Ballymote-Tubbercurry Minutes 2020

Minutes of Meeting of The Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District held on Monday 19th October 2020 at 15.00 p.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Martin Baker
  • Councillor Michael Clarke (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Martin Connolly
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey
  • Councillor Joseph Queenan
  • Councillor Paul Taylor

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr. Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Ms. Marie Whelan, Head of Finance
  • Mr. John Moran, A/Director of Services
  • Ms. Clodagh Quinn, Staff Officer

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke, presided and welcomed all present to the meeting before handing proceedings over to Ms. Marie Whelan, Head of Finance.

 

1.  TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT 2021 BUDGETARY PLAN FOR THE BOROUGH DISTRICT OF SLIGO:

Ms. Whelan informed Members that the format of the Draft Budgetary Plan was in line with previous years with the adopted budget figures for 2020 used as a starting point. She explained that the Plan contains items of discretionary expenditure which apply to the 3 no. Municipal Districts and may be considered on a County-wide basis along with items that are specific to each District.

Ms. Whelan went on to advise Members as follows:

  • There is an overall increase on last year of €11,655 from Local Property Tax (LPT)
  • €400,000 will continue to be provided for housing grants - €80,000 of which will be funded from the additional increase in LPT
  • €100,000 will once again be provided in 2021 towards a Footpath Improvement Scheme
  • The balance of LPT (€622,346) will be used on recreation and amenity capital projects throughout the County such as the Coolaney Mountain Bike Trail, Stephen Street Cultural Plaza, Yeats Trail etc

Members put forward queries in relation to Housing Grants, Rates and Roads which were answered by the Executive as follows:

  • The funding provided by the Department for housing grants must be used for the three specific categories – housing adaptation grant for persons with a disability, mobility aids grant and housing aid for older people grant. It is a common issue around the country that all funds allocated may not be used in their entirety this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • It is envisaged that the loss in revenue from commercial rates in 2020 will be provided for by Government though details in this regard remain outstanding.
  • There is no certainty that income streams which suffered losses as a result of the pandemic will be reimbursed by Government however the continuation of public sector projects will assist the economy in its recovery.
  • While the Executive are conscious of Sligo Regional Sports Complex and Waterpoint, Enniscrone, it is proposed that the balance of LPT be used on capital recreational projects.

The Draft 2021 Budgetary Plan for the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry was then noted by Members.

Before the meeting concluded, the Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke paid tribute to the Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes who is due to retire at the end of the year. He thanked him for his assistance over the years and for the progression made in the County during his seven year tenure.

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 15.30 p.m.

 


Meeting Date 19/10/2020