Minutes 2021

Minutes of October Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Monday, 4th October, 2021 at 10.00 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

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

 (R) = participated in the meeting remotely
(C) = participated via County Hall Video Link

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Martin Lydon, Chief Executive
  • Marie Whelan, Head of Finance(R)
  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services(C)
  • Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services(C)
  • Jim Molloy, Director of Services
  • Jimmy O’Brien, A/Head of Information Systems
  • Kevin Colreavy, Meetings Administrator
  • Pauline Lavelle, Staff Officer

(R) = participated in the meeting remotely
(C) = participated via County Hall Video Link

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paul Taylor, presided.

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillor Baker, Councillor Healy and Councillor MacSharry.

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING:

The Cathaoirleach welcomed all present to the meeting.

Members participating remotely were Councillor Casserly, Councillor Fox, Councillor Maguire, Councillor Mullaney and Councillor Mulvey.

 

SET DATES FOR HOLDING:

A) MUNICIPAL DISTRICT MEETINGS TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT BUDGETARY PLAN AND

B) SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL 2022 BUDGET MEETING:

At the suggestion of the Cathaoirleach, item No. 6 was taken at this point in the meeting.  It was

Proposed by Councillor D. Gilroy
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“To set dates for holding a) Municipal District Meetings to consider the draft Budgetary Plan and b) Sligo County Council 2022 Budget Meeting.”

Dates for the above meetings were set as previously agreed by the Members and the Executive, as follows:

  • Sligo Borough Municipal District Budget meeting 10.00 am 20th October
  • Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal DistrictBudget Meeting 11.30 am 20th October
  • Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Budget meeting 3.00 pm 20th October
  • Sligo County Council Budget meeting 10.00 am 22nd November.

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO FORMER COUNCILLORS PADDY CONWAY AND WILLIAM CARTER:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree

AND AGREED

“That the Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council on 4th October 2021 be adjourned as a mark of respect to the late former Councillor Paddy Conway and the late former Councillor William Carter.”

At the outset, the Cathaoirleach, Councillor Taylor, on behalf of the Elected Members conveyed the respects of Sligo County Council to the families of two former Councillors who passed away recently, Mr. Paddy Conway and Mr. William Carter.

The Cathaoirleach said Mr Conway had served his community with distinction over the course of his long career in public life.  He was first elected to Sligo County Council in 1967, and would serve for 23 years before retiring in 1999.  Paddy also had the honour of serving as Cathaoirleach in 1991.

Mr. Carter, who was elected to the Council as an Independent candidate in 1967, served for a brief spell before emigrating to England, and is the father of Nigel Carter of Sligo County Council’s IT staff, to whom sincere condolences are extended.

Councillor Queenan wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy to both former Councillors, and paid tribute to Mr. Conway, his predecessor in this Council, who served with distinction during his time as an elected member. Mr. Conway made a huge contribution to his native west Sligo and to the Council, was a Director with Bord Failte, had served a term as Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and had also served on numerous bodies including the VEC. On a personal level Councillor Queenan remembered Mr Conway as a lifelong member of the PTAA and a great sportsman.  Councillor Queenan expressed his sympathies to Mr. Conway’s wife Breege, and six daughters. Councillor Queenan asked that this meeting stand adjourned as a mark of respect to their former colleague.

Councillor Bree supported the proposal to adjourn the meeting as a mark of respect to his former colleagues. Councillor Bree paid tribute to Mr. Conway, who, he noted was re-elected at every Council election he contested,  which is a clear indication of the support he had from the people of Enniscrone and west Sligo. Councillor Bree added that Mr Conway was proud to have played a part in some major projects that came to fruition in the west Sligo area, such as the Lough Easkey Water Supply Scheme and the Waterpoint facility in Ennisrone. His  commitment to the people of west Sligo was beyond question. Councillor Bree also conveyed his sympathies to Nigel, our colleague, and the family of the late William Carter.

Councillor Clarke wished to be associated with the votes of sympathy to the Conway and Carter families and added that Mr. Conway was instrumental in the delivery of many projects in west Sligo.

Councillor O’Grady, on her own behalf and that of her Fianna Fáil colleagues, extended condolences to the families of Mr. Conway and Mr. Carter and described Mr. Conway as a larger than life character who was always willing to provide support to those wishing to serve in politics.

Councillor Casserly supported the votes of sympathy for the Conway and Carter families, and while she had not known them, stated that, from the tributes being paid to both men, they will be sorely missed in their local communities.

Councillor Mullaney extended his condolences to the Conway family and to Nigel and the Carter family. Councillor Mullaney concurred with the tributes paid to both men at the meeting and described Mr. Conway as a man who was passionate about developing his native Enniscrone throughout his career. 

Councillor Mulvey wished to be associated with the votes of sympathy and remembered Mr. Conway as one of life’s true gentlemen who was helpful and friendly to all those he encountered.  Councillor Mulvey also expressed his sympathies to Nigel and the Carter family.

Councillor Fox extended his sincere sympathies to Mr. Conway’s family and to Nigel and the Carter family.

Councillor Walsh wished to join with the tributes being paid to Mr. Conway and Mr. Carter, and wished to extend his condolences to both families, in particular his work colleagues, Michelle Conway and Nigel Carter.

Councillor Gibbons, on behalf of himself and his Sinn Féin colleagues, wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the families of Mr. Conway and Mr. Carter.

Councillor Connolly also wished to be associated with votes of sympathy and expressed his condolences to the families of Mr. Conway and Mr. Carter.

Councillor O’Boyle extended his condolences the families of Mr. Conway and Mr. Carter and wished to be associated with the tributes being paid to them.

Councillor Gilroy described Mr. Conway as the ‘father’ of Fianna Fáil in the Chamber for a number of years, who had dedicated years of loyal service to the people of west and all of County Sligo, and beyond.  Councillor Gilroy extended his sincere condolences to the Conway family and to Nigel and the Carter family.

The Chief Executive, Mr. Martin Lydon, on behalf of the staff and on his own behalf, wished to join with the Cathaoirleach and the Members in extending sympathy to the Conway and Carter families.

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Taylor, thanked all present for the heartfelt tributes paid to their departed colleagues.

It was proposed by Councillor P. Taylor

Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That the meeting stand adjourned until Monday 11th October 2021 at 10.00 a.m.”

 

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID:

The Chief Executive, Mr. Martin Lydon addressed the meeting and updated the Members on the national situation regarding lost income and additional costs associated with Covid.

The Chief Executive advised that in 2020 the Council had received supports from Government for lost income and informed the Members that there will not be any financial supports forthcoming for 2021 in respect of lost income due to Covid.  This will mean a loss to Sligo Council of approximately €1m. The Chief Executive wished to make the Members aware of this fact, and advised that there will be a need to look closely at the area of service delivery in light of the loss of this extra income. It was agreed to discuss the matter at the next meeting.

 

END OF MEETING:

The business of the meeting concluded at 10.20 am.

 


Meeting Date 04/10/2021