Minutes of May Monthly Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 17th May, 2010 at 8.00 pm

IN ATTENDANCE:

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

ABSENT:

Councillor T. McLoughlin

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

Mr Hubert Kearns, County Manager
Ms. Paula R Gallagher, Acting Director of Services
Ms Marie Leydon, Head of Finance
Ms Patricia Hamilton, Financial Accountant
Ms Mary Blowick, Meetings Administrator

On the proposal of Councillor Matt Lyons seconded by Councillor Marcella McGarry minutes of meetings

April Monthly meeting of 12th April, 2010
djourned April Monthly Meeting of 19th April, 2010
Programme 4.5.8 Committee Meeting of 23rd March, 2010
Access Committee Meeting of 15th April,

were unanimously adopted and signed by the Mayor.

1. MATTERS ARISING

