Minutes 2021
Minutes of Meeting of The Borough District of Sligo held on Monday 18th January 2021 at 10.00 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo
COUNCILLORS PRESENT:
- Councillor Declan Bree
- Councillor Arthur Gibbons
- Councillor Sinéad Maguire
- Councillor Gino O’Boyle
- Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady (Mayor) (via video link)
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Tom Kilfeather, Acting Chief Executive
- Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
- Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services
- John Moran, A/Director of Services
- Clodagh Quinn, Staff Officer
APOLOGIES / ABSENT:
- Councillor Tom MacSharry
MAYOR:
The Mayor, Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, presided and welcomed all present to the meeting.
Before proceedings got underway, Mr. John Moran, A/Director of Services, outlined the necessary health and safety procedures to be followed in order to convene the meeting during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
1. MINUTES OF MEETING OF BOROUGH DISTRICT OF SLIGO HELD ON 16TH NOVEMBER 2020:
Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor A. Gibbons
AND AGREED
“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Borough District of Sligo held on 16th November 2020”.
2. MATTERS ARISING:
Councillor Declan Bree sought an update on an issue raised at the November meeting in relation to the establishment of a management group to oversee the implementation of the Green Fort Conservation Plan. Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, advised that a virtual meeting of the group will be arranged within the next number of weeks and it was agreed that two Borough District Members would sit on the committee. The appointment of said Members will be included as an agenda item at the March meeting of Sligo Borough District.
3. TOWN AND VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME ACCELERATED MEASURES 2020 ROUND 3 FUNDING ALLOCATION:
Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, advised Members that in 2020, the Department of Rural and Community Development added an additional category to the Town & Village Renewal Scheme aimed at ‘large towns’ which enabled Sligo town to benefit from funding for the first time. Successful eligible projects consist of laneway repairs to the beach, amenity area enhancements and sea wall repairs at Coney Island (€25,000) and recreational facilities at Cleveragh Regional Park (€40,000).
Ms. Clarke stated that site works are currently disrupted due to Level 5 Covid-19 Government restrictions but will resume when restrictions ease.
Members welcomed the report.
4. N4-N15 PER CENT FOR ART COMMISSION LOCATED AT R291 ROSSES POINT JUNCTION:
Director of Services, Ms. Dorothy Clarke, reported that the Council’s Arts Office has secured €84,000 in funding for an artwork piece under the Per Cent for Art Scheme as a result of the major capital infrastructural projects currently underway. The funding was secured from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) N4-N15 Urban Improvement Scheme and the Rosses Point Road social housing development and will allow for a site specific piece of art to be located at the Hughes Bridge and R291 junction.
Ms. Clarke advised that renowned artist, Ms. Eilis O’Connell, has been awarded the commission with delivery of the artwork expected by the end of April 2021 (subject to Covid-19 restrictions).
Following queries from Members, Ms. Clarke advised that a proposal to establish a Public Arts Steering Group who would be involved in selecting appropriate pieces of artwork and their locations within Sligo will be brought before the Council later in the year.
Regarding the awarding of the above commission to Ms. O’Connell, Ms. Clarke stated that the conditions of the Per Cent for Art Scheme allow a project to be awarded to one individual without the need for a competition especially in cases where timeframes are limited.
While noting the above, Councillor Bree expressed his concern regarding the award process and requested that a more detailed report on the matter be brought before Members at the next meeting.
Deputy Chief Executive, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, commended Ms. Clarke and her team for securing funding for the project.
5. ASSESSMENT OF TRAFFIC SITUATION AT DORRINS STRAND:
Proposed by Councillor S. Maguire
Seconded by Councillor G. O’Boyle
AND AGREED
“This Council will undertake an assessment of the traffic situation at Dorrins Strand and implement appropriate measures to prevent further destruction of the SAC is prevented and ensure that access to homes is maintained at all times”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, stated that the Area Engineer will assess the area and revert to Councillor Maguire with proposals if deemed appropriate.
When welcoming the report, Councillor Maguire asked that the possibility of installing double-yellow lines at the location be investigated.
6. REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT ON THE BALLYDOOGAN ROAD:
Proposed by Councillor S. Maguire
Seconded by Councillor R. O’Grady
AND AGREED
“To confirm whether a traffic assessment has been carried out on the Ballydoogan Road and to provide the report on same. If no assessment has been carried out, to request that one be undertaken to review speed and parking on the road and also the current situation with regard to gullies being clogged”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, advised that the traffic assessment was scheduled to take place following the opening of the Western Distributor Road, however considering the current travel restrictions in place, it would be prudent to wait until traffic levels resume to a somewhat normal level before undertaking the survey.
Ms. Concannon further advised that a review of on-street parking will be carried out and the cleaning of surface drainage gullies along the Ballydoogan Road will take place in the first quarter of the year.
