Minutes 2021

Minutes of Special Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Thursday 22nd July 2021 at 10.00 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Baker(R),
  • Councillor Bree,
  • Councillor Casserly(R),
  • Councillor Clarke(R),
  • Councillor Connolly(R),
  • Councillor Fox(R),
  • Councillor Gibbons,
  • Councillor Gilroy,
  • Councillor Healy,
  • Councillor Maguire(R),
  • Councillor Mullaney(R),
  • Councillor Mulvey(R),
  • Councillor O’Boyle,
  • Councillor O’Grady,
  • Councillor Queenan,
  • Councillor Taylor ,
  • Councillor Walsh(R),

 (R) = participated in the meeting remotely

(C) = participated via County Hall Video Link

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Tom Kilfeather, A/Chief Executive
  • Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services(C)
  • Marie Whelan, Head of Finance
  • Patricia Guckian, Financial Accountant
  • Jimmy O’Brien, A/H.I.S.
  • Kevin Colreavy, Meetings Administrator
  • Pauline Lavelle, Staff Officer

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paul Taylor, presided.

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillor MacSharry.

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING:

The Cathaoirleach welcomed all present and asked Mr. Kilfeather, Acting Chief Executive and Compliance Officer for the meeting (as required under Health and Safety protocols) to set out the procedures that were in place.

Members participating remotely were Councillor Baker, Councillor Casserly, Councillor Clarke, Councillor Connolly, Councillor Fox, Councillor Maguire, Councillor Mullaney, Councillor Mulvey and Councillor Walsh.

 

1.  CONSIDER SETTING ADJUSTMENT FACTOR TO THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1ST NOVEMBER 2021 TO 31ST OCTOBER 2022:

At the request of the Cathaoirleach, Ms. M. Whelan, Head of Finance, addressed the meeting at the outset.

Ms. Whelan highlighted details from the report which had been previously circulated to the Members and advised that:

  • The LPT reverts to its baseline position each year and proposals to increase or decrease the LPT are not cumulative, therefore if a decision is made not to increase the LPT by 15% for 2022, the cost to the householder remains the same as in 2019, prior to any variation being applied.
  • Should a decision be made to increase the LPT by 15% as per 2020 and 2021, it is proposed to ring-fence the additional income in the 2022 budget for the benefit of Sligo’s citizens.
  • Should a decision be made to retain the LPT at the baseline level, it will restrict the Council in its ability to provide match funding for vital projects that will benefit Sligo in the medium and long-term.
  • Should a decision be made to reduce the LPT from the baseline level, there will be an immediate negative impact on the little discretionary funding the Council has available. In preparing 2022 Budget estimates for the Members consideration, the Council will have to reduce or eliminate some or all of the budgets in the areas of Housing Maintenance; Matched funding for housing grants; Community Grants, Councillors Road Proposals; Library Book purchases, Parks Maintenance and Bring Bank Maintenance.

The Head of Finance referred to the factors the Local Authority must have regard to:

  • The Local Authority’s estimation of the income it will receive and the expenditure it will incur in the period for which the varied rate is to have effect.
  • The financial position of the Local Authority.
  • The financial effect of the varied rate for 2022.

Ms. Whelan advised that the Government plans to proceed with a revaluation of Local Property Tax (LPT) later in 2021, with no date yet confirmed for the commencement of the changes to the LPT.  The revaluation is separate to the Council’s consideration of a variation of the LPT rate.  The proposed widening of the existing bands will result in a significant number of houses reverting to the base rate of €90 and will lead to significant reductions in LPT liability for a majority of householders in Sligo.  The report circulated to the members set out the details of savings for householders under the new Government plans.

Ms. Whelan added that a decision to maintain the 15% increase on the Local Property Tax will be worth approximately €804,000 to Sligo County Council, which monies will be used to secure match funding for various projects.

The report also set out details on the various capital projects to benefit from LPT funding, and stated that the amount of match funds required to complete capital projects currently underway is approximately €2.7m.  All projects in the preliminary stages of development will require match funds as these projects develop though the various phases. If continued match funding is not provided by the Council in 2022, there will not be sufficient funding available to complete existing projects or develop further projects.

A circular received from the Department in June detailed the breakdown of the LPT allocation to Sligo for 2022, which included an allocation from the Equalisation Fund, totalling €10.2m. before any variation.

The following resolutions were submitted to the Cathaoirleach.

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillors A. Gibbons, T. Healy and G. O’Boyle

“Recognising the financial burden that the property tax is imposing on families and households this meeting of Sligo County Council declares its opposition to the imposition of the government’s property tax and resolves to reduce the Property Tax by 15%.”

 

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor R. O’Grady

“To propose that Sligo County Council vary the basic rate of Local Property Tax upwards by 15% from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2022, to ensure property owners are paying the same rate as 2021 (prior to any revaluation) and that the funds accruing be ring-fenced for projects brought forward by the three Municipal Districts.”

 

A detailed discussion followed with the Members around the implications of increasing and decreasing the LPT baseline rate. 

Councillor T. Healy, deeming the Local Property Tax to be unjust and unfair, stated that householders already pay other taxes and asked that the 2022 LPT rate be reduced by 15% as a tribute in honour of the front line workers during the Covid crisis and to acknowledge all who have worked through the pandemic. This was supported by Cllrs. Bree, Gibbons and O’Boyle.

In response to queries from Members, Ms. Whelan advised that the additional monies received from rent in 2021 goes towards housing maintenance, as provided for in the budget, and added that as this is a discretionary spend, if the 2022 LPT income were to be reduced by 15% from the baseline figure, this would negatively impact spends in other areas from the budget.  Ms. Whelan added that as landlords, Sligo County Council pay the Local Property Tax for its tenants, and this also has to be provided for in the Budget.

It was clarified that monies received from housing rents goes towards housing maintenance, while monies received from Local Property Tax charges goes towards match funding for Housing Grants.

In response to a query from Councillor M. Baker regarding funding provided for bigger capital projects, Acting Chief Executive, Mr. T. Kilfeather advised that if the decision is taken not to increase the Local Property Tax by 15% from the baseline, planned projects may have to be shelved and would be unlikely to proceed.

In response to a query from Councillor Healy, Ms. Whelan advised that the baseline figure of income for Sligo is €10.2m and if the LPT is increased by 15% this figure will rise to €11m.

The resolutions were then taken in the order they had been received and the Cathaoirleach called for a vote on same.

 

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillors A. Gibbons, T. Healy and G. O’Boyle

“Recognising the financial burden that the property tax is imposing on families and households this meeting of Sligo County Council declares its opposition to the imposition of the government’s property tax and resolves to reduce the Property Tax by 15%.”

The result of a vote on this resolution was as follows:

FOR:  Councillor Bree, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor Healy and O’Boyle (4)

AGAINST:  Councillor Baker, Councillor Casserly, Councillor Clarke, Councillor Connolly, Councillor Fox, Councillor Gilroy, Councillor Maguire, Councillor Mullaney, Councillor Mulvey, Councillor O’Grady, Councillor Queenan, Councillor Taylor and Councillor Walsh (13)

The Cathaoirleach declared the motion lost.

 

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor R. O’Grady

“To propose that Sligo County Council vary the basic rate of Local Property Tax upwards by 15% from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2022, to ensure property owners are paying the same rate as 2021 (prior to any revaluation) and that the funds accruing be ring-fenced for projects brought forward by the three Municipal Districts.”

The result of a vote on this resolution was as follows:

FOR:  Councillor Baker, Councillor Casserly, Councillor Clarke, Councillor Connolly, Councillor Fox, Councillor Gilroy, Councillor Maguire, Councillor Mullaney, Councillor Mulvey, Councillor O’Grady, Councillor Queenan, Councillor Taylor and Councillor Walsh (13)

AGAINST:  Councillor Bree, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor Healy and Councillor O’Boyle (4)

The Cathaoirleach declared the motion agreed.

 

END OF MEETING:

At the conclusion of the meeting, Councillor R. O’Grady wished to pay tribute to Ms. Patricia Devins in the Housing Section who looks after the administration of the Housing Grants and described Patricia as an outstanding public servant whose professionalism and dedication to her job is second to none and added that she will be sorely missed.  This sentiment was echoed by all the members who added that Patricia has an excellent manner in dealing with the public and Members alike and treats everyone she comes into contact in a very respectful and compassionate manner and has an incredible work ethic. 

Acting Chief Executive, Mr. T. Kilfeather joined with the Members in acknowledging the hard work and dedication shown by Patricia during her time with Sligo County Council, and the Members and Acting Chief Executive wished Patricia health and happiness following her retirement from Sligo County Council.

The Cathaoirleach thanked the Members for their co-operation during the meeting and encouraged everyone to stay safe. 

The business of the meeting concluded at 11.10 a.m.

 


Meeting Date 22/07/2021