Minutes 2004
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 1st March 2004 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Barrett,
- Barry,
- Branley,
- Bree,
- Cawley,
- Colleary,
- M. Conlon,
- Conmy,
- Fleming,
- Fox,
- Gormley,
- Higgins,
- Kilgannon,
- Leonard,
- MacManus,
- McGarry,
- McGuinn,
- McLoughlin,
- Murray,
- Parke,
- Perry,
- Queenan.
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
- Mr S. Concannon, Director of Services
- Mr P. Forkan, Director of Services
- Ms D. Clarke, Director of Services
- Mr T. Kilfeather, Head of Finance
- Ms M. Mc Connell, Acting Director of Services
- Mr K. Larkin, Senior Engineer
- Mr T. Carroll, Senior Engineer
- Mr J. Mc Hugh, Senior Engineer
- Mr D. Breen, Senior Executive Officer
- Mr P. Flanagan, Senior Executive Engineer
- Mr G. Browne, Administrative Officer
- Ms D. Mc Donagh, Acting Administrative Officer
- Ms C. Kenny, Staff Officer
- Ms F. Couch, Clerical Officer
CATHAOIRLEACH:
- The Cathaoirleach, Councillor PJ Cawley presided.
1. MINUTES OF ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 2ND FEBRUARY 2004:
Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 2nd February 2004 be and are hereby confirmed”.
2. MINUTES OF ADJOURNED ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 9TH FEBRUARY 2004:
Councillor M. Gormley asked that the minutes of the Adjourned Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 9th February be amended to include the following :
Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That this Council call on Mr. Joe Meagher, Managing Director of Iarnrod Eireann to meet with the Members of the Council to discuss the ongoing problems students from this County have due to the fact that the Sligo/Dublin train does not stop at Drumcondra”
Further it was
Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor P.J. Cawley
AND AGREED
“That the minutes of the Adjourned Ordinary Council meeting held on 9th February 2004 be and are hereby confirmed”.
3. MINUTES OF DROMORE WEST ELECTORAL AREA MEETING HELD ON 10TH NOVEMBER 2003:
Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That the minutes of the Dromore West Electoral Area meeting held on 10th November 2003 be and are hereby confirmed”.
4. LEASE OF BOATHOUSE AT LOUGH GILL TO NORTH WESTERN FISHERIES BOARD:
Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan
AND AGREED
“To approve, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001, the leasing of the Boathouse erected by Sligo County Council at Carns, Co. Sligo, to the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, in accordance with notice dated 16th February 2004”.
5. DISPOSAL OF LAND AT BALLINTOGHER:
Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan
AND AGREED
“To approve the disposal of land at Ballintogher, Co. Sligo to the following:
- Gavin and Vicki McCallion, 15 Ferndale, Cairns Road, Sligo
- Paul and Eithna Deignan, 22 Molloway Place, Sligo
- Sean and Aisling Conway, 66 Caltragh Hgts., Sligo
- Mark Murtagh and Brid Duignan, No 1 The Lodge, Ardaghowen, Sligo
- Brian and Melissa Chrystal, 37 Langan Drive, Cranmore, Sligo
- Mark and Sharon Litchfield, 72 Mountain Close, Cartron, Sligo
Which shall be carried out in accordance with the terms of the notice dated the 30 January 2004 under Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001”.
6. ENNISCRONE LOCAL AREA PLAN:
Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor S. Mac Manus
“That we adopt the recommendation of the County Manager in respect of the former ‘Star of the Sea’ Church, Enniscrone and that it be included in the Record of Protected Structures”.
As agreement was not reached in relation to this motion the Cathaoirleach, Councillor PJ Cawley asked that a poll be taken.
For the motion: Bree, MacManus, McGarry
Against the motion: Barrett, Barry, Branley, Colleary, M. Conlon, Conmy, Fox, Gormley, Higgins, Kilgannon, McGuinn, McLoughlin, Murray, Parke, Perry, Queenan.
Abstainee: Cawley
As the result was 3 for the motion, 16 against the motion and 1 abstainee the Cathaoirleach declared the motion lost.
Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan
“That the Star of the Sea Church in Enniscrone be left as agreed at the previous with the planners (ie) that no works take place without permission from the planning authority”.
