Minutes 2020

Minutes of Meeting of The Borough District of Sligo held on Monday 19th October 2020 at 10 am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Declan Bree
  • Councillor Sinéad Maguire
  • Councillor Gino O’Boyle
  • Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Mayor)

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

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

APOLOGIES / ABSENT:

  • Councillor Arthur Gibbons
  • Councillor Tom MacSharry

MAYOR:

The Mayor, Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, 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

Division B – Roads Transport and Safety

Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, advised Members that the Roads Transport and Safety Programme is largely in line with last year with the Footpath Enhancement Programme continuing in 2021.  It is hoped that further URDF funding would be received for the second phase of the O’Connell Street Enhancement Project which would see works being undertaken in the first half of 2021, if successful.

Division D – Development Management / Division F – Recreation and Amenity

In relation to the above 2 no. Divisions, Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, updated Members on the status of capital projects currently underway and those which will come on stream next year. 

She also outlined the continuation of the €50,000 contribution to the Hawk’s Well Theatre towards refurbishment costs along with contributions to Sligo Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock, Sligo Tourism Ltd. etc. in terms of tourism development and promotion.

The Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes, advised Members of the uncertainty surrounding budgets in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.  It is expected that further restrictions will be introduced nationally this week in an effort to suppress the virus and it will remain to be seen what impact such restrictions may have on the continuation of the Council’s construction contracts and housing projects.

Specific queries regarding improvement works in the Holborn Street area and funding for the Model were raised by Cllrs. O’Boyle and O’Grady respectively and addressed by Director of Services, Ms. Dorothy Clarke.

It was then:

Proposed by Councillor Declan Bree
Seconded by Councillor Gino O’Boyle

AND AGREED

“To note the Draft 2021 Budgetary Plan for the Borough District of Sligo”.

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 10.25 a.m.

 


Meeting Date 19/10/2020