Council Meeting 8th April 2010

Minutes

 MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF CLONAKILTY TOWN COUNCIL
HELD ON THURSDAY 8th APRIL 2010 AT 10.00 A.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, OLD MILL, 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.

Officers Present: Moira Murrell, Town Manager, John Conroy, Town Engineer, Justin England, Town Clerk, Gerard Harte, Staff Officer.

Apologies:    Cllr. Anne Cullinane
          

The Mayor informed the Members that, under standing orders, a resolution was required to change the time of the meeting from 7.00pm on the first Tuesday, 6th April 2010 to 10.00a.m on Thursday 8th April 2010.
 
On the proposal of Cllr, Michael O’Regan, seconded by Cllr. Pendlebury a resolution was passed agreeing the change of time.

It was agreed that the monthly meeting for May would also be held on the morning of Tuesday 4th May.

The Mayor proposed a suspension of standing orders in order to facilitate a deputation from Alison Wickham and Peter Madden of Sustainable Clonakilty.

This was seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan, and they made their presentations to the Members.

1.          CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

a) Minutes of March Monthly Meeting

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

2.       MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES
 
a) Minutes of March Monthly Meeting

Cllr. O’Suilleabháin referred to the letter which the Town Clerk had received from Permanent TSB regarding the mortgage interest rate increase. A discussion followed regarding which banks should be written to regarding interest rate increases. It was agreed by all Members that a one off letter should only be sent to financial institutions operating in Clonakilty.

Cllr. Kevin O’Regan enquired about the audit of shop signage. The Town Clerk informed him that a draft brochure has been compiled and is awaiting printing.

Cllr. O’Suilleabháin enquired when the Web-site Committee would meet. The Town Clerk informed him that he will be meeting the Web-Site Co-ordinator on 14th April 2010.

Cllr. Pendlebury referred to the Footpath/Hoarding bordering Scally's Supermarket. The Town Engineer said that he is corresponding with the owner/developer about this.

The Mayor referred to item under Any Other Business- Astna Square Redevelopment.  The Town Manager informed Members that the officials will be meeting with the County Architect in the coming weeks and will revert back to Members in due course.

Cllr. Loughnan requested an update on the Casual Trading Byelaws. The Town Manager informed him that the Town Council are seeking legal advice on the matter.  

The Mayor referred to the new roundabout at the Maxol Service Station and complimented the work done.  Cllr. Pendlebury enquired about crossing points for cyclists. The Town Engineer informed him that roundabout and crossing points were ongoing.

 3. VOTES OF SYMPATHY
    To: -
• Padraig O’Driscoll, Youghals on the death of his wife Mary.
• Ann O’Brien, Assumption Place on the death of her husband Brendan.
• Sheila Murphy, “West Brook” Western Road, on the death of her sister Mary O’Connor.
• John Barry, Wolfe Tone Street, on the death of his sister Bernie Keohane.
• Mary Horan, Ballintemple, Ring, Clonakilty on the death of his father Paddy Keohane
• The Beamish Family, Park Road, Dunmanway, on the death of their father Samuel (Frankie).

VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS
  To:-
• John Kearney, on the opening of his new restaurant Fastnet Catch at Oliver Plunkett Street.  
• Owners of Grasshopper Clothing on the opening of their clothes shop at Rossa Street.
• Organisers of Daffodil Day in Clonakilty
• Organisers of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Clonakilty
• Tom O’Donovan, O’Donovan’s Hotel on his provision of garden allotments at Tawnies Upper.
• West Cork Rally Committee and Cork Motor Club on the staging of the West Cork Rally in March.
• Clonakilty Singing Club on the 25th anniversary of the production of the musical Rose Marie.
• Clonakilty Community College on their senior footballers reaching the All-Ireland senior A Vocational Schools football final.
• Damien McCarthy and Eamonn Hayes who were the top West Cork crew in the West Cork Rally.
• Clonakilty Town on winning the 2010 SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys under 14 Cup.
• Clonakilty Youth Café Committee on their €3,000.00 award in the AIB Better Ireland awards.
• Aoife O’Regan on her nomination for All-Ireland youth volunteer of the year for her work for Clonakilty Youth Cafe

4. STATUTORY BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

  
5. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEES OF THE    COUNCIL

a) VEC Sub-Committee
 Cllr. Deegan gave Members an update of the VEC meeting.

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.
 
c) Application for funding from the Festival of West Cork incorporating South of Ireland Band Championships  
On the proposal of Cllr. Michael O’Regan and seconded by Cllr. Loughnan it was agreed to make a grant payment of €1,000.00 to the above group.           
d) Windows and doors replacement programme 
The Town Clerk informed the Members that the necessary documentation had been finalised and that the Town Council intended to advertise within the coming weeks.
  