As agreement was not reached in relation to this motion the Cathaoirleach, Councillor PJ Cawley asked that a poll be taken.
For the motion: Barrett, Barry, Branley, Bree, Cawley, Colleary, M. Conlon, Conmy, Fox, Gormley, Higgins, Kilgannon, MacManus, McGuinn, McLoughlin, Murray, Parke, Perry, Queenan.
Against the motion: McGarry
As the result was 19 for the motion and 1 against the motion the Cathaoirleach declared the motion carried.
Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Conmy
AND AGREED
“That having considered the proposed variation or modification of the proposal to make a local area plan for Enniscrone in accordance with the Planning and Development Acts, 2000 to 2002 and having considered the 2nd Manager's Report dated February 2004 on submissions arising from public consultations on the Enniscrone Draft Local Area Plan, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the 2nd Manager's Report be adopted and that the Enniscrone Local Area Plan 2004 -2010 be made subject to amendments /resolutions made at this meeting”.
7. IDA PRESENTATION:
Mr. Pat Loftus Area Director of the IDA, Mr. Joe Loftus, Regional Manager and Ms. Michelle Mahon, Regional Executive gave a presentation on the role of the IDA in Sligo and in the regional and national context outlining, the benefits to the Irish economy of foreign direct investment. Mr Joe Loftus highlighted global trends and investor’s demands associated with foreign direct investment and IDA Ireland’s strategy in this regard.
A number of issues were raised by the Members in relation to local and regional concerns which were addressed by the speakers.
8. IARNROD EIREANN PRESENTATION:
Mr Stephen Aherne, National Freight Manager and Mr Gerry Mongan, Western Manager of Iarnrod Eireann addressed the Members outlining Iarnrod Eireann’s strategy regarding the rail freight services to Sligo. Mr. Ahern explained that despite their efforts to attract new customers the service had become financially unviable.
Following a discussion on the matter a number of Councillors expressed their disappointment with the decision made by Iarnrod Eireann to cease the freight service to Sligo.
9. NATIONAL ROAD GRANT ALLOCATIONS 2004
This was noted.
Proposed by Councillor I. Fox
Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus
AND AGREED
“That we seek a meeting with Minister Brennan in order to secure funding for long awaited improvement works on the N16”
10. NON NATIONAL ROAD GRANT ALLOCATIONS 2004:
This was noted.
11. DRAFT POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR TAKING HOUSING ESTATES IN CHARGE:
Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“To approve the Draft Policy and Procedure for Taking Housing Estates in Charge”.
CONSENT TO MAKING OF AN APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION AT CARROWROE:
With the permission of the Cathaoirleach, the County Manager, Mr H. Kearns stated that he wished to bring to the attention of the members that a request for consent had been received to the making of a planning application for a hotel development on a site at Carrowroe which involved some lands in the ownership of the Council. He stated that he was considering granting such consent. This was agreed.
12-14.
It was agreed at Cllr. P.J. Cawley’s request that Items 12,13 and 14 be deferred.
15 + 21. DEVELOPMENT AT STRANDHILL:
It was agreed to take items 15 and 21 at this stage.
Councillor J. Mc Garry asked the County Manager what applications have been made for funding in order to implement the Sligo/ Strandhill Area Development Plan.
Deputy J. Perry asked that funding be made available for the new road in Strandhill which will be of great benefit to the village, as it is urgently needed because the emergency services find it impossible to access the promenade due to traffic congestion and lack of traffic flow.
In response T. Carroll, Senior Engineer stated that construction of new road infrastructure can only be considered in context of additional sources of funding such as development levies and that there is no provision in the current estimates for construction of new roads in Strandhill. He further stated that the introduction of new by-laws has improved traffic flows in the village and it is hoped to undertake further improvement to traffic management in 2004.
16. PILOT RURAL TRANSPORT INITIATIVE IN WEST SLIGO:
Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor M. Gormley
AND AGREED
“That this Council calls on the Minister for Transport, Mr Seamus Brennan, to take on board the model of good practice which is the Pilot Rural Transport Initiative in West Sligo; and to support the continuation of this rural transport project on a County wide basis for Sligo”.
36. VOTES OF SYMPATHY:
Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor PJ Cawley
AND AGREED
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to PJ Mc Keon on the death of his mother, Bridie”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Joe Moran on the death of his wife, Ita”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Rita Gildea on the death of her husband, Paddy”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Johnnie Kirrane on the death of his wife, Mary”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Delia Brennan on the death of her brother, Tom”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Patrick Flynn on the death of his mother, Sadie”.
Proposed by Councillor M. Fleming
Seconded by Councillor PJ Cawley
AND AGREED
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Patrick Flynn on the death of his mother, Sadie”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Caroline Prendergast on the death of her brother, Seamus Dwyer”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Tom Dyer on the death of his mother, Francis Dyer”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to John Kirrane on the death of his wife, Mary”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Joe Moran on the death of his wife, Ita”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to PJ Mc Keon on the death of his mother, Bridie”.
“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Ann Gildea on the death of her brother, Paddy”.
37. VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS:
Proposed by Councillor S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Councillor P. Barry
AND AGREED
“That a vote of congratulations be extended to Sligo Institute of Technology on winning the Sigerson cup”.
38. CONFERENCES:
Proposed by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
Seconded by Councillor P. Branley
AND AGREED
“That Councillor S. Kilgannon be nominated to attend the tourism conference in Antrim on 27-29 February 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor A. Higgins
Seconded by Councillor P. Barry
AND AGREED
“That Councillor P. Barry be nominated to attend the tourism conference in Antrim on 27-29 February 2004”
Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor M. Conlon
AND AGREED
“That Councillor L. Conlon be nominated to attend the tourism conference in Antrim on 27-29 February 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor A. Parke
Seconded by Councillor T. Mc Loughlin
AND AGREED
“That Councillor S. Mac Manus, Councillor A. Parke and Councillor D. Bree be nominated to attend the Annual Environmental Recognition conference in Kerry on 3-6 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor P. Branley
Seconded by Councillor A. Higgins
AND AGREED
“That Councillor J. Queenan be nominated to attend the Annual Environmental Recognition conference in Kerry on 3-6 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor P. Barry
Seconded by Councillor A. Higgins
AND AGREED
“That Councillor A. Colleary be nominated to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Birmingham”.
Proposed by Councillor S. Mac Manus
Seconded by Councillor M. Gormley
AND AGREED
“That Councillor A. Parke be nominated to attend the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Birmingham”.
Proposed by Councillor G. Murray
Seconded by Councillor T. Mc Loughlin
AND AGREED
“That Councillor M. Fleming, Councillor J. Leonard and Councillor J. Perry be nominated to attend the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America”.
Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“That Councillor M. Gormley, Councillor J. Mc Garry and Councillor D. Bree be nominated to attend the General Council of County Council’s Annual Conference in Kilkenny on 11-13 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor A. Higgins
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That Councillor R. Mc Guinn be nominated to attend the General Council of County Councils Annual Conference in Kilkenny on 11-13 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor J. Mc Garry
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That Councillor P. Barry and Councillor S. Kilgannon be nominated to attend the Rural Communities and their future needs conference in Monaghan on 18-19 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor I. Fox
Seconded by Councillor PJ Cawley
AND AGREED
“That Councillor J. Mc Garry be nominated to attend the Duhallow conference in Cork on 18-21 March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor PJ Cawley
Seconded by Councillor I. Fox
AND AGREED
“That Councillor J. Mc Garry be nominated to attend the ‘enhancing local democracy’ conference in Cork on 26th March 2004”.
Proposed by Councillor M. Fleming
Seconded by Councillor R. Mc Guinn
AND AGREED
“That Councillor P. Barry, Councillor S. Kilgannon and Councillor R. Mc Guinn be nominated to attend the Local Authority Members Association Annual Conference in Ennis on 15-16 April 2004”.
It was agreed to defer items 12-14, 17-20 and 21a-35 to the next meeting of the Council. The meeting ended at 6.00pm.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS CIRCULATED AT MEETING:
- List of forthcoming conferences.
END OF MEETING:
The meeting concluded at 6.00pm.
Meeting Date 01/03/2004