Budget Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Adjourned Budget Meeting of Sligo County Council Held on 15th January 2007 at 11.00am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Baker,
  • Barrett,
  • Barry,
  • Bree,
  • Cawley,
  • Colleary,
  • Conmy,
  • Devins,
  • Fleming,
  • Fox,
  • Gormley,
  • Healy McGowan,
  • Henry,
  • Higgins,
  • Kilgannon,
  • Lundy,
  • Mac Manus,
  • McGarry,
  • McLoughlin,
  • McGrath,
  • Mullaney,
  • Murray,
  • Queenan,
  • Sherlock.

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
  • Mr T. Kilfeather, A/Director of Services
  • Mr S. Concannon, Director of Services
  • Ms D. Clarke, Director of Services
  • Mr D. Breen, A/Director of Services
  • Mr K. Larkin, Senior Engineer
  • Mr J. McHugh, Senior Engineer
  • Mr T. Carroll, Senior Engineer
  • Mr M. Lydon, Head of Finance
  • Mr F. Moylan, Senior Executive Planner
  • Ms P. R Gallagher, Senior Executive Officer
  • Ms E. Concannon, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Ms S. Ryan, Heritage Officer
  • Mr J. Murphy, Senior Executive Officer
  • Ms F. Meagher, Senior Executive Planner
  • Ms D. McDonagh, Senior Staff Officer
  • Ms J. McNamara, Administrative Officer
  • Mr F. MacNabb, Administrative Officer
  • Mr C. McNamara, Staff Officer
  • Ms L. Conlon, Clerical Officer

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor J. McGarry presided.

PROGRAMME GROUP NO. 4 – DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AND CONTROL:

The members proceeded to consider programme group 4 Development Incentives and Control.  Mr T. Kilfeather A/Director of Services outlined the programme for 2007 in relation to Planning and Development. In response to member’s queries he stated that it is hoped to have a draft plan for Tubbercurry by April 2007. It is also hoped to bring a plan for Lisnalurg before the members for adoption in 2007. He also noted that 2006 marked the end of the County Heritage Plan and work had commenced on the second 5-year plan 2007-2011. In response to a query on CCTV in various areas, Mr D. Breen A/DOS stated that tenders had been received and funding had been applied for. He also responded to queries in relation to caravan site at Easkey and the role of leader in West Sligo. Mr T. Kilfeather also responded to queries in relation to the taking in charge of Estates.

PROGRAMME GROUP NO. 5 – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:

The members proceeded to consider programme group 5 – Environmental Protection. Mr T. Kilfeather A/Director of Services outlined the proposed expenditure in the Environmental Protection Programme. In response to queries in relation to the illegal dumping at bring Banks, Mr John McHugh Senior Engineer stated that cameras would be installed at various locations throughout the County and action taken against people who dump illegally at
bring bank centres. Mr D. Breen A/DOS outlined the programme of work in relation to burial grounds.

PROGRAMME GROUP NO. 6 – RECREATION AND AMINITY:

The members proceeded to consider programme group 6 Recreation and Amenity. Director Ms D. Clarke and A/Director D. Breen outlined the proposed expenditure in relation to this programme. It was proposed by Cllr I. Henry and seconded by Cllr J. McGarry and agreed to invite Ms Deirdre Lavin of the Sligo Sports and Recreational Partnership to address the Council. Mr H. Kearns County Manager briefed the members on the current status of the County Library/Museum Project.

PROGRAMME GROUPS NO’S 7 AND 8 - AGRICULTURE/EDUCATION AND MISCELLANOUS:

The members proceeded to consider programme groups 7 and 8, Agriculture, Education and Miscellaneous.