7. NOTICES OF MOTION

(a) Motion from Cllr. Cionnáith Ó Súilleabháin
“That this council, being conscious of the shocking rise in numbers of people on the Live Register at the Clonakilty Social Welfare Office (March 2010 CSO figure 1,298)  and in particular the numbers of Under 25 year olds (157), organises a community forum similar to that done in the 1980’s which would bring all local agencies and stakeholders together  (e.g. Employers organisations, Trade Unions, Enterprise Board, VEC, FÁS, Student and young Unemployed representatives, Clonakilty Business Association, Chamber of Tourism, etc.). The aim of this forum would be to set up an Action Group for Employment under the remit of Clonakilty Town Council, whose agenda would be to identify what actions we as a community can take to help maintain present jobs, and create employment particularly for the under 25’s in order to keep them in our community. If passed, that this forum be established and its first meeting be held by 30th April 2010 at the latest”

Cllr Ó Suilleabháin referred to the early 1980s when there was an economic recession. Different organisations/groups came together then and organised a community forum to respond to the unemployment crisis.  The aim of the forum would be to set up an Action Group for Employment.

Cllr. Loughnan also referred to the group that was set up in the 1980s. He supported the idea of setting up a similar type group as to that formed previously.

Mayor McDermott proposed a sub-committee should be set up to consider the organising of a community forum.

The Members agreed to form a Sub-Committee comprised of the following Cllrs. Ó’ Súilleabháin, Kevin O’Regan, Pendlebury and Loughnan  

(b) Motion from Cllr. Anne Cullinane
"That the Executive would provide us with an update on any steps that are being taken to address the foul smell that continues to linger around Clonakilty Bay.  From mid March, the smell has been obvious at the entrance to the Town.  Not only is it affecting residents in the area but it will also impact negatively on tourism and business in Clonakilty.”

As Cllr. Cullinane was not present at the meeting, it was agreed by Members that Cllr. Loughnan would move the motion. On the proposal of Cllr. Loughnan and seconded by Cllr. Michael O’Regan, the motion was moved.

After contributions from the Members, the Town Engineer informed the Members that the County Council had been de-sludging one of the tanks at the Treatment Plant during the past few weeks. He also said that new screens had been installed. De-sludging will take place in the second tank the following week.

The Mayor proposed an extension of time for the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr. Phil O’Regan.

(c) Motion form Cllr. Cionnáith Ó Suilleabháin
“That this council organises the inaugural meeting of the Clonakilty Joint Policing Committee by the end of April 2010”

This motion was proposed by Cllr. O’Suilleabháin and seconded by Cllr. Pendlebury.

Mayor McDermott informed Cllr. Ó Suilleabháin that a Public Order sub-committee meeting was going to take place on Tuesday. The Town Clerk informed the Members that there were a series of procedures that had to take place before the Joint Policing Committee could be formed.

Cllr. O’Suilleabháin agreed to defer the motion until the May monthly meeting.

(d) Motion from Cllr. John Loughnan
“In order to protect and maximise the income of Clonakilty Town Council and to make the workings of the Council more meaningful and effective, I am calling on this Council to make a submission to the White Paper on The Future of Local Government.  The two areas of major concern to me are Funding Local Councils and the possibility of substituting Town Council with District Councils.”

Following a discussion by the Members, Cllr. Loughnan agreed to defer the motion for a month.

8.    CORRESPONDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
  Letter from Mary Hanafin T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs

9. CORRESPONDENCE FROM OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND          
PUBLIC BODIES

(a) Motion from South Tipperary County Council
"That South Tipperary County Council requests the Minister for Health and Children, Ms. Mary Harney, T.D., to reverse the H.S.E.’s decision to centralise all medical card processing to the PCRS Offices in Dublin”.

This motion was marked as read.

(b) Motion from Bandon Town Council
 “That this Council
Notes that
• 233 out of 1548 registered unemployed at Bandon office last month were under 25.
• The situation of those under 25 has worsened as a result of the cuts in their unemployment benefits brought in as part of Budget 2010 with these cuts forcing young unemployed to choose between poverty and emigration.
Expresses its disappointment at the failure of the government to bring forward and implement a strategy to tackle youth unemployment and to create jobs for the unemployed.
 The motion was marked as read. 

10.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) Cork Swansea Ferry
Cllr. Deegan suggested that Members of the Welsh Assembly who injected funding into the project should be invited to Clonakilty.

b) An Bord Bainistiochta Ghaelscoil Chloich na gCoillte Planning Application
Cllr. Deegan enquired whether an English version of the application was available. The Town Clerk said that the planning application could be viewed in the Town Hall.

c) Beach by-laws
Cllr. Kevin O’Regan enquired about an update about the Beach by- Laws Amendments. The Town Manager informed him that the submissions were now gone back into Committee stage for consideration before they were considered by full Council.

d) Flood Relief
The Town Manager informed the Members that €350,000.00 had been granted for Flood Relief Works. She praised the work done by the Town Council prior to submitting the application for funding.
The Town Engineer informed the Members that a programme of works was been compiled.

e) Discussion between IDA and Cork County Council
Cllr. Loughnan enquired about an update on this. The Town Manager said that this was a matter between Cork County Council and the IDA.

f) 31 Assumption Place
Mayor McDermott enquired when works scheduled at 31, Assumption Place would commence. The Town Clerk said that he would have details shortly.

g) Window Basket Prize-giving
The Town Clerk informed the Members that the prize-giving for the window basket competition would take place that evening at the Quality Hotel.

        This concluded the official business of the meeting.

Back to Meetings List - Click Here