Minutes of April General Purposes Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 20th April 2009 at 8.00 p.m.

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Councillor D. Bree,
• Councillor D. Cawley,
• Councillor A. Gibbons,
• Councillor T. Mc Loughlin,
• Councillor C. MacManus,
• Councillor S. MacManus,
  

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

• Mr. J. McNabola, Town Clerk
• Ms. L Mc Conville, Executive Planner,
• Mr. S. Martin, Senior Architect
• Mr. B. Gavin, Director of Services
  

In the absence of the Mayor it was unanimously agreed to move Councillor Bree to the chair.

1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

A list of Planning Applications received were read and noted.

Members expressed concern at unauthorised development at Waterlane the subject of retention application 09/25 and in respect of which enforcement procedures have commenced.

2. PLANNING DECISIONS MADE

The Council noted the list circulated.

3. CONFERENCES

A list of Conferences dated April 2009 which had been circulated with the Agenda was approved unanimously.

4. REDEVELOPMENT OF ALMA TERRACE HALTING SITE – PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000

Reports of 15/04/09 and 09/04/09 regarding the Part 8 procedures undertaken in above were circulated with the agenda.  Queries raised were answered by the Acting Senior Architect.  The Council unanimously approved the proposal under Part XI of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

5. CRANMORE REGENERATION

Members expressed welcome for the Government decision not to proceed with forming a Limited Company, expressed concern at reduction in Capital funding allocations for Ballymun in Dublin and an indicated reduction of € 4.5 m already allocated to Cranmore Regeneration.  Councillor C. MacManus sought a timetable and details of demolition works.  He also queried treatment of mounds.

The Acting Director of Services indicated that a Contractor has been selected and requested to submit insurances, bond etc. .  The demolition contract is of five month duration and will be secluded by boarding while in progress.  The site will be soiled and returned to a greed field.  He said he was attempting to find a compromise in regard to treatment of mounds by getting to a position where they are easier to maintain but if Residents don’t agree the mounds will not be altered.  Street lighting improvement is planned in that area.

Councillor Bree tendered a motion also signed by Councillor McLoughlin, C. MacManus and MacSharry as follows “That a Sub Committee of the Borough Council be established consisting of the Mayor, the four East Ward councillors, three persons nominated by the Cranmore Community Co-operative, one person nominated by the Cranmore Regeneration Project Steering Group and one person nominated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to

1. promote the social and economic regeneration of Cranmore on a sustainable basis ;
2. to prepare plans for the development, regeneration, renewal and conservation of the area;
3. to consult and co-operate with any interested parties, local community organisations, statutory bodies and Government agencies and business or commercial interests in the preparation of the said plans”

This motion was passed unanimously and it was agreed that it appear on the Agenda of the Annual Meeting for the purposes of appointing its membership.  It was further agreed that the work of seeking nominations from outside bodies should start immediately.

6. INCLUSION OF MARKIEVICZ HOUSE ON RECORD OF PROTECTED STRUCTURES

Councillor S. MacManus proposed, Councillor C. MacManus seconded and it was unanimously resolved that “That Sligo Borough Council include the building known as Markievicz House (RPS No 3 in proposed draft Record of Protected Structures Sligo and Environs Plan 2010-2016) in its list of protected structures in the Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2010-2016”

7. PROPOSED PLAYPARK IN THE BALLYTIVNAN AREA

Councillor Gibbons proposed and Councillor S. MacManus seconded and it was unanimously resolved that “That this Borough Council calls on the parks department of this council to explore the possibility of providing funding for a children's play park in the green area adjacent to the Woodlands estate, Elm gardens and Church-view crescent for all the Children of the Ballytivnan area”.

8. DEFERRAL OF MOTIONS

On the proposal of Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor D. Cawley it was agreed to defer all other motions.

9. PROPOSED GARAVOGUE RIVER FOOTBRIDGE

On the proposal of Councillor C. MacManus seconded by Councillor S. MacManus it was unanimously agreed to place Item Number 7 from the October General Purposes Meeting on the Agenda for the May 2009 monthly meeting.

This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 9.00pm