Councillor Maguire and Councillor O’Grady asked that the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossing at the location along with re-surfacing of the road be explored when the traffic assessment is being undertaken.
7. CLEAN UP OF WASTE LAND OPPOSITE SLIGO CEMETERY:
Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor G. O’Boyle
AND AGREED
“That this meeting of the Sligo Borough District calls on the Government to:
- Consult closely with disabled people and their representative organisations in policy development as enshrined in Article 4.3 of the UNCRPD
- Engage effectively with the current review of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, particularly actions no. 69-71 which are nominally about independent living to ‘achieve maximum independence’ for disabled people in Ireland; and
- Sign and implement the Optional Protocol of the UNCRPD to commit to expenditure on disability services like personal assistance; and
- Requests the Dáil to legislate to provide for the establishment of a Commissioner for Independent Living within the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection tasked with the following functions:
- To consult with a disabled persons’ organisation as defined by the UNCRPD to devise a universally accepted definition of the personal assistance service in Ireland and address the chronic lack of understanding of the term ‘personal assistance service’ which has led to inconsistencies in standards and quality of service provision across all Health Service Executive (HSE) areas;
- To facilitate the separation of the personal assistance service from home help hours and home care and develop a strategy to oversee the transition of personal assistance service to come under the remit of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection from the Department of Health, recognising personal assistance not as a health issue but as a State service under the purview of the Commissioner for Independent Living;
- To seek an end to the practice of assigning home help hours to disabled people instead of a personal assistance service;
- To ensure individuals do not end up with a service that does not support independent living as per the personal assistance model of service and risk individuals being help hours instead;
- To establish a roadmap towards the provision of ring-fenced funding for personal assistance services to facilitate the continued investment of independent living supports in Ireland;
- To introduce a single standard assessment of need across all HSE Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas, which must include the provision and support for independent assessment of need as per the Disability Act 2005, and the creation of systems that allow for portability of services across CHO areas, meeting the social, personal and employment needs of those who avail of the personal assistance service, with no bureaucratic barriers;
- To ensure that all those who could benefit are made aware of the personal assistance service in order that those who wish to live their lives independently can access the necessary supports to do so;
- To ensure that policy regarding independent living includes a comprehensive assessment of the individual’s needs to determine the amount of personal assistance an individual will receive in order that they live full and active lives in education, employment and society; and
- To ensure that any new legislation or Government policy on independent living conveys the right to access a personal assistance service in this country so that disabled people have choice, control and freedom to participate in society as equals”.
8. REVIEW OF TRAFFIC ISSUES ADJACENT TO SUMMERHILL VILLAGE:
Proposed by Councillor R. O’Grady
Seconded by Councillor S. Maguire
AND AGREED
“That the ongoing traffic issues adjacent to Summerhill Village are again reviewed”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, told the meeting that it was agreed with residents that a review would be carried out early in 2021. However, taking the current Level 5 Covid restrictions into account, the review has been postponed until traffic levels return to a somewhat normal level.
9. REPAIRS TO ROAD LEADING TO KILLASPUGBRONE LOOP:
Proposed by Councillor R. O’Grady
Seconded by Councillor S. Maguire
AND AGREED
“That repairs be carried out to the road leading to the Killaspugbrone loop”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, confirmed that repairs to the road will be carried out.
10. UPGRADING OF C.I.E. SITE ON THE STRANDHILL ROAD:
Proposed by Councillor R. O’Grady
Seconded by Councillor A. Gibbons
AND AGREED
“That C.I.E. be requested to upgrade their site adjacent to the new Council development on the Strandhill Road”.
Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Acting Chief Executive, assured Members that the Council would write to C.I.E. in the matter.
11. PROVISION OF BEACH WHEELCHAIRS:
Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor A. Gibbons
AND AGREED
“That the meeting be provided with a report indicating where it is proposed that beach wheelchairs will be located during the summer months and outlining any proposal which the Council has for the provision of additional beach wheelchairs on Sligo’s beaches”.
A/Director of Services, Ms. Emer Concannon, reported that there are two beach wheelchairs currently in operation, namely Sligo County Council’s Debug wheelchair (in use on Enniscrone beach) and Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership’s Hippocampe wheelchair (in use at Rosses Point beach). In terms of developing the service, Ms. Concannon explained that options are being explored with Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership including the use of beach mats which allow wheelchair users to traverse the sand. However, funding for provision of expanding this initiative and problems associated with beach accessibility continue to be an issue.
12. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING PART III OF THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956:
Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor G. O’Boyle
AND AGREED
“To consider adopting Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 for the Borough District of Sligo”.
Mr. John Moran, A/Director of Services, explained that Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provides for the process of issuing gaming licences and sets out the roles of the parties involved. The role of Local Authorities is the adoption of a resolution permitting gaming in respect of the whole or a specified part of its administrative area. Such a resolution may be rescinded by a subsequent vote of the Local Authority.