RESOLUTIONS ARISING FROM BUDGET MEETING:

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor P. Conmy

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council contacts the Department of the Environment and outlines our concerns at the Departments failure to provide adequate funding to cover costs to this Council associated with “Benchmarking” and “Towards 2016” agreements. To offset these costs, this Council requests the
Department of the Environment to provide Sligo County Council with an extra allocation of €1 million through Local Government Fund grant for this year.  Furthermore, this Council asks the Department to outline when the recommendations of the recent report on local government finance will be implemented and request a meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government”.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor V. Cawley

AND AGREED

“While welcoming the €1,105,747(6.7%) increase from the Local Government Fund, this Council wishes to highlight the fact that in excess of €800,000 of the increase is necessary to cover the costs of salary and pension increases arising from the ‘Benchmarking and ‘Sustaining Progress’ agreements, and in this context the Council calls on the Government and the Minister for the Environment to provide additional funding of €1,000,000 so as to allow the Council maintain and improve its services”.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor V. Cawley

AND AGREED

“That the sum included in Programme 1.1.1. Maintenance and Improvement of Local Authority housing be increased to €650,000 and that expenditure of €160,000 included in Programme 6.4.3.(5) matching funds, be reduced by €20,000”.

Proposed by Councillor V. Cawley
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree

AND AGREED

“That this Council Calls on the Department of Environment to introduce a grant scheme to finance the provision of hot water in private homes”.

Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AND AGREED

“That this Council calls on the Minister for Transport to provide the funding for the N17 by-pass of Tubbercurry to enable it to proceed, and that we request the Minister to meet a deputation as a matter of urgency on this matter”.

Proposed by Councillor I. Fox
Seconded by Councillor P. Conmy

AND AGREED

“To ask the County Manager to set up a joint meeting with Minister Cullen with a view to seeking funding for routes N16, N17, N4 & N59”.

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor M. Fleming

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council ask the County Manager to withhold any increase in charge per cubic meter for metered water i.e. that costs would remain at €1.13c for 2007”.

Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

“That I will ask that the Council agree to take €3000 from register of elections programme No. 8 to fund St. Patrick’s Parade in Enniscrone for insurance”.

As agreement could not be reached in relation to this resolution the Cathaoirleach asked that a Poll be taken.

For: Barrett, Conmy, Fleming, Fox, Henry, MacManus, McGrath, McLoughlin, Mullaney, Murray.
Against: Baker, Barry, Bree, Cawley, Colleary, Devins, Gormley, Healy McGowan, Higgins, Kilgannon, Lundy, Queenan.
Abstained: McGarry

As the Result 10 for, 12 against and 1 abstention the resolution was lost.

Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

“That funding be provided for the provision of a Hoist/Crane facility at Poll Na Duibhe pier to enable fishermen to transport boxes of fish from the boats onto the pier”.

It was agreed by the Meeting to place the above resolution on the Agenda for the January Ordinary Meeting of the Council.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor V. Cawley

AND AGREED

“That Dr Frances Lucy, of the Sligo Institute of Technology and the Western River Basin District Advisory Council be invited to address the February meeting of the Council on the damage caused by the spread of Zebra mussels in our lakes”.

Proposed by Councillor S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Councillor J. Devins

“That the rate increase as proposed in the Draft Budget be reduced by ½% and that this reduction in income be offset by an equal reduction in expenditure under the heading matching funds programme 6.4.3 (5).

As agreement could not be reached in relation to this resolution the Cathaoirleach asked that Poll be taken.

For: Baker, Barry, Cawley, Colleary, Devins, Gormley, Healy McGowan, Higgins, Kilgannon, Lundy, McGarry, Queenan.
Against: Barrett, Bree, Conmy, Fleming, Fox, Henry, MacManus, McGrath, McLoughlin, Mullaney, Murray.

As the Result 12 for, 11 against the resolution was carried.

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

“That the amount provided for the book fund in programme 6.2.3 be increased by 25,000 to bring such expenditure up to levels recommended in 2002. This funding to be found by reducing the allocations in the following programmes - reduce library operational budget by a similar amount.

After a discussion the following amendment to the resolution was;

Proposed by J. Devins
Seconded by D. Healy McGowan

“That the amount provided for the book fund in Programme 6.2.3 be increased by €15,000 to bring such expenditure up to levels recommended in 2002.  This funding to be found by reducing the allocation for library fund.

