Agendas 2020

Agenda of October Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council to be held on Monday, 5th October, 2020 at 10 am in Sligo Park Hotel


Corporate Services,
County Hall,
Riverside,
Sligo

071 9111111

29th September, 2020

TO:  THE CATHAOIRLEACH AND EACH MEMBER OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council will be held

ON:  Monday, 5th October, 2020  

AT:  10.00 a.m.

IN:  Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo F91 Y762

You are requested to attend.

Kevin Colreavy
Meetings Administrator

 

CLÁR

  1. To note Minutes of Corporate Policy Group Meeting held on 3rd July, 2020 (Copy attached).
  2. To note Minutes of Meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff held on 20th July 2020 (Copy attached).
  3. To note Minutes of Meeting of the Borough District of Sligo held on 20th July 2020 (Copy attached).
  4. To confirm Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 7th September 2020 (Copy attached).
  5. To confirm Minutes of Special Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 28th September 2020 (Copy attached).
  6. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the transfer of freehold interest in the ESB sub-station site, buildings and associated cable wayleaves at Owenmore Drive, Collooney to ESB networks (Report previously circulated).
  7. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the transfer of freehold interest in the ESB sub-station site, buildings and associated cable wayleaves at Knappagh Beg Court, Sligo to ESB networks (Report previously circulated).
  8. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of dwellinghouse and its property at 14 Cois Na hAbhainn, Gurteen, Co. Sligo to Con Murray and Michelle Holahan (Report previously circulated).
  9. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of dwellinghouse and its property at Castlegal, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo to Ms. Mary Keane (Report previously circulated).
  10. To approve in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, the disposal of property at Ballygawley, Co. Sligo to Ms. Bernadette McTiernan (Report previously circulated).
  11. To consider Chief Executive’s Report under Part XI of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) for the Construction of 6 social houses at Gormley Villas, Bunnanaddan, Co. Sligo (Reports attached).
  12. Recommendation from Procedures Committee/Standard Operating Guidance – Council Meetings.
  13. Presentation on the Public Consultation of Feasible Options for the N17 Knock to Collooney (Atlantic Economic Corridor) Road Project.
  14. To adopt Digital Strategy for Sligo 2020-2023.
  15. To set dates for holding
    1. Municipal District Meetings to consider the draft Budgetary Plan and
    2. Sligo County Council 2021 Budget Meeting.
  16. To seek approval to borrowing a sum not exceeding €15m by way of temporary overdraft for the 12 months from 1st January, 2021 to 31st December 2021 (Report attached).
  17. Report on a proposed Business Improvement District (BID) to succeed the current BID (Report attached).
  18. To consider the Chief Executive’s Report on submissions and observations received in relation to the Draft Variation No. 1 of the Sligo County Development Plan 2017-2023 (Report previously circulated).
  19. Impact of Covid-19 on Ireland West Airport Knock (Report attached).
  20. To adopt Sligo County Council’s Corporate Plan 2020-2024.
  21. To adopt the Sligo Arts Plan 2020-2025 (Copy attached).
  22. Report on Community and Voluntary Grants.
  23. To note the Monthly Management Report for August 2020 (Copy attached).

 

DEFERRED MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “Re:  Sligo County Council’s Disability, Inclusion & Access Strategy 2019-2022
    That Sligo County Council give an up to date report outlining:
    1. The Annual Work Programme proposed by the Council under the Strategy (which was adopted on the 10 May 2019).
    2. The specific actions in the Strategy which are proposed to be implemented by the Council in 2020.
    3. The amount of funding provided by the Council for the year 2020 to carry out the specific actions which have been identified and proposed to be carried out in 2020.
    4. Details of the membership and staff names of the Council’s Internal Access Team established under the 2019-2022 Strategy who are to work on the Strategy.
    5. The percentage of each Council team members’ time which is expected to be devoted to this team work and for which funding has been provided by the Council in 2020.”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “To call on Sligo County Council to acknowledge the contribution to the county of Sligo of two former Ministers, Shane Ross and Michael Ring, for their service to the State.
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To receive a progress report on the Western Distributor Road and the Eastern Garavogue Bridge”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “Given that there has been a notable increase in sheep kills and dog thefts, Sligo County Council now calls on the Government and the Minister for Agriculture to review the current dog licence and to introduce a number of varied licences bands, i.e.; as currently exists in the gun licence legislation. Band A; Working farm dogs, Guide dogs, senior citizens’ companion dogs, Remain a nominal rate or current rate. All other dogs should be at higher rate of at least €100 per dog. All funds raised by a new licence programme should be ring fenced for animal and dog rescues groups, dog wardens and proper dog’s policing and management.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the Chief Executive to commence the process of reducing speed to 50 km on Road 94 at Kilglass N.S.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Clarke:
    “That Sligo County Council now calls on the Government and the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to report on a long awaited review of the Tenant Purchase Scheme. As the current scheme is not fit for purpose and militates against families that cannot satisfy the high income technical purchase conditions.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on the Director of Services for Infrastructure to give a report on the number of L.I.S. and C.I.S. applications awaiting funding.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. Mullaney:
    “To call on Sligo County Council that forestry owners applying for a felling licence and a loading bay would have a condition of planning that they would contribute to a C.I.S./L.I.S. scheme a monetary figure determined by the local authority.” 

