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Minutes of January Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 25th January, 2010 at 8.00 p.m.


IN ATTENDANCE:

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

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

  • Paula R Gallagher, Acting Director of Services
  • Mary Blowick, Meetings Administrator.

ABSENT:

  • Councillor Marcella McGarry.

1. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

It was proposed by Councillor’s Declan Bree, Chris MacManus, Sean Mac Manus, Jim McGarry, Arthur Gibbons and Tony McLoughlin and seconded by Councillor Veronica Cawley and it was agreed to suspend standing orders to allow the Council consider the following emergency motion:

“That this Council extends its solidarity and support to the members of IMPACT and the other trade unions representing the staff of the Council who are undertaking industrial action in response to the Government decision to cut the rates of pay of public servants and their threats to make further cuts in pay, pension benefits and jobs, and further recognising that

  1. a third of public service workers earn less than €40,000 a year
  2. every public servant already suffered a pay cut in 2009,
  3. the economic crisis was not caused by public spending or public servants; this Council calls on the Government to reverse the unfair and unnecessary wage cuts”

Councillor David Cawley abstained from the motion

A discussion took place during which members expressed their support for staff who are undertaking the industrial action and their dissatisfaction with the Government for the decision to cut the rates of pay of public servants.

2.  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

On the proposal of Councillor Declan Bree, seconded by Councillor David Cawley  Minutes of Meetings being :

  • December, Monthly Meeting of 7th December, 2009 were unanimously adopted and
  • November Special Meeting of 27th November 2009 were unanimously adopted with amendment.

3.  MATTERS ARISING

Councillor Declan Bree raised the issue regarding the manner in which minutes of Special Meeting of 27th November, 2009 were recorded.  It was agreed that discussions held with Mr Michael Finneran TD, Minister for Housing and Local Services on 27th December 2009, should be recorded separately and not form part of the minutes of the Borough Council meeting on the same day. 

Councillor Declan Bree asked if confirmation of funding was received from the DoEHLG for the Fairgreen Recreational Park. 

Councillor Declan Bree asked for an update regarding the Town Centre Masterplan. 

Ms. Paula R Gallagher Acting Director of Services informed the meeting that no confirmation had been received regarding funding for the Fairgreen. With regard to the Town Centre Masterplan, she said that the project is progressing in a positive manner.

4.  NOTICE OF MOTIONS

The following motions were dealt with.

On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus and unanimously agreed “To ask the County Manager, in his role as the Cranmore Regeneration Chair, to indicate what assistance the Borough Council is giving the Cranmore Community Co-Op in sourcing funding for a full–time Development Worker”

Members noted the report on the matter which was issued by Bartley Gavin, Acting Director of Services, Cranmore Regeneration.

On the proposal of Councillor Veronica Cawley, seconded by Councillor Jude Devins and unanimously agreed “That a study be carried out on the feasibility of having a traffic roundabout at the northern section of Cartron cross in order to reduce the long traffic delays on the Cartron road”.  Members noted the report on the matter which was issued by Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer.

On the proposal of  Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor Chris MacManus and unanimously agreed“That the Council be provided with a full report on all developments in the past five years where the County Manager agreed to off set development contributions against works carried  out by developers, including the planning file numbers; the amount of development  levies offset in each case; the work undertaken by the developer and to ask if  quotations were sought from other contractors in respect of the works, and further to ask if the allocation of monies collected from development levies is a reserved  function of the elected Council or an Executive function of the County Manager.”  In a report issued by Janet McNamara, Administrative Officer, Members were informed that development contributions were not set off against works carried out by developers in the past 5 years and that any projects that require funding from development levies is brought before the Members for their approval.

On the proposal of Councillor Jim McGarry seconded by Councillor David Cawley and unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council provide ramps and or traffic calming measures on the St. Marys / Ballydoogan road as part of Construction works on the W2”.  Members noted the report on the matter which was issued by Anthony Skeffington SEE.

On the proposal of Councillor Jim McGarry seconded by Councillor David Cawley and unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council request Bus Eireann to provide a Bus Shelter at the existing Bus Stop outside Merville community Centre”.  Members welcomed the provision of the Bus Shelter at Merville community Centre and asked that Bus Eireann be contacted regarding the provision of bus shelters at other bus stops in Sligo that do not have this facility.

On the proposal of Councillor Jim McGarry seconded by Councillor Declan Bree and unanimously agreed “That Sligo Borough Council investigates the feasibility of providing a skate park within the Borough of Sligo to service the recreational needs of youths in our Communities”.  Members agreed that the provision of a skate park facility should be given priority and asked that a comprehensive report be prepared for the March monthly meeting.

On the proposal of Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor Jim McGarry and unanimously agreed “That the Council be provided with a list of persons/firms providing professional services to the Council i.e. solicitors, valuers, consultants etc., and that details of payments to each for the years 2008, 2007 and 2006 be provided to the Council.”  Ms Mary Blowick, Meetings Administrator informed the meeting that a report on the matter will be provided at the March meeting.

On the proposal of Councillor Arthur Gibbons seconded by Councillor Matt Lyons and unanimously agreed “That this Borough Council investigate all avenues for finance with the sole purpose of bringing the boarded up houses at Father O Flanagan Terrace up to a liveable standard to house families that are on our housing list”.  Members noted the report issued by Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer on the matter.

On the proposal of Councillor Chris MacManus, seconded by Councillor Sean MacManus and unanimously agreed “Can the County Manager confirm:

  1. that there has been no door-to-door rent collection service for a large proportion of Borough Council households that avail of this service - including the elderly and the infirm, since Spring ’09?
  2. that there has not been a dedicated revenue collector, tasked with collecting outstanding development levies, since Spring ’09?
    And further:

  3. if he is replied in the affirmative in either or both instances, can he detail the course of action to
    1. prevent these scenarios re-occurring,
    2. ensure that tenants who are now in arrears - due to lack of a rent collection service - come under no threat of eviction and
    3. collect outstanding development levies, so this Council can provide much needed recreational and other infrastructural needs for the citizens of the Borough."

Members noted the joint report issued on the matter from Marie Leydon Head of Finance and Janet McNamara Administrative Officer.

On the proposal of Councillor Declan Bree seconded by Councillor Tony McLoughlin and unanimously agreed “That the February Monthly Meeting of the Borough Council be adjourned to 8.00pm on Monday 15th February,  2010.


It was unanimously agreed to conclude the business of the meeting at 10.00pm.


Meeting Date 25/01/2010