Mr. Moran went on to advise that the passing of the above resolution at this meeting merely commences the process of consideration of adopting Part III of the Act. Notice of intention to propose adoption must be given in writing to each member of the Local Authority and published in at least two newspapers in circulation in the Borough District area. Following this, the matter will come back before the Members for further consideration.
Councillor Sinéad Maguire noted her intention to abstain from the motion.
13. ASSESSMENT OF COST OF INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC LIGHTING AT MITCHELL CURLEY PARK:
Proposed by Councillor S. Maguire
Seconded by Councillor G. O’Boyle
AND AGREED
“The Council will undertake an assessment of the cost of putting public lighting in Mitchell Curley Park similar to that at Cleveragh Park and outline if this is possible in the short term”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, informed Members that the provision of public lighting in Mitchell Curley Park would be in the region of €80,000 - €90,000 and there is no funding available to carry out such works. Funding was sought for the provision of public lighting and surface drainage works at the Park in 2018 through the Sports Capital Fund but proved unsuccessful. However, Ms. Concannon stated that the scheme will be included again in an upcoming application.
In reply, Members suggested that Electric Skyline be requested to repair malfunctioning lights in the Park.
14. PROGRESS REPORT ON SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR STRANDHILL:
Proposed by Councillor A. Gibbons
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“That this Council is provided with a full progress report on the social housing development that is proposed for Strandhill, adjacent to the golf course”.
On behalf of A/Senior Architect, Mr. Seán Martin, A/Director of Services, Mr. John Moran, stated that it is the intention of the Council to construct a scheme of 40 no. dwellings in Carrowbunnaun, Strandhill however issues relating to services provision and land acquisition have yet to be resolved. Mr. Moran confirmed that the Council will continue its efforts to resolve the issues to bring the project to fruition.
15. REPORT ON PROPOSED MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT MAUGHERABOY/TREACY AVENUE JUNCTION AS A RESULT OF MAUGHERABOY SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT:
Proposed by Councillor A. Gibbons
Seconded by Councillor R. O’Grady
AND AGREED
“That this Council is provided with a full up-to-date report on what measures are being put into place to alleviate the dangers that is envisaged at the Maugheraboy/Treacy Avenue junction due to the social housing development that is taking place within Maugheraboy”.
On behalf of A/Senior Architect, Mr. Seán Martin, A/Director of Services, Mr. John Moran, informed Members that the Council has procured consulting engineers to complete a Traffic and Transport Assessment and a Road Safety Audit of the junction. Works may be proposed to the junction at Maugheraboy Post Office to mitigate any issues identified and such works would be included as part of the proposed housing scheme.
Members welcomed the report and highlighted current parking issues at the Post Office.
16. PROVISION OF DISABLED PARKING BAY OUTSIDE SLIGO GARDA STATION:
Proposed by Councillor A. Gibbons
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“That a disabled parking bay be provided outside of Sligo Garda Station, also requesting full consultation to be sought between An Garda Síochána, Disabled Drivers Association and Sligo County Council Roads Department”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, reported that improvements to the junction at the corner of the Garda Station and Chapel Street were included in the 2021 Non-National Safety Improvement Scheme submission to the Dept. of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Ms. Concannon also confirmed that the provision of a disabled parking bay in the vicinity can be included for consideration following consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
17. CLEAN UP OF STREAM IN RATHBRAUGHAN PARK:
Proposed by Councillor G. O’Boyle
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“Can Sligo County Council clean up the stream in Rathbraughan Park?”.
A/Director of Services, Ms. Emer Concannon, informed the meeting that the location can be examined by the Area Engineer in association with the Environment Department.
18. CLEARING OF DRAINS AT BENBULBEN TERRACE:
Proposed by Councillor G. O’Boyle
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“When do Sligo County Council propose to clear the drains at 1-12 Benbulben Terrace, Barrack Street?”.
Ms. Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services, confirmed that cleaning of the surface drainage gullies will take place in Q1 2021.
19. UPDATE ON INSTALLATION OF NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS AT THE WOODLANDS, BALLYTIVNAN:
Proposed by Councillor G. O’Boyle
Seconded by Councillor D. Bree
AND AGREED
“Can Sligo County Council give an update on when work will start on new windows and doors in the Woodlands, Ballytivnan?”.
On behalf of Mr. Joe Murphy, Senior Executive Officer, Mr. John Moran, A/Director of Services, advised that where necessary, windows and doors will be replaced in 19 no. houses in the Woodlands Estate. It is planned to commence the works in the second half of the year depending on restrictions surrounding Covid-19.
20. CORRESPONDENCE
None
21. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
None
The business of the meeting concluded at 11.25 a.m.
Meeting Date 18/01/2021