Minutes 2023

Minutes of Budget Meeting of Sligo - Drumcliff Municipal District held on Tuesday 31st October 2023 at 11.30am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo & Via Ms Teams


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

Casserly, Fox, Gilroy(R), and Walsh.

(R) = participated in the meeting remotely

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Marie Whelan, Head of Finance, Sligo County Council
  • Dorothy Clarke Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • E. Concannon, A/Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Séan Martin, A/Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Paul Hampson, Senior Executive Engineer, Sligo County Council
  • Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council

 

APOLOGIES:

There were no apologies.

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

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

 

1.  TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT 2024 BUDGETARY PLAN FOR THE SLIGO-DRUMCLIFF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT:

Ms. M. Whelan informed Members that the draft budgetary plan contained items of discretionary expenditure that apply to the three Municipal Districts, which may be considered on a County-wide basis along with items that are specific to each district.

These figures include the adopted 2023 budget along with similar proposals for the 2024 Budget.

Ms. M. Whelan went on to advise Members as follows:

  • Sligo County Councils LPT totalling €12,419, 708 determines the value of the additional 15% for the Council to be €717,081 for 2024; an increase on the 2023 amount of €43,879 due to an increase in amounts collected by Revenue Commissioners in Sligo
  • In 2024, a gross amount of €400,000 for Housing Grants will continue which will be match funded with €80,000 from the additional LPT 15% increase
  • €100,000 from the LPT will go towards the ongoing Footpath Improvement Scheme along with funds from the Councils own resources and €537,081 on a County-wide basis for all Recreation and Amenity Capital Projects
  • The overall LPT allocation for 2024 Sligo has increased by an additional €1.5m - In October 2022, notification was received of €935,288 Local Authority Supplementary Support for Inflationary Costs which was included as additional Income in Budget 2023.  This was a one-off and will not be provided for 2024 so in effect the additional allocation for 2024 is reduced to €564,712
  • There are significant inflationary costs for operational tenders which have increased, Loan Interest Charges have increased, IT investment has ongoing maintenance costs which have increased, and provision has to be made for increased pension costs in 2024
  • Local Elections 2024 will be an additional cost to 2023
  • On this basis, the draft budgetary plan included for discussion for each Municipal District has the discretionary items stated as per the 2023 budget amounts

Councillor. T. Walsh thanked Ms. M. Whelan for the draft budget report. 

Members put forward queries in relation to the Vacant Property Tax, energy costs, street lighting, taking in charge of estates and the imbalance regarding the distribution of funding between the Municipal Districts which were answered by the Executive as follows:

  • It was clarified that the Vacant Property Tax will come into effect in 2024 and will be collected by Revenue. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the position of Vacancy Homes Officer are being funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development
  • Energy Costs – additional funds for 2024 have already been absorbed and the current budget will be used to cover these costs
  • All contracts which have been retendered have come back with increased costs – essential items will be covered in 2024
  • LED Street Lighting – the main contract has not being rolled out on the ground yet, a loan has been approved for draw down. As a result, the benefits of the use of LED lighting cannot be determined
  • Imbalance in funding between Municipal Districts – the way Sligo is structured impacts on how budgets are allocated. The population of the Municipal District, the variety of capital projects e.g. URDF, RRDF, Town and Village, grants and funds, public spaces, operational costs and geographical spread will dictate and determine spend
  • It was confirmed that Sligo County Council will continue to consider the taking in charge of housing estates and roads as requested

Cathaoirleach, Councillor. T. Walsh and the Members thanked the Executive and staff for their responses. 

 

It was then

Proposed by Councillor M. Casserly
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox

AND AGREED

“To adopt the Draft 2024 Budgetary Plan for the Sligo – Drumcliff Municipal District”

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 12.05pm.


Meeting Date 31/10/2023