- Minutes
Minutes of Adjourned Budget Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 18th January 2010 at 8.00 p.m.
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Councillor J. McGarry, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
- Councillor D. Bree,
- Councillor D. Cawley,
- Councillor V. Cawley,
- Councillor J. Devins,
- Councillor A. Gibbons,
- Councillor M. Lyons,
- Councillor T. McLoughlin,
- Councillor C. MacManus,
- Councillor S. MacManus,
- Councillor R. O’Grady
OFFICIALS PRESENT:
- Mr Tom Kilfeather, Deputy County Manager
- Ms. Paula R. Gallagher, Acting Director of Service
- Mr. Marie Leydon, Head of Finance
- Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer
- Ms Patricia Hamilton, Financial Accountant
- Ms Mary Blowick, Meetings Administrator.
ABSENT:
- Councillor M. McGarry
1. BUDGET 2010
Division B – Road Transportation and Safety
The Council commenced consideration of Division B – Road Transportation & Safety. Members raised concerns regarding the transfer of maintenance works of public lighting from the ESB to a private company and asked if the same standard of maintenance would continue in future. Queries were also raised regarding changes to car parking bye laws, construction works on the W2 at Kevinsfort Park and how repair works to roads, damaged by the recent cold weather would be funded. Clarification was also sought on items of expenditure included in the draft budget. The queries raised were replied to by the Acting Director of Services, the Senior Engineer and the Head of Finance.
Division D – Development Management
The Council considered Division D – Development Management. Queries were raised regarding enforcement of building regulations, derelict sites legislation and the taking in charge of estates. The future development of the docklands area was also discussed. The queries raised were dealt with by Paula R Gallagher, Acting Director of Services.
Division E – Environmental Services
The Council discussed Division E – Environmental Services. Queries raised included the cost of removing abandoned vehicles, the annual cost of providing life buoys, the cleaning of gullies and the possibility of focusing CCTV cameras on areas where there is significant instances of illegal dumping so as to identify perpetrators. Clarification was sought on budget allocations included in the draft budget for Division E. Queries were dealt with by the Acting Director of Services and Head of Finance.
Division F – Parks and Recreation
The Council then discussed Division F - Parks and Recreation. Members complemented the staff of the Parks Department for their excellent work and for their efforts to secure funding for the development of parks and recreational facilities in Sligo. Queries raised by Members included the current position regarding the development of the children’s playground at Caltragh, the funding of the Fairgreen recreational park, and if a response was received from the DoEHLG regarding future funding of Cleveragh Regional Park. Paula R Gallagher, Acting Director of Services, replied to the queries raised.
Division G - Agriculture, Education Health and Welfare
Members unanimously agreed this programme.
Division H – Miscellaneous Services
Members then moved to discuss Division H - Miscellaneous Services. Councillor Sean MacManus asked if consideration might be given to relocating the Farmers Market to a town centre site. Paula R Gallagher said that the matter would be investigated.
The Mayor proposed and it was unanimously agreed to take a recess at 9.45pm. The meeting resumed at 10.00pm
The following motion was deferred until the March Monthly Meeting
On the proposal of Councillor Arthur Gibbons seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus “That Sligo Borough Council reduce the rent by €5.00 per child under the age of 18 and 21 if in fulltime education when assessing the tenants rent. This to take effect immediately 2010”
It was unanimously agreed to defer this motion until the March monthly meeting to allow the Housing Section to prepare a report on the impact this amendment to the differential rent scheme would have on budgeted rental income for 2010.
The following motions were ruled out of order and deferred to the Block Grant Allocations Meeting.
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council allocate funding under the Block Grant 2010 to provide funding for traffic calming measures along Cemetery Road”
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council allocate funding under the Block Grant 2010 for a pedestrian crossing in Temple Street adjacent to the Fairgreen / Market Yard entrance”
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council allocate funding under the Block Grant 2010 for a pedestrian crossing in Upper Pearse Road adjacent to the entrance into Crozon Estate(s)
The following motions were adopted unanimously:
On the proposal of Councillor Arthur Gibbons seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council allow tenants of Cluid Housing Association and Respond Housing to go on Sligo Borough Council transfer list if the applicant wishes to do so”
On the proposal of Councillor Jude Devins seconded by Councillor’s David Cawley, Veronica Cawley, Matt Lyons, Jim McGarry, Tony McLoughlin and Rosaleen O’Grady it was agreed “That recognising the current difficulties experienced by small and medium size businesses within the Borough, Sligo Borough Council propose to reduce the commercial rates by a further 1.5% ensuring an overall decrease of 2.5%. This to be funded by an adjustment of €105,000 from irrecoverable rates”
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council receive at the March Monthly meeting a report outlining the activity / enforcement / income etc. under the Derelict Sites Act from 2008 to date”
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council increase Expenditure AO104 Estate Maintenance from €10,000 to €15000 and Expenditure AO403 Social and Community Housing Service €45000 to €50000. This expenditure increase to be offset by reducing expenditure DO1 Forward Planning €199,631 - €189,631”
The following amendment was made to this motion which was then unanimously agreed “this expenditure increase to be offset by reducing expenditure D0201 Planning Control. From €28000 to €18000.00”
On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus it was unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council increase Expenditure AO401 Housing Estate Management by €10,000. This increase to be used by the Estate Officer (Cranmore) to assist in maintenance of green and public areas, address dumping and litter issues and any other needs as required. This increase to be offset by a reduction in DO2 Development Management by €10,000”
The following amendment was made to this motion which was then unanimously agreed “that this increase by offset by a reduction in DO2 Development Management by €5000 and an increase in H1102 NPPR income by €5000”
On the proposal of Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor David Cawley it was unanimously agreed “That a meeting of the sub-committee established to make recommendations in respect of allocations under Programme 4.5.8 and now under the new Budget heading, be convened within 8 weeks of the Budget meeting concluding”
2. ADOPTION OF BUDGET 2010
On the proposal of Councillor Jude Devins seconded by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady “That the Draft Local Authority Budget for Sligo Borough Council as amended for the local financial year ending on the 31st December 2010 be and is hereby adopted”
A poll was taken which resulted as follows:
For: Councillor’s, D. Cawley, V. Cawley, J. Devins, J. McGarry, M. Lyons, T. McLoughlin and R. O’Grady (7)
Against: Councillor’s A. Gibbons, C. MacManus, S. MacManus and D Bree (4)
Absent Councillor M. McGarry (1)
The motion was declared carried.
3. DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL RATE ON VALUATION
On the proposal of Councillor David Cawley seconded by Councillor Veronica Cawley it was unanimously agreed ““That Sligo Borough Council hereby determines in accordance with the Local Authority Budget for the local financial year ending 31st December 2010 as adopted at this meeting the Annual Rate on valuation to be levied for the several purposes specified in such Budget being €69.46”
This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.35 pm.
Meeting Date 18/01/2010