Minutes of October Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 1st October 2007 at 8.00 p.m.

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Councillor J. McGoldrick, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
• Councillor D. Bree
• Councillor D. Cawley
• Councillor V. Cawley,
• Councillor A. Gibbons
• Councillor J. McGarry
• Councillor T. McLoughlin,
• Councillor C. MacManus
• Councillor S. MacManus
• Councillor T. MacSharry,
  

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

• Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
• Mr. D. Breen, Director of Services
• Mr. J. McNabola, Town Clerk
• Mr. M. Carty, Senior Executive Engineer
• Ms. M. McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
• Ms. A. Jones, Administrative Officer
  

APOLOGY FOR INABILITY TO ATTEND:

• Councillor R. O’Grady
• Councillor J. Devins
  

1. SYMPATHY

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the families of Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessey of Bray, Co. Wicklow who both lost their lives as firefighters in tragic circumstances during the week.

The sympathy of the Council was also extended to:

• Mrs Mary Dolan, Staff Officer, Sligo Borough Council on the death of her uncle James Kilcoyne, Carrickbanagher.
  

2. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor C. MacManus it was unanimously agreed to suspend Standing Orders to discuss Item Number 48 on the Agenda – cutbacks by the Health Services Executive.  It was also agreed to take Item Number 47 at 10.10 pm.

3. HEALTH SERVICES STAFFING CUTBACKS

Councillor S. MacManus proposed and Councillor C. MacManus seconded “That Sligo Borough Council deplores the cutbacks in medical staff introduced by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at Sligo General Hospital. This council now calls on the HSE to immediately rescind these notices to terminate the employment of nurses and consultants.

Furthermore this Council seeks as a matter of utmost urgency, meeting's with the Minister for Health Mary Harney and the CEO of the Health Service Executive Mr. Brendan Drumme, to address this issue”.

Members deplored the cutbacks which were stated to be more severe in the Sligo Hospital than elsewhere in the country.  Blame was placed with Senior Management for failure to manage its budget more evenly.  Criticism was levelled at excessive pay demands of Senior Management and Senior Consultants and of the role of the Minister for Health in this matter.  Members called on Minister of State Devins and Deputy Scanlon to facilitate the requested meetings and reversal of these cutbacks.  Members stated that the cutbacks had already affected patient care and surgical services.  The motion was passed unanimously.

4. MINUTES

The Minutes of Meetings held on 3rd September 2007 and 17th September 2007 having been circulated were unanimously adopted.  The minutes of the meeting of the Car Parking Committee of 19/06/07 were adopted with Councillor’s Bree, S. MacManus and C. MacManus dissenting.

5. PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY PEARSE ROAD TO ST. BRIGID’S PLACE

A report dated 28/09/07 had been circulated to the Council.  A discussion took place during which Councillor C. MacManus proposed and Councillor Bree seconded that the report be noted.  This motion was agreed unanimously.  Councillor D. Cawley proposed and Councillor McLoughlin seconded “That Sligo Borough Council write to the local residents association in St. Brigid’s Place and ask for their consensus in relation to the closing of the right of way St. Brigid’s Place and Pearse Road.  When we get a clear response from them we act on this in the next 6 months”
This motion was also adopted unanimously.

6. DISPOSAL OF DWELLING

On the proposal of Councillor D. Calwey seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously resolved to dispose of the following dwelling to their Tenants in accordance with notices dated 5th and 10th September 2007 respectively and circulated to members :

• 45 Cairns Drive
• 32 Devins Drive
  

7. ATTENDANCE OF MAYOR AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RALLY

A letter inviting the Mayor to the World Rally Championship round in Catalunya, Spain from 5th – 7th October was received.  On the proposal of Councillor D. Cawley seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed to approve the Mayors attendance

8. AUTHORISATION OF OVER-EXPENDITURE – WORLD RALLY SLIGO ROUND

A report of 26/09/07 from the Senior Executive Engineer Roads outlining estimated over-expenditure of € 28,000 in connection with the staging in Sligo of a round of the World Rally in Sligo was circulated with the Agenda.  On the proposal of Councillor McGarry seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed to authorise the estimated over-expenditure.

9. EXTINGUISHMENT OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY – MARYMOUNT TO CIRCULAR ROAD

A report of 21/09/2007 from the Town Clerk had been circulated with the Agenda which had as attachments three submissions received following public notice of this proposal.  On the proposal of Councillor McGarry seconded by Councillor Bree it was unanimously agreed to extinguish to public right of way between Marymount Housing Estate and Circular Road.  The Council suggested that discussions take place with the Circular Road Residents Association regarding the method of effecting the road closure.

10. NAMING OF CROZON ROUNDABOUT

It was unanimously agreed to name the roundabout at the junction of Newtownholmes Road and the slip road from Sligo Inner Relief Road as Crozon Roundabout.

11. NAMING OF CROZON ROAD

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor McGoldrick it was unanimously resolved to name the roadway between the Crozon roundabout New Circular Road as Crozon Road.

12. INTENTION TO TAKE KEVINSFORT HEATH HOUSING ESTATE IN CHARGE

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was unanimously agreed to note request and commence procedures to take Kevinsfort Heath Housing Estate in charge.  The Council requested a report setting out works outstanding and to be carried out prior to taking this estate in charge.

13. SLIGO TOWN MASTERPLAN

A report dated 25/09/2007 from the Town Clerk was noted

14. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor V. Cawley it was unanimously agreed to suspend standing orders to take without debate Item 49 on the Agenda.

15. BOROUGH BOUNDARY EXTENSION

Councillor Bree proposed and Councillor McLoughin seconded “That the Borough Council select a delegation to meet with a delegation from the County Council to allow for the continuation of discussions relating to the proposed extension of the Borough Boundary.”

16. FIXING OF DATE FOR ADDRESS BY SLIGO SPORTS AND RECREATION PARTNERSHIP LTD

On the proposal of Councillor McLoughlin seconded by Councillor McGoldrick it was unanimously agreed to invite representatives of Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership Ltd to attend the October General Purposes Meeting.

17. WITHDRAWAL OF MOTIONS

Motion’s Number’s 13 and 24 were withdrawn

18. DEFERRAL OF MOTIONS

The following motions were deferred by the Council – Number’s 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the October Monthly Agenda.

19. PLEBISCITE – BANKS AVENUE

On the proposal of Councillor Gibbons seconded by Councillor S. MacManus it was unanimously agreed to hold a Plebiscite to consider renaming Banks Avenue as Slieve Mor View.

20. PROPOSAL TO CONFER FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH ON MR MICHAEL FLATELY

On the proposal of Councillor McGoldrick seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was unanimously resolved “That Sligo Borough Council confer the Freedom of the City of Sligo on Mr. Michael Flatley.”

The concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.20 pm