 

MOTIONS

  1. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To call on the Executive to outline its strategy for the development of Sligo in the post pandemic era. What is required at a national level to make this possible?”
  2. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Can Sligo County Council write to the Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, to ask why have Soldiers from Finner Camp have to travel to Dublin to bring people for Covid 19 tests when there are over 1500 soldiers in Dublin.”
  3. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “That this Council agreed to contact the Minister for Health requesting him to ensure the availability of Breastcheck to all women who require a test and that such tests be taken every two years in the interests of adequate public health.”
  4. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Casserly:
    “To call on the Department of Social Welfare to give people the option of weekly social welfare payments again, as the fortnightly payments are having a negative effect not only on the local economy but also on local post offices.”
  5. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor A. Gibbons:
    “That the Road Design Department of this County Council bring forward a progress report of the upgrade works of the junction at the N15 and N4 known as Cartron Cross.”
  6. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To ask the Chief Executive to give an update on Knock Airport.”
  7. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor J. Queenan:
    “To call on the Minister for Social Protection to allow the current employees of C.E. Schemes to remain in employment while Covid 19 remains and to allow people on a Scheme after 6 months unemployment.”
  8. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “That Sligo County Council requests an update from the H.S.E. on the upgrading of the Helicopter Pad at Sligo University Hospital.”
  9. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “I request a report on the planned upgrading of the Road and Footpaths at Cartron Estate Ballytivnan.”
  10. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor R. O’Grady:
    “Requesting a review of the standard of Grass Cutting in Sligo County Council owned Estates.”
  11. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That this Council requests the Minister for Defence to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Military Medals for Gallantry and Distinguished Service Medals, recommended for former members of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, who served with United Nations forces during the siege of Jadotville, in September 1961, are awarded without further undue delay.”
  12. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor G. O’Boyle:
    “Sligo County Council calls for a ban on sale of dogs on Facebook/Done Deal/Buy and Sell/Twitter and other Social Media online pages.”
  13. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That this meeting of Sligo County Council: (a) recognising the need for adequate grant aid to fund the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme for Council tenants; (b) aware that the works funded by the grants have a huge impact on the quality of life of many tenants,  helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently;  (c) expresses its shock and dismay with the government decision to further slash the funding made available for the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme for Council tenants in Sligo, and (d) calls on the Fianna Fail. Fine Gael, Green Party and Independent T.D.’s who support the government, to take the necessary steps to have the funding/grant aid restored to Sligo County Council to its 2016 level of €628,346, at the very least.”
  14. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Connolly:
    “To ask Sligo County Council to invite Sligo born Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation, to a Reception in honour of his work in fighting Covid 19.”
  15. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Connolly:
    “To ask Sligo County Council to honour the Tourlestrane Senior Football team and Management on their achievements of winning 5 Senior Championship in a row with a reception when restrictions are lifted.”
  16. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Bree:
    “That Sligo County Council calls on the Office of Public Works to carry out the necessary excavation works to recover the remains of Joe Brady, Daniel Curley, Michael Fagan, Thomas Caffrey and Tim Kelly, in what is commonly known as the Invincibles Yard at Kilmainham Gaol. The bodies of these five members of the Irish National Invincibles lie beneath the paving slabs of the yard where they were executed in 1883 for their part in the Phoenix Park assassinations. The families of the five men are represented by the National Graves Association and the wish of the families is for their relatives to be exhumed from Kilmainham Gaol and reinterred in consecrated ground at Glasnevin Cemetery.”
  17. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “That Sligo County Council supports calls from the Irish Haemochromatosis Association for a national screening programme for haemochromatosis to be introduced and for the €80 charge for treatment for haemochromatosis patients be removed.

    That this motion be sent to the Minister for Health and the CEO of the HSE.”
  18. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor T. Walsh:
    “Sligo County Council requests the HSE to urgently address the waiting lists for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Sligo Leitrim and across this country.

    That Sligo County Council requests the HSE to provide this council with a report on what it is doing to address the following; 
    • 156 children on a waiting list for CAMHS in Sligo Leitrim whilst 19 children are waiting longer than 12 months for their first appointment?
    • 2116 children are on a wait list for CAMHS nationally?
    • Only 66.5% of all those children referred in Sligo, Leitrim were offered an appointment within the recommended 12 weeks?
    • Why there is no service offered to children who do not meet the “CAMHS threshold” or to those children on a wait list for longer than the HSE`s recommended 12 weeks?

