Minutes 2012

Minutes of May Adjourned Special Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Wednesday 2nd May, 2012 at 11am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Barrett, 
  • Councillor Bree, 
  • Councillor D. Cawley, 
  • Councillor V. Cawley, 
  • Councillor Collery, 
  • Councillor Devins, 
  • Councillor Fleming, 
  • Councillor Gormley, 
  • Councillor Healy McGowan, 
  • Councillor Keaney, 
  • Councillor Lundy, 
  • Councillor Lyons, 
  • Councillor MacManus,  
  • Councillor McGarry, 
  • Councillor McGrath, 
  • Councillor Mullaney, 
  • Councillor Mulvey, 
  • Councillor Murray 
  • Councillor O’Grady.
     

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
  • Mr T. Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Ms Marie Leydon, Head of Finance
  • Ms D. Clarke, Director of Services
  • Ms P. R. Gallagher, A/ Director of Services
  • Mr S. O’Toole, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Mr F. MacNabb, Meetings Administrator
  • Ms M. McGovern, Clerical Officer
     

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Fleming presided.
 

At the outset the Cathaoirleach addressed the meeting as follows;

This special meeting has been convened to discuss the report on expenditure adjustments for the year 2012. You will recall that the cross party delegation met with Minister Phil Hogan and his officials to discuss the financial difficulties facing this council.

The Minister informed the delegation that officials of his Office and council officials would enter into discussions.

Subsequently the Council submitted adjusted figures to the department as outlined at our April meeting. We are now very much in unchartered waters. The report before this special meeting is for councillors information, and will also be subject to further appraisal arising from an independent report.

The Cathaoirleach then asked Ms Leydon, Head of Finance to address the meeting.

Ms Leydon stated that each director would go through the cuts relevant to their directorate and members could then address questions to the directors.
 

Housing

Ms D. Clarke, Director of Services gave an overview of cuts in the Housing budget.

In response to queries by the members she stated the following;

  • A breakdown of the cuts to the Housing Maintenance Programme outlined as follows – Planned maintenance - €169,000; Tenants Associations – €10,000; Halting Site Maintenance – €25,000; Environmental Improvements – €16,000.
  • There is a provision of €250,000 for emergency repairs to housing stock for 2012.
  • Update on the Housing Grants as follows – 173 applications being processed with the vast majority of these being the Housing Adaptation Grant for the Elderly. All mobility and disabled grants on hand have been dealt with. The Housing Adaptation and Mobility Aid grant Schemes have been reopened until June 1st and these will be dealt with on a priority basis.
     

Infrastructure

Mr T. Kilfeather, Director of Services gave an overview of cuts in the Infrastructure budget and in response to queries from members Mr Kilfeather stated the following;

  • Reduced costs in Road Safety are due to the appointment of Regional Road Safety officers by the Road Safety Authority.
  • The reduction in costs in water services is due to the installation of energy efficient pumps, which funding was received from the SEAI for.
  • The improvements to the South Sligo Scheme has resulted in lower usage and therefore reduced the payments to Roscommon County Council.
  • Other cuts are in areas such as signage at water treatment plants and landscaping in the areas around the plants.
     

Planning

Ms P. R. Gallagher, A/ Director of Services outlined the cuts in planning as reduced printing costs. Developments plans and drawing will be supplied electronically only and hard copies will be supplied on request.

The County Manager, Mr Kearns stated that ‘Grant Thornton’ Corporate Finance Limited have been procured to provide an independent financial appraisal of the Council’s finances. It is expected that this process will be completed by the end of June.

He added that the Corporate Policy Group were scheduled to meet with Grant Thornton and that other members could make submissions or a meeting could be arranged with the consultants.
 

Following further discussion the Cathaoirleach stated that he had 3 motions on hand and read them out to the members.

It was then;

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree

Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AGREED

“That the Council be provided with a report on the proposals by the County Manager to hire consultants to report on the Council’s financial situation including a copy of the tender documents and the terms of reference for the consultants.”
 

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree

Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AGREED

“That the Council be informed of the contribution paid by Sligo County Council to the Local Government Services Board in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and the current year.”
 

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree

Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AGREED

“That the Council be informed of the contributions paid by Sligo County Council to the County and City Managers Association in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and the current year.”

 

VOTES OF SYMPATHY:

Proposed by Councillor M. Fleming

Seconded by Councillor G. Murray

AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Councillor Veronica Cawley on the death of her granddaughter, Ruby Rose.”
 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey

Seconded by Councillor P. McGrath

AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to John Reilly on the death of his father, Michael Reilly.”

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey

Seconded by Councillor P. McGrat 

AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Mr & Mrs Patrick Kearney on the death of their son, Cian Kearney.”
 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey

Seconded by Councillor P. McGrath 

AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to P.J. Berreen on the death of his sister, Maise Heneghan.”
 

The meeting ended at 12.40pm

 

 



Meeting Date 02/05/2012