Minutes of September Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 7th September, 2009, at 8.00 pm.

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Councillor J. McGarry, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
• Councillor D. Bree,
• Councillor A.Gibbons,
• Councillor V Cawley,
• Councillor M McGarry,
• Councillor M. Lyons,
• Councillor D. Cawley,
• Councillor C. MacManus,
• Councillor R. O’Grady.

ABSENT:

• Councillor T. McLoughlin,
• Councillor S. MacManus
• Councillor J. Devins,

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

• Ms. P. Gallagher, A/Director of Services
• Ms. Mary Blowick, Meetings Administrator
• Mr. Anthony Skeffington, Senior Executive Engineer

1. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

On the proposal of Councillor Veronica Cawley, seconded by Councillor Matt Lyons minutes of meetings:
July Monthly Meeting of 6th July, 2009.
SEDP Meeting of 20th and 21st July, 2009.

were unanimously adopted, with amendment,  and signed by the Mayor .

2. MATTERS ARISING

Councillor Chris Mac Manus raised the issue of the re-opening of O’Connell Street.
This matter was deferred as it was to be discussed with item 6 on the Agenda.

Councillor Chris Mac Manus raised the issue of the Cranmore Re-generation Sub-Committee.  As mechanisms have been put in place to facilitate meetings for the new sub-committee, the matter required no further discussion.

Councillor Declan Bree raised the issue of the post of the Town Clerk.  It was agreed to invite the County Manager to attend the October meeting to discuss the matter.

Councillor Declan Bree raised the issue of “Development Levies – Response regarding Issue of Security”.  As a report on the matter had been circulated to all Members at the start of the Meeting, no further discussion was required on the matter at this time

3. TO NOMINATE ONE MEMBER TO SLIGO COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Councillor Chris MacManus proposed and Councillor Arthur Gibbons seconded that Councillor Sean MacManus be nominated to Sligo County Development Board.

Councillor David Cawley proposed and Councillor Matt Lyons seconded that Councillor Veronica Cawley be nominated to Sligo County Development Board.

A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

For Councillor Sean MacManus: Councillor D. Bree, Councillor A. Gibbons,
Councillor C. MacManus   (3)

For Councillor Veronica Cawley: Councillor V. Cawley, Councillor M. Lyons, Councillor M. McGarry, Councillor J. McGarry, Councillor R. O’Grady, Councillor D. Cawley (6)

The Mayor declared that Councillor Veronica Cawley is hereby nominated to Sligo County Development Board.

4. TO NOMINATE ONE MEMBER TO THE RAPID AREA IMPLEMENTATION TEAM

Councillor Arthur Gibbons proposed and Councillor Chris MacManus seconded that Councillor Chris MacManus be nominated to the Rapid Area Implementation Team.

Councillor David Cawley proposed and Councillor Veronica Cawley seconded that Councillor Marcella McGarry be nominated to the Rapid Area Implementation.

A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

For Councillor Chris MacManus: Councillor D. Bree, Councillor A. Gibbons,
Councillor C. MacManus       (3)

For Councillor Marcella McGarry: Councillor V. Cawley, Councillor M. Lyons, Councillor M. McGarry, Councillor J. McGarry, Councillor D Cawley, Councillor R. O’Grady  (6)

The Mayor declared that Councillor Marcella McGarry is hereby nominated to the Board of the County Sligo Leader Partnership board.

5.  TO CONSENT TO THE SALE OF DWELLING NUMBER 50 ST. EDWARDS TERRACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF 10TH JULY 2009

Councillor Arthur Gibbons proposed and Councillor Matt Lyons seconded and it was unanimously agreed to consent o the disposal of  50 St. Edwards Terrace to its tenants in accordance with notice to members of 10th July 2009.

6. TO NOTE REPORT ON THE RE-OPENING OF O’CONNELL STREET (ITEM NUMBER 6 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Matters arising from Councillor Chris MacManus was taken with this item. 

Two reports were issued to the Members on the reopening of O’Connell Street.  The  first report that was circulated asked members to identify a funding source for the re-opening costs, the second report circulated at the beginning of the meeting contained a breakdown of the costs to re-open O’Connell Street to single lane vehicular traffic

Councillor Veronica Cawley stated that members were being asked to identify a funding source for the re-opening costs and were not asked to fund the costs of closing O’Connell Street in 2006.  Councillor Veronica Cawley asked if the allocation provided in the 2009 for the pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street was spent.  Paula R. Gallagher said that there was a sum of €125,000.00 available.

