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Minutes of September General Purpose Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 21st September, 2009, at 8.00 pm.


IN ATTENDANCE:

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

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

  • Ms. P. Gallagher, A/Director of Services
  • Ms. M. Blowick, Meetings Administrator
  • Mr. A. Skeffington, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Ms. L. McConville, Executive Planner

1.  PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

A list of Planning Applications Ref 09/37 – 09/57 circulated on 16th September 2009 were read and noted.


2. PLANNING APPLICATIONS GRANTED

 A list of applications granted which were circulated on  16th September 2009  were read and noted.


3. CONFERENCES

On the proposal of Councillor David Cawley seconded by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady a list of Conferences circulated with Agenda on 16th September 2009 was unanimously approved.


4. COSTS OF RE-OPENING O’CONNELL STREET

A report on the revised costs as requested by Members at the September monthly Meeting was circulated prior to discussion of this report.  The following motion, proposed by Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor Veronica Cawley was submitted.

“That this Council cognizant of the need to reduce expenditure, rejects the costs of €171,875.00, to re-open O’Connell Street, as contained in the Memorandum dated 7th  September, and further the Council instructs/recommends that the following works be carried out so as to allow for the opening of the street on December 8th.  Bollards at various locations (approx cost €13,500); Lining and hatching (approx cost € 4,250); Pedestrian Crossing at Tobergal Lane (approx cost €15,000); Signage (approx € 3,000); Application of Eco-flex material to widen Pedestrian Area (approx cost € 20,000) and that the €55,750 required to fund the works be transferred from the Urban Enhancement Fund, and from the Development Levies”.  The motion was signed by the following members Councillor David Cawley, Councillor Arthur Gibbons, Councillor Matt Lyons, Councillor Chris MacManus, Councillor Sean MacManus Councillor Marcella McGarry, Councillor Jim McGarry and Councillor Tony McLoughlin. 

Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady indicated that she was abstaining from signing the motion as she did not have adequate time to consider it.  Councillor Jude Devins asked that it be recorded that he was not in favour of re-opening O’Connell Street and was against the motion.

Anthony Skeffington Senior Executive Engineer was asked for his comments on the motion.  He stated that some of the items that were included in his report were excluded in the motion, that the quality of work would be of a lower level and he would need time to review it in detail.

Members asked that a vote be taken on the motion.  A poll was taken which resulted as follows :

For The Motion:  Councillor’s Declan Bree, David Cawley, Veronica Cawley, Arthur Gibbons, Matt Lyons, Chris MacManus, Sean MacManus, Jim McGarry, Marcella McGarry, Tony McLoughlin       (10)  

Against:  The Motion Councillor Jude Devins        ( 1)

Abstained:   Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady     ( 1)

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

The report circulated with the Agenda which dealt with the funding that was available from the 2009 Budget to finance the re-opening costs of O’Connell Street was then discussed. The amount available to fund re-opening costs is €25,633.82 after design and tender documentation fees are paid. (report attached)  Councillor Declan Bree asked if the balance of the 2008 allocation carried forward to 2009 was spent.  A report on same to be circulated to the members for the October meeting.

Councillor Sean MacManus asked if there was any point in proceeding with tenders in light of the decision taken to open O’Connell Street to traffic.  Councillor Jude Devins stated that members had agreed to proceed to the tendering stage at an earlier meeting within the last six months and therefore, the project must proceed to tender.  The members asked for confirmation of the date when this was agreed.

The following motion was then proposed by Councillor Tony McLouhglin, seconded by Councillor David Cawley and Councillor Matt Lyons and agreed “That Sligo Borough Council carry out a comprehensive traffic management plan for the City Centre to improve Traffic flows after the reopening of O’Connell Street to vehicular traffic.  Particular attention should be paid to the traffic flows and turns allowed at the Inner Relief Road intersections to facilitate better traffic flows”.  It was agreed that a report to members on the traffic management plan will be provided at the November meeting.


5. TO FIX A DATE FOR A SPECIAL MEETING TO CONSIDER THE THIRD MANAGERS REPORT IN RELATION TO THE DRAFT SLIGO AND ENVIRONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010 – 2016.

It was unanimously agreed that a special meeting of the Borough council be held on 2nd November 2009 to consider the third Manager’s report on the SEDP.  The monthly meeting of Sligo Borough Council be deferred to the 9th November 2009.


6. COAT OF ARMS

On the proposal of Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor Arthur Gibbons it was unanimously agreed “That this Council recognising the significance and importance of the Coat of Arms of the Borough of Sligo, resolves that the Coat of Arms of the Borough of Sligo can not be reproduced, printed, used on any signage, notepaper, document, website without the express permission of the elected Council and further, recognising that there is no such legal entity as “Sligo Local Authorities” the Council instructs the Manager to have the Coat of Arms of the Borough removed from any signage /documentation bearing that term, and further the Council resolves that the only logo or emblem to appear on Borough Council notepaper, stationary,  documentation, website is the Coat of Arms of the Borough of Sligo.”


7. SYMPATHY

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the following:

  • Mr Christy Foy on the death of his mother Margaret and also his wife Genie.
  • The Stenson Family on the death of John Stenson


This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.15pm


Meeting Date 21/09/2009