Agendas 2020

Agenda of February Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held on Monday, 3rd February, 2020 at 10 am


Corporate Services,
County Hall,
Riverside,
Sligo

071 9111111

28th January, 2020

TO:  THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held

ON:  Monday, 3rd February, 2020

AT:  10.00 a.m.

IN:  Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo

You are requested to attend.

K. Colreavy
Meetings Administrator

CLÁR

  1. To note Minutes of Corporate Policy Group Meeting held on 1st November, 2019 (Copy attached).
  2. To confirm Minutes of the Meeting of the Borough District of Sligo held on 18th November 2019 (Copy attached).
  3. To confirm Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff held on 18th November 2019 (Copy attached).
  4. To confirm Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 13th January, 2020 (Copy attached).
  5. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of dwellinghouse and lands at Creevykeel, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo to Ms. Bridie Davey and Mr. Mark Kearns. (Report previously circulated)
  6. To consider report in relation to commencing the process of taking in charge the estate known as “Fairgreen”, Dromore West, Co. Sligo. (Report previously circulated)
  7. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of property at 18 Cartron Estate, Sligo to Con and Noeleen Kelly (Report previously circulated).
  8. To consider the draft budget of the Sligo Business Improvement District (BID) Company Limited and to set the annual BID multiplier (Report to follow). 
  9. To seek approval to borrowing a sum not exceeding €13.5m by way of temporary overdraft for the 12 months from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 (Report attached)
  10. County Sligo Joint Policing Committee:
    • to select 5 Councillors to fill the remaining elected member positions on the J.P.C.
    • to select Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson designate
    (Report attached).
  11. To formally establish Sligo County Council’s Strategic Policy Committees (Report to follow).
  12. To note the Monthly Management Report for December 2019 (Report to follow). 

DEFERRED MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor C. MacManus:
    “That the County Council list all the lands/plots in the Sligo harbour area that were transferred from Sligo Harbour Commission to Sligo County Council in 2006 or had at any stage been previously owned by the Harbour Commission.

    Further, to detail whether such lands are currently subject to leasehold or freehold; who the current leasee or freeholder is; the commencement and length of the lease or the year and value of the sale.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To call on the Minister for Environment to include houses in County Sligo for compensation regarding pyrite defects in their property.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on this Council to set a date for a review of the County Development Plan.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on the Director of Services for Infrastructure to investigate the most suitable route for traffic travelling west on the N4 from Carrick-on-Shannon to access Ballymote and provide the necessary upgrade.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on the Director of Services for Infrastructure to provide traffic calming measures in Marren Park, Ballymote between the School and the Health Centre.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I call on Sligo County Council to allocate funds to allow for bit mac surface dressings of the public path linking the new and old cemeteries Ballymote.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I call on Sligo County Council and the T.I.I. to investigate what traffic calming measures can be put in place on the N17 main national primary road entering Tubbercurry Town near Parklands housing estate.  This estate of over 70 houses is on one side of the road and children and elderly people have to cross this extremely busy stretch regularly to get to and from the Centra Shop, National School and Library.  As the main route from Sligo-Galway, large volumes of traffic and speeding in this area are a daily concern for residents.

    Can a pedestrian crossing or Traffic calming measures from the G.A.A. pitch coming into Tubbercurry town centre be costed and if possible applied for under a feasible scheme in the interest of safety.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “For a survey to be carried out on the Oxfield road, to ascertain the need for drainage works, verge and surface repairs to be carried out.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “I call on Sligo County Council to work with the community in Coolaney towards securing safe parking facility adjoining Rockfield N.S. and Church owing to the daily traffic congestion at this location.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To call on the Government to recognise early childhood education and care as a unique part of the education continuum, one that requires the same level of respect and support accorded to primary and secondary education”. 
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To ask for an update on the O'Connell Street renovation works including a timeline for when the reinstatement of the designated pedestrian crossing will take place, and also when disabled parking and bus stop markings will be completed so that effective enforcement can commence. There is a significant issue with cars being parked in both disabled parking spaces and bus stops at the moment.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “Noting that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has approved funding to Sligo County Council for the appointment of a HAP Place Finder, and noting that the Department indicates that the Place Finder Service is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies; this meeting requests a report on the HAP Place Finder service in Sligo.”
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “To ask the Chief Executive what progress has been made with regard to the live streaming of Council meetings.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “To ask the Chief Executive what plans the Council has to increase the planting of native tree species on Council property and to ask when the Council intends to develop a comprehensive tree planting programme/strategy.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “To ask Sligo County Council for an update on proposed Public Lighting Scheme as agreed during budget 2020.”
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “To ask Sligo County Council to address ongoing littering and illegal dumping around bottle bank sites in Collooney and Ballintogher and to introduce measures to tackle the same.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “Sligo County Council will prepare a report outlining the process by which properties are entered onto the derelict sites register, addressing the average length of time before a house is put onto the register and what action can be taken once a property is registered. In particular please address the outstanding properties at Garavogue Villas, Dominic St and Rathbraughan Park and when they might be added to the register.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “Sligo County council will prepare an update with regard to the establishment of a Yeats Interpretive Centre.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That a Report be submitted by the Chief Executive listing all lands and buildings (excluding social tenanted houses) in the Council ownership in each Municipal District, their current use and, if vacant, the state of repair and their proposed use. If any of these properties are vacant, with no immediate use, is it possible to realise the value of the assets and use these assets to provide much needed services for the people of the County?”

MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To ask for Minimum Passing Distance Recommendation Signs to be fitted around County Sligo as per the DDTAS Traffic Signs Manual”. 
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To ask the Chief Executive to confirm if it his intention to prepare an application for funding in line with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government second call for proposals under the €2 Billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That an Engineer's Report be carried out on the hill leading up to Oyster Bay Estate, Rosses Point and that funding be sought to extend and improve the footpath to the Estate also.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Mulvey:
    “To ask Sligo County Council if signage and/or traffic calming measures can be put in place near the Loftus Hall Community Centre, Ballymote due to safety concerns crossing the road at this community facility.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “That this Council would call on the Government to bring in legislation to make the practice of baiting dogs illegal where persons enter lands and use Terrier dogs to enter dens to flush out Foxes and Hares.  They then set Lurcher dogs to chase down and kill the Foxes and Hares. This is a barbaric and cruel activity that causes great distress to farm animals also causing sheep to become distressed and abort lambs and cows to abort calves. Also, this Council should advise dog owners that the lambing season is underway and that all dogs should be under their owners’ control at all times.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “Given the importance of the proposed Glamping project at Enniscrone, this Council must actively support this initiative by calling on Bord Fáilte to recognise it as a flagship project on the Wild Atlantic Way and to call on the Government to provide grant aid so that the 40 jobs can be brought on stream at the location.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to provide funding for the upgrade of Ballymote Playground to address issues in the latest inspection report.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on Sligo County Council Enforcement Section to examine a building in Ballinafad  known as ‘The Anglers Rest’ from a public safety point of view.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “To ask the Chief Executive when it is expected that the draft bye lays to prohibit Heavy Goods Vehicles from using the road network through the Cranmore housing estate, Martin Savage Terrace and Doorly Park housing estates and Cleveragh Drive; will be brought before the Council for consideration.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor C. MacManus:
    To ask how many trees were cut down by Sligo County Council in 2017-2019 and how many were planted by this Council in the same three year period.
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor C. MacManus:
    “That this Council acknowledges the response from the Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority regarding bus services in Sligo Town and Environs [23/9/2019].

    That we ask the NTA for further information as to when it will conduct this review to consider making additional improvements as cited in this correspondence and to indicate the potential extent of such a review.

    Further, as a short-term interim measure that the NTA authorise Bus Eireann to make amendments to the S1 and S2 routes to service the Caltragh/Rusheen Ard and Maugheraboy communities respectively as well as consideration of a bus stop in the MCR area on the existing S1 route.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That this Council, recognising the need for improved and extended services on the S1 and S2 Sligo bus routes in many areas including Caltragh, Mail Coach Road and Maugheraboy; this Council again on Government to provide the necessary resources to allow the National Transport Authority and Bus Eireann to improve and extend the Sligo Bus service.”
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “Given the shortfall in the pension fund, Sligo County Council calls on the Government to commit to
    1. Retaining a voluntary retirement age at 65 and
    2. To introduce a modest tax on automation, robots (e.g. A.T.M.s ) or any device, machinery or technology that displaces humans from the workplace to compensate for the loss of employment P.R.S.I. and P.A.Y.E. to the Pensions Funds.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “I request a report on what plans are in place for future development at Sligo Regional Sports Complex.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “To request that the Traffic Lights at John Street, Sligo be reviewed.
  16. ”To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “What plans are in place to relieve the ongoing flooding issue at Ahamlish Graveyard?”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the Chief Executive Officer to investigate the whistleblowers report relating to Easkey Community Council.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls on the new Government to support Early Years Educators in their calls for more adequate funding for the sector and an appropriate wage for the work they do.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor C. MacManus:
    “To ask the Executive the number of Council maintained litter bins there are in:
    1. The County area excl. the Borough area;
    2. The Borough Area;

    Further, to ask the frequency of emptying these bins; whether this changes seasonally and if there is consideration being given to increasing the number of litter bins.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “To ask that Sligo County Council will establish a cycling forum.”
  21. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor S. Maguire:
    “To obtain an update as to whether there is a plan to replace engineering staff in the Roads Design Section.”
  22. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Fox:
    “Re: Eastern Garavogue River Bridge and Approach Roads Scheme