Councillor Declan Bree asked if correct procedures were adhered to with regard to the closing of O’Connell Street in 2006.  Paula R Gallagher informed the meeting that correct procedures were followed.  She stated that the pedestrianisation of O’Connell was an objective of Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010 and O’Connell Street was closed in order to meet this objective.

In response Councillor Declan Bree proposed the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Chris MacManus “that advice be sought from the Council’s Solicitor regarding the decision of the County Manager, to close O’Connell Street to vehicular traffic and in particular to ask if the closure complied with and was in accordance  with the law”

Anthony Skeffington SEE, informed the meeting that the proposed costs to re-open O’Connell Street, as outlined in his report exceeded €126,000.00.  Such a project costing in excess of €126,000 requires a Part 8 Planning Application, in accordance with Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.  If the members agreed to incur such costs a Part 8 Planning Application would be necessary before O’Connell Street could reopen to vehicular traffic.

A lengthy discussion took place on the matter.  Members asked if all the works outlined in the report were necessary.  Anthony Skeffington SEE was asked to review the costs in his report and to prepare a further report to include costs of essential works required to open O’Connell Street.  To allow for further discussion on the matter it was proposed by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady seconded by Councillor Jim McGarry to defer the matter to the GP meeting on the 21st September, 2009.

7. CANCER CARE SERVICES AT SLIGO GENERAL HOSPITAL (ITEM NUMBER 7 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Jim McGarry proposed and Councillor Declan Bree seconded and it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council call on the HSE to clarify it’s position in relation to Sligo General Hospital and to confirm or deny that they intend to down-grade it turning it from an acute hospital into a medical one.  Also, that the HSE explain the future of the Orthopaedic Unit, the closure of the Stroke Unit and the removal of the Cancer Care Services”

8. STAFFING LEVELS AT SLIGO GENERAL HOSPITAL (ITEM NUMBER 8 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Jim McGarry proposed and Councillor Declan Bree seconded and it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council commits itself to fully supporting the Nurses of Sligo General Hospital in their campaign to increase staffing levels, since 2007 Sligo General Hospital has lost 65 Nurses and is now expected to operate and function with a serious staffing deficit.  This needs to be addressed so that the best care and attention can be provided to patients by front-line staff”

9. FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH – (ITEM NUMBER 9 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Jim McGarry proposed and Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady seconded and it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council confer the freedom of the Borough on Mr John McNabola for his outstanding service to the development of Sligo in his forty year career. His career has seen him occupy the post of Town Clerk for a huge portion of this time”.

10. SPEED RAMPS AT SRAID NAMARA – (ITEM NUMBER 10 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Arthur Gibbons proposed and Councillor Matt Lyons seconded “That Sligo Borough Council install Speed ramps or other forms of Traffic calming measures within Sraid Na Mara housing estate 1st Sea Road to slow down speeding traffic”

11. FAIRGREEN RECREATION AREA – (ITEM NUMBER’S 11 AND 13 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Declan Bree proposed and Councillor Chris MacManus seconded and it was unanimously agreed “That the draft plans for the development of the Fairgreen Recreation area be presented to the Council so as to allow the Part VIII process to commence, and further that the Council be advised

1. of the estimated cost of the project and
2. the sources for funding the project.”

Councillor Chris MacManus proposed and Councillor Sean MacManus seconded and it was unanimously agreed “To ask the County Manager what progress has been made to develop a play and recreational facility at the Fairgreen”

Councillor Bree amended his motion with the following addendum which was seconded by Councillor Chris MacManus and unanimously agreed “That the report on the Part VIII process in relation to the Fairgreen Recreational Area, be presented for agreement and adoption to the November Meeting of the Borough Council”

12. CLEVERAGH REGIONAL PARK – (ITEM NUMBER 12 ON AGENDA OF 2ND SEPTEMBER 2009)

Councillor Declan Bree proposed and Councillor Veronica Cawley seconded “That this Council requests the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism to approve €350,000 funding for pitch construction at Cleveragh Regional Park so as to allow the Borough Council to proceed to seek tenders and appoint contractors for the project”

Members were circulated with a report on the funding of Cleveragh Regional Park. 
Councillor Bree and Councillor Veronica Cawley requested that the members be circulated with letter from DoEHLG concerning the funding of Cleveragh Regional Park.

13. SYMPATHY

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the following:

• The Melly Family on the death of Tess Melly.
• The Sheridan Family on the death of Josie Sheridan
• The McLoughlin Family on the death of Christopher McLoughlin
• The Maughan Family on the death of Sadie Maughan
• The Melly Family on the death of Pearse Melly
• The Extended Family of Melissa Mahon.

This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.10pm

Meeting Date 07/09/2009