      That this motion be sent to the CEO of the HSE, the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach.”
  19. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council ensure that the Dog waste Bins at Rosses Point are emptied on a regular basis as there have been several occasions lately when they were over-flowing, and waste was being left alongside.”
  20. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council provide a Cost Benefit report on the advantages of purchasing a Drone and train members of staff to use Drone Technology to assist Engineering, Planning Environment, Housing and Enforcement sections.

    This technology could reduce costs and increase efficiencies substantially in all departments.”
  21. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor D. Gilroy:
    “That Sligo County Council write to the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD;

    “According to the European Commission, regional disparities in Ireland are among the highest in the European Union. As a result of our poor economic performance the west and border region (NUTS II) has been downgraded from ‘Developed’ to ‘in Transition’. All the economic indicators show a trend towards widening regional inequality. Management and delivery of European Regional Development Funds is essential to the regions performance and we ask that these funds continue to be managed by the regions (NWRA), in the regions with increased flexibility and consistent with regional priorities’. 

    Brief below 

    According to the European Commission, regional disparities in Ireland are among the highest in the European Union.

    Most alarming is that this disparity is growing. It is well documented that if regional gaps in GDP become too large and remain consistent over time, this inevitably leads to further economic decline.

    ‘Let’s Be More’ is a campaign that is attempting to stem this decline.

    It has been well publicised that the Northern & Western region has not performed economically as well as its fellow regions in Ireland and relative to the EU norm. This is set to continue. Brexit will have an undue impact on this region. The EU Commission have also documented the disproportionate economic impact that Covid-19 will have on the north and west.

    To address this, we need to do more, to be more creative, to use the funds that we have access to, more effectively. As a result of the regions poor economic performance, the European Commission has officially downgraded the Northern & Western region from a “More Developed Region” to a “Transition Region” post 2020.

    This represents a significant opportunity as the region now qualifies for a 60% co- financing rate. In essence, that means the EU will contribute €60 for every €100 spent by the Irish Government (European Regional Development Funds)

    Last year the Northern & Western Regional Assembly published the evidence behind the decision to re-classify the region in its report ‘Region in Transition: A Way Forward’. It also set out the necessary response.

    The Government is about to decide how to spend the estimated €1 billion in European Structural Funds apportioned for the period 2021 to 2027. The report ‘Region in Transition: The Way Forward’ called on a sustained policy of ‘positive discrimination’ into the North and West.

    But how?
    Proven solutions are out there, The Members of the NWRA are calling on Government to ‘Do More’ and apportion these funds into a region wide accelerator called an Integrated Territorial Investment for the period of 2021-2027. We can stem the divide by being More Urban, More Smart, More Specialised and More Connected.

    We just need More Action to stimulate research and innovation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship, SME supports, climate adaptation and urban / rural regeneration.”
  22. To consider the following motion as submitted by Councillor M. Baker:
    “To enquire with the H.S.E. what plans are in place for the resumption of Active Age Clubs”
  23. Votes of Sympathy.
  24. Votes of Congratulations.
  25. Conferences/Training.
  26. To note the summary of proceedings of conferences attended in accordance with Section 142(5) (f) of the Local Government Act, 2001.
  27. Correspondence:
    1. E-mail dated 2nd September, 2020 from Mr. Leo Quinlan re. Irish Soldiers in the Battle of Jadotville,
    2. E-mail from Ms. Bekkii Spain re. Mental Health Events in Sligo,
    3. Copy of resolutions passed by Kildare County Council re. Féileacáin and the Stillbirth Register,
    4. Correspondence received by e-mail dated 12th September, 2020 from Mr. Jim Ferry re. Waste Facilities,
    5. Acknowledgement from the Office of the Minister for Justice and Equality dated 15th September, 2020 re. withdrawal of Court Sittings from Sligo,
    6. Acknowledgement from the Office of the Minister for Justice and Equality dated 15th September, 2020 re. human trafficking,
    7. Copies of resolutions agreed by the Members of Meath County Council re.
      1. Bogus Waste Collectors advertising on ‘Facebook’,
      2. Baseline review of local authority funding models and
      3. Funding of the L.P.T. Equalisation Fund
    8. Acknowledgement from the Office of the C.E.O., Courts Service re. withdrawal of Court Sittings in Sligo,
    9. Letter dated 17th September, 2020 from Ms. Angela Denning, C.E.O. of Court Service re. withdrawal of Court Sittings from Sligo,
    10. Acknowledgement email dated 18th September 2020 from the Office of the Minister for Social Protection re: Tús and CE participants,
    11. E-mail dated 16th September, 2020 from Mr. Jim Ferry re. Waste Facilities and
    12. Copy of resolution agreed by the Members of Kerry County Council re. Irish Peacekeepers who participated in the Battle of Jadotville in 1961. (Copies attached).
  28. Matters arising from Minutes.
  29. Any other business. 

Meeting Date 05/10/2020