As agreement could not be reached in relation to this resolution the Cathaoirleach asked that a poll be taken.

For: Baker, Barry, Cawley, Colleary, Devins, Healy McGowan, Higgins, Kilgannon, Lundy, McGarry, Queenan.
Against: Barrett, Bree, Conmy, Fleming, Fox, Henry, MacManus, McGrath, McLoughlin, Mullaney, Murray.
Abstained: Gormley

Result 11 for, 11 against and 1 abstention. As there was a tie the Cathaoirleach exercised his casting vote in favour of the resolution. Therefore the resolution was carried.

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor M. Fleming

“That Sligo County Council agrees to increase the amount in Programme 4.5.2 for the Community and Voluntary sector by €25,000 so that the excellent work carried out by these groups can be further enhanced. Such funding to be met by increased income across programme 4 “Development Incentives
and Control Incomes (4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.5.1).

The above resolution was ruled out of order by the Cathaoirleach.

Proposed by Councillor V. Cawley
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree

AND AGREED

“That in view of the growing illegal use of fireworks at Halloween by individuals and the safety issues that arise from this, that this Council investigate the feasibility of developing or supporting a Halloween fireworks display as held in places in Northern Ireland such as Derry”.

Proposed by Councillor J. McGarry
Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AND AGREED

“That Programme 6.4.3 Item (8) 10,000 Allocation for the Blue Raincoat be increased to 15,000 and that the increase of 5000 be got by reducing Programme 6.4.3(6) – Arts Programme”.

Proposed by Councillor M. Fleming
Seconded by Councillor P. Conmy

AND AGREED

"To request the Minister for the Environment to fund the cost of installing water meters and the maintenance of same, so that cost to individual farmers and business can be reduced”.

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor S. Kilgannon

“That Sligo County Council hereby adopts the Budget for the local financial year ending on the 31st December, 2007 as submitted by the County Manager, and as amended at this meeting, as set out in Tables A, B and C of the said Budget”.

As agreement could not be reached in relation to this resolution the Cathaoirleach asked that a Poll be taken.

For: Baker, Barry, Cawley, Colleary, Devins, Healy McGowan, Higgins, Kilgannon, Lundy, McGarry, Queenan.
Against: Barrett, Bree, Conmy, Fleming, Fox, Gormley, Henry, MacManus, McGrath, McLoughlin, Mullaney.

Result 11 for, 11 against. As there was a tie the Cathaoirleach exercised his casting vote in favour of the resolution. Therefore the resolution was carried.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That Sligo County Council hereby determines in accordance with the Budget for the local financial year ending on the 31st December 2007, as adopted at this meeting, the rateable valuation multiplier to be levied for the purposes specified in such budgets as set out in table B and C for the financial year 2007.  The rateable valuation multiplier as determined, being €63.97”.

Cllr S. MacManus dissented.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

“That an amount of up €3,200 be allowed to the Cathaoirleach in respect of vouched expenses at official rates for reasonable expenses incurred by the Cathaoirleach abroad”.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor J. Devins

AND AGREED

"That an amount of up to €5,100 be allowed to the Cathaoirleach in respect of vouched expenses at official rates for reasonable expenses incurred by the Cathaoirleach outside County Sligo”.

Proposed by Councillor T. McLoughlin
Seconded by Councillor A. Higgins

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for An Leas-Cathaoirleach be fixed at €9,000 per Annum with effect from the 1st January 2007. This allowance is to be paid in two instalments in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred by the Leas-Cathaoirleach”.

Proposed by Councillor J. Devins
Seconded by Councillor V. Cawley

AND AGREED

“That the allowance for the Cathaoirleach be fixed at €36,000 per annum with effect from the 1st January 2007. This allowance is to be paid monthly in arrears to cover reasonable expenses incurred by the Cathaoirleach within County Sligo”.

Proposed by Councillor J. Devins
Seconded by Councillor A. Higgins

AND AGREED

“To note the County Manager’s report on the proposed three year Capital Programme 2007 - 2009”.

The Meeting ended at 5.30pm


Meeting Date 15/01/2007