that adequate notice had being given regarding potential rate increases and proposed that the motion not be taken.

There was no seconder to Cllr. Loughnan’s proposal and therefore the motion was carried.

(b) Motion from Cllr. Aiden Pendlebury (Held from January  Meeting)
"That this Council allocates any remaining money from the redevelopment of the Tadhg an Astna monument and surrounding area’s to the windows and doors fund, and if no such fund exists then the creation of a fund to facilitate the money.  This should happen as quickly as possible and be used immediately after establishment to replace windows and doors in the worst cases first, while working progressively through a programme dealing with as many cases as the fund leaves financially possible ”.

The motion was proposed by Cllr. Pendlebury and seconded by Mayor McDermott.

Cllr. Pendlebury highlighted the fact that there were a number of houses within the council stock which were in need of repairs or replacement to their windows and doors. He called for any remaining budget for the Astna Square project to be transferred to the housing improvement programme to ensure that works were carried out in a timely fashion.

The Town Manager and the Town clerk informed Members of the existing housing improvement fund built up from revenue budgets in previous years and the fact that an allocation to this fund was approved in the 2010 revenue budget.

It was agreed to initially carry out a survey of Casement Park, identifying works required, leading to the preparation of a tender specification. It was further agreed to place the matter as a recurring agenda idea to allow for progress updates. On this basis Cllr. Pendlebury agreed to withdraw the motion.

(c) Motion from Cllr. Anthony McDermott (Held from January Meeting)
“That Clonakilty Town Council provides a site to build a youth centre/café within Deasy’s Car park to provide a much needed amenity in our Town for our youth”.

The motion was proposed by Mayor McDermott and seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan.

After discussion by the Members the following amended motion was proposed by Mayor McDermott and seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan and agreed by all Members present:

“That Clonakilty Town Council asks the Town Manager to investigate the possibility of providing a site or building from within its own property portfolio to provide for a youth centre/café”.

(d) Motion from Cllr. Kevin O’Regan
“With the increase in unattractive and unsightly shop signs in our town I would like to propose that the Town Council inform our retail proprietors/tenants in Clonakilty that all signage must be approved by the town planners before they are erected on their shop fronts.  I also propose that this procedure should be implemented when renovations or internal re-construction commences on any retail units within the town boundaries as it may save time and money for all concerned.”

This motion was proposed by Cllr. Kevin O’Regan and seconded by Cllr. Cionnáith ó Súilleabháin.

After discussion among the Members it was agreed that the standard of shop signage within the Town had deteriorated.

The Town Engineer pointed that one of the main reasons for the deterioration was due to the transient nature of businesses in the current economic climate.

The Town Clerk informed Members that the Town Hall was currently producing a brochure on shop fronts and signage and it was hoped that this would constitute a design template going forward.

The Town Manager agreed that an audit of the signage currently in place would be carried out once the brochure was published and that the enforcement option would be pursued in cases so required.

(e) Motion from Cllr. Kevin O’Regan
“That the Town Council introduces a programme of information for the local hospitality sector informing them of best practises in the disposal of cooking fats oils and greases. This was one of the recommendations made by Cork County Council Senior Engineers to help us in our fight to improve air and water quality in the town.

The motion was proposed by Cllr. Kevin O’Regan and seconded by Cllr. Loughnan.
  
It was agreed that the Town Clerk would follow this up with the Environment Department.

  8.    CORRESPONDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

9. CORRESPONDENCE FROM OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND          
PUBLIC BODIES
(a) Motion from Ballybay Town Council
“That this Council proposes that, in light of the recent flooding the Government should form one National Body to oversee the upkeep and maintenance all the rivers and lakes in the country and that Plans are put in place to deal with future flooding disasters.  It was further proposed and agreed to forward this motion to all other Local Authorities”

This motion was marked as read.

(b) Motion from Killarney Town Council
“That Killarney Town Council calls on the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to ensure the retention of the minimum wage”.

This motion was marked as read.

(c) Motion from Monaghan Town Council
“In light of the continuing decrease in monthly residential rents in the private sector, that this Council write to Minister John Gormley, Department of Environment and Local Government, seeking similar decreases to rents imposed by Local Authorities to their tenants and that the reduction in revenue to the Council is subvented through the Local Government Fund Allocation to each Council.”

This motion was marked as read.

10.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) Housing Applicants Analysis
Cllr. Michael O’ Regan enquired of the Town Manager whether a breakdown of housing applicants on the waiting list for council housing could be provided for the March Meeting.
The Town Manager advised Cllr. Michael O’Regan the number of applicants and general category could be provided.

b) Deputation from Ocean Lettuce Ltd
Cllr. Kevin O’Regan proposed that Ocean Lettuce Ltd give a presentation at the March meeting and asked for this to be arranged.

c) Public Order Sub-Committee
Cllr. Pendlebury asked for a meeting of the Public Order Sub-Committee to be arranged and it was also agreed that the first meeting of the Joint Policing Committee be included on the agenda.

d) Minutes of monthly meetings
Cllr. Pendlebury requested that the adopted minutes of monthly and other meetings be emailed to Members.

e) Road Closures
Cllr. Pendlebury enquired of the Town Engineer how long roads would remain closed for repairs following the bad weather in January. The Town Engineer confirmed that repairs would be completed over coming weeks.

f) Water Metre Charges
Cllr. Pendlebury requested that advice be given to Schools within the Town regarding best use and management of their water supply in respect of costs and value for money.

g) Head Shops
 Cllr. Pendlebury enquired what action could be taken to prevent a head shop opening in the Town. The Town Clerk confirmed that head shops are legal and the Town Council would only be concerned from a planning perspective.

h) Planning Enforcement
Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin requested an update on enforcement proceedings on certain developments and was advised that this could not be discussed at the meeting.
 
i) Historical Signage
Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin congratulated the Town Council on the historical signage in place and asked that any street names missing within the Town to be replaced.

j) Taking in Charge
Cllr. Cullinane enquired on whether Ian O’Regan’s report on estates requiring taking in charge could be brought before the March meeting. The Manager agreed to this and also intended bringing the taking in charge procedures and policy document before Members at this meeting.

k) Sewer Map
Cllr. Cullinane enquired of the Town Engineer whether a map outlining the sewerage network within the Town was available. The Engineer confirmed that no such map existed, however he continued to clarify the specific query raised by Cllr. Cullinane.

l) Footpath to New Convent at McCurtain Hill
Cllr. Cullinane enquired on whether a new footpath could be constructed to the new convent on McCurtain Hill. The Town Engineer confirmed that this was not feasible in the short term as it would require the acquisition of private land to enable the footpath to be constructed.

m) Ladies Cross
Cllr. Deegan enquired whether the footpath at Ladies Cross would be included in the 2010 programme of works. The Town Engineer confirmed that subject to funding it was proposed to do this stretch of footpath during 2010.

n) Local Area Plans
Cllr. Deegan enquired whether the town Council would submit one overall submission or whether individual submissions would be submitted.  The Town Manager informed Cllr. Deegan that the Forward Planning Unit, Cork County Council would be requested to address the Town Council as part of the Local Area Plan process.

o) Grey Water / Water Recycling Systems
Cllr. Deegan enquired whether it was Town Council policy to include grey water / recycling systems as condition of planning applications. The Town Engineer confirmed that this was already in place and developments taking place currently are including this measure.

         This concluded the official business of the meeting

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