    Following the recent grant allocation of €250,000 for the year 2020 announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for the Design of the Eastern Garavogue Bridge that Sligo County Council provide clarification and give an up to date report outlining:
    1. The various funding allocations that are in place from different Government Departments to complete construction of the project, the estimated final cost of new bridge and the expected date it will go to tender and its expected completion date.
    2. How the Council proposes “to use the existing road network” to access the town centre, as reported by the Senior Roads Engineer to meeting of the Council on the 7 October 2019. Is it intended to direct all the traffic from the hospital and Calry area that will be coming across the bridge to town up by Chapel Hill, past Our Lady of Mercy Primary School and the Mercy Convent and then onto Pearse Road? or, is it proposed to divert this traffic from the new bridge via Riverside and John F. Kennedy Parade in a one-way direction, bringing all this extra traffic onto Bridge Street?
    3. Taking into account that the Council has been working with its design consultants over the past year it seems an appropriate time, and it is requested to have the consultants make a presentation to the Council at its next meeting of the Council’s proposals for the Approach Roads Scheme. The presentation should also outline how it is proposed to improve traffic calming arrangements and improved traffic/pedestrian facilities at junctions etc. Traffic expected to travel south, past the Sligo Outdoor gym and Doorly Park and the Sligo Regional Sports Centre and Sligo Regional Park along Cleveragh Drive and then up by the cemetery to Pearse Road will also need to be taken into account and traffic calming measures and traffic surveys will need to be taken. Consideration will also need to be taken of the anticipated increased traffic from the Holy Well |Road, which is anticipated will arise with the opening of the new bridge.  It is requested that a map outlining these Approach Road proposals and traffic calming measures proposals should be provided to each member at the Council meeting.
    4. That the Council indicate what public consultation will take place regarding any traffic calming proposals and if these proposals will be published in advance for public comment/observations.
    5. What staff resources will be available for the review and improvement of the existing network this year, taking into account the departure of two long serving Council road design engineers last year?”
  23. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That the Council be provided with an up to date report on the proposed pedestrian footbridge to be erected adjacent to Markievicz Bridge; the report to include details of the most recent submission made to the Department seeking funding for the project”
  24. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “To ask Sligo County Council to investigate what measures can be put in place on the road to Luke’s Bridge on Benbulben Mountain to stop the sheep who graze the Mountain Commonage from wandering down onto the busy roads below and causing an accident.

    An Unofficial barrier has been put in place in recent years that obstructs the road and has caused minor damage to vehicles. Gardaí have been called to this location on a number of occasions and a solution should be found to avert this arising in future.”
  25. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “To call for a report from Sligo County Council on what measures will be taken to control Dogs on Farmland during lambing season with a reported increase in Lurcher type dogs being used in the practice known as “Lamping”

    These dogs are brought to rural areas and areas of Commonage throughout North Sligo by groups from outside the area and used to hunt and kill rabbits at night.”
  26. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “To call for a report from Sligo County Council on where the Bus Shelters in County Sligo referred to by Mr. Hugh Creegan of N.T.A. in response to PQ No 533 December 10th 2019 from Deputy Eamon Scanlon T.D. will be located if it has been decided and if exact locations have not been decided can the Council confirm how many they expect to provide overall and a breakdown of how many will be in each electoral area.”
  27. Votes of Sympathy.
  28. Votes of Congratulations.
  29. Conferences/Training (Copy attached).
  30. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  31. Correspondence:
    1. Acknowledgement dated 7th January, 2020 from the Office of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government re. hiring of additional staff,
    2. Acknowledgement dated 15th January, 2020 from the Office of the Minister for Disabilities re. extension of scope for Local Link services,
    3. Letter  dated 14th January, 2020 from the Office of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government re. hiring of additional staff,
    4. Acknowledgement dated 15th January, 2020 from the Office of the Taoiseach re. plans to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary,
    5. Acknowledgement dated 17th January, 2020 from Mr. Simon Harris, T.D., Minister for Health re. 48 bed Medical Block at Sligo University Hospital,
    6. Letter dated 21st February, 2020 from the General Manager of Disability Services (H.S.E.) residential Respite Services in Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim,
    7. Letter of invitation dated 22nd January, 2020 from the President of County Sligo Social and Benevolent Association, New York to Cathaoirleach Tom MacSharry,
    8. Correspondence from Fr. Yashin Jos, SDB in reply to Vote of Sympathy and
    9. Copy of resolution from Leitrim County Council re. National Plan, Project Ireland 2040.
  32. Matters arising from Minutes.
  33. Any other business.

 


Meeting Date 03/02/2020