Minutes of February Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 2nd February 2009 at 8.00p.m.

IN ATTENDANCE: 

• Councillor V. Cawley, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
• Councillor D. Bree,
• Councillor D. Cawley,
• Councillor J. Devins, 
• Councillor A. Gibbons,
• Councillor J. McGarry,
• Councillor J. McGoldrick,
• Councillor T. McLoughlin,
• Councillor S. MacManus,
• Councillor T. MacSharry
• Councillor R. O’Grady
  

OFFICIALS PRESENT: 

• Mr H. Kearins, County Manager
• Mr D. Breen, Director of Services
• Mr. J. McNabola, Town Clerk
• Mr. M. Condren, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent
• Mr. B. Gavin, Acting Director of Services
  

1. VOTE OF SYMPATHY AND ADJOURNMENT

The sympathy of the Council was extended to Mrs Kathleen Healy, Breeogue, Knocknahur, to Councillor Deidre Healy McGowan, the Healy and Carthy families on the death of Hubert Healy.  The Council unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting for five minutes as a mark of respect.

The Council also extended sympathy to the following:

Mrs Kitty Keaney and Family, 4 Quay Street, Sligo on the death of her husband Gerry.

Mrs Kathleen Farrell and Family, 62 Avondale, Sligo on the death of her husband Brendan.

McGowan Family, 94 Doorly Park on the death of John L. McGowan

The family of the late Bob Doyle the last Irish survivor of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.
 
All the members joined in the expression of sympathy and agreed unanimously to adjourn the meeting as a mark of respect.

The Director of Services joined in the expression of sympathy on behalf of the staff.

2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of Meetings being:

• Special Meeting of 15th December 2008;
• Special meeting of 22nd December 2008 to consider proposed Draft Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2010 – 2016;
• Budget meeting of 12th January 2009 and
• Adjourned Budget meeting of 19th January 2009.

were unanimously adopted by the Council and signed by the Mayor.

3. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAE

It was agreed that the following items would be placed on the Councils Agendae:

• March 2009 – Report on Ballinode / Hazelwood lands
• March 2009 – Report on future borrowings
• February General Purposes 2009 – Report on collection of Development Levies
  

4. APPROVAL OF OVERDRAFT ACCOMMODATION

On the proposal of Councillor McGoldrick seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was unanimously resolved “That Overdraft Accommodation in the amount of €8.35m for half year ending 30th September 2009 be adopted”

5. CONTRIBUTION TO MODEL ARTS AND NILAND GALLERY REFURBISHMENT

A report dated 25/01/09 from the Director of services had been circulated with the Agenda.  Members of the Council sought assurances that the Government has firmly committed to its share of funding.  Questions were raised regarding the level and importance of private funding and regarding the level of funding by Sligo County Council.  The County Manager and Director gave the requested details.

On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor V. Cawley it was unanimously resolved that Sligo Borough Council contribute the sum of €600,000 towards the project.  This money to be resourced from the cultural heading in the Borough of Sligo development contribution scheme.

6. ADOPTION OF CEMETERY BYE LAWS 2008

On the proposal of Councillor McLoughlin seconded by Councillor Devins it was unanimously agreed to adopt the Draft Cemetery Bye Laws 2008 as amended by the Council and to bring these Bye Laws into force on 18th March 2009.  The adopted Bye Laws were signed by the Mayor and Town Clerk and the Official Seal of the Council was affixed thereto.

7. PROPOSED FORMATION OF CRANMORE REGENERATION LTD.

On the proposal of Councillor MacManus seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed to defer this item  to the February General Purposes Committee.

8. PART XI APPROVAL OF CRANMORE HOUSES DEMOLITION

A report of 05/01/09 from the Acting Director of Services, Cranmore Regeneration and a report of 15/10/08 from the Planners had been circulated with the Agenda.  Mr Gavin advised that all concerns raised by Residents would be addressed to the satisfaction of the Residents Association and that the site would be soiled and left as a Greenfield.

On the proposal of Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was agreed to approve the development.  Councillor V. Cawley dissented from the decision.

9. NOMINATION OF MEMBER TO SLIGO HOMELESS FORUM

On the proposal of Councillor McGoldrick seconded by Councillor O’Grady it was unanimously agreed to nominate Councillor V. Cawley as Sligo Borough Council’s representative on the Sligo Homeless Forum.

10. SLIGO TOWNCENTRE MASTERPLAN

A report dated 27th January 2009 from the Town Clerk had been circulated with the Agenda.  The Council discussed the present position with the project, regretted delay by the developers involved and urged that efforts continue to advance outstanding items in the plan.

11. DEFERRAL OF ITEMS TO MARCH MONTHLY AGENDA

The following items were deferred to the March Monthly Meeting Agenda
10, 13, 14, and 17

12. PROPOSED TAKING IN CHARGE – WOODTOWN LODGE HOUSING ESTATE

On the proposal of Councillor McSharry seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously resolved “That Sligo Borough Council take the Estate of Woodtown Lodge in charge”.  The Town Clerk reported that it is intended to give public notice of this intention in the next two weeks.

13. EASTERN BRIDGE PROPOSALS FROM CONSULTANTS

On the proposal of Councillor McSharry seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously agreed as follows “That Sligo Borough Council requests from the County Manager disclosure of all proposals from all Consultants relating to the Eastern Bridge crossing at Garavogue from 2006 to present”.  It was agreed that details of all proposals would be circulated.

14. LITTER STATISTICS

On the proposal of Councillor D. Cawley seconded by Councillor McLoughlin it was unanimously resolved “That Sligo Borough Council provide a report as soon as possible stating:

• The number of fines issued for littering offences for calendar year 2005, 2006 and 2007;
• The amount of money collected from those fines in the calendar years 2005, 2006, 2007;

The report should state the number of staff employed by Sligo Borough Council and based at City Hall for 2005, 2006 and 2007”

 The requested information had been circulated to the Council.

15. DEFERRAL OF BLOCK GRANT MOTIONS

The following items relating to Block Grant 2009 were deferred until such funding becomes available:   Number 16 and 18.

16. PARKING AT ST. ANNES TERRACE

Councillor Bree proposed and Councillor McLoughlin seconded “That a report be provided with regard to the recent submission made to the Council by the St Annes Terrace Residents Association relating to car parking in the area”.  The Town Clerk advised that contacts with the Residents Association produced no concensus in this matter.  The Senior Executive Engineer Roads was requested to meet again with the Residents with a view to finding a resolution.

17. VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS

On the proposal of Councillor McLoughlin seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was unanimously resolved that that Council extends congratulations to Rally Ireland, Failte Ireland North West and everyone associated with the successful running of the Rally Ireland stage of the World Rally Championships last weekend including Cyril Donnellan and Sligo I.T. for the operation of the Rally Service Park,

This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.17 pm

Meeting Date 02/02/2009