Sligo Municipal Minutes 2014

Minutes of The Budget Meeting of The Municipal District of Sligo held on Wednesday, 8th October, 2014 at 9.30am in The Council Chamber, City Hall, Quay Street, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Declan Bree
  • Councillor Marie Casserly
  • Councillor Thomas Healy
  • Councillor Hubert Keaney
  • Councillor Sean Mac Manus
  • Councillor Tom Mac Sharry
  • Councillor Sinéad Maguire
  • Councillor Seamus O’Boyle
  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr. Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
  • Ms. Marie Leydon, Head of Finance
  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Mr. Bartley Gavin, A/Director of Services
  • Ms. Olivia Heffernan, Administrative Accountant
  • Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer
  • Ms. Sinéad Branley, Staff Officer
  • Ms. Marian McGovern. Clerical Officer

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Councillor Seamus Kilgannon

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Mayor, Councillor T. Mac Sharry presided.

 

CONSIDER DRAFT BUDGETARY PLAN:

Ms. Leydon, Head of Finance went through the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) document circulated with the agenda. She gave an overview of the Draft Budgetary Plan and the discretionary elements of same.

The Housing and Development Management Divisions are county wide as it is very difficult to split these services in financial terms.

The Chief Executive, Mr. Hayes highlights some points to the members;

  • Due to the financial constraints on the County Council discretionary funding is very limited with the major spending coming under the Recreation and Amenity Division.
  • He indicated to the members that going forward discretionary spending would be directed by the policies put in place by the SPCs.

The members commented on the Budgetary process and in response to their queries Mr. Hayes stated the following;

  • A major role of the SPCs will be to inform policies of the General Council and the Municipal Districts which will include preparation of budgets.
  • The figure in for C04 Public Conveniences is a current figure; this will increase with the provision of facilities in Stephen Street Car Park.
  • Historically, the Borough Council did provide more funding for Residents Associations than the County Council did, but the Chief Executive asked members to be mindful of significant funding the County Council provided for The Model and the recent Fleadh .

Mr. Kilfeather, Director of Services made some comments regarding the Roads and Transport Division.

  • The split in the 2014 Roads budget is approximately 72% for the Ballymote-Tobercurry Municipal District and 28% for the Sligo Municipal District.
  • The situation is unclear regarding  the ‘Block Grant’ which used to go to the Borough Council. The Department have still given no indication of the situation for 2015.
  • Sligo County Council’s own contribution to the Roads Programme is the smallest in the country and the council is totally reliant on grants for Road Schemes.
  • There is no further update on the Eastern Bridge. At the moment the council is working on a funding package. The project is at the land acquisition stage with detailed designs complete.

The members have a further discussion with some expressing disappointment at the level of discretionary funding and the options open to the members on where this funding goes.

Mr. Hayes advised the members not to underestimate the role the elected member has to play in the setting up of policies on how discretionary funding is spent in the future.  Mr. Hayes clarified that it is a reserved function of the members to adopt the budgetary Plan with or without amendments.  If the members do not pass the plan the Chief Executive is obliged to incorporate it into the General Council Budget.

Following a request from the members, the Mayor, Councillor Mac Sharry agreed to adjourn the meeting for 10 minutes while the members discuss the draft Budgetary Plan.

Following the adjournment, the Mayor asked if there was a proposer and seconder for the motion.  There was no proposer and no seconder, however Councillor Keaney asked to be recorded as supporting the adoption of the Budgetary Plan. 

 

 

The meeting ended at 11.25am.

 

 

 

 


Meeting Date 08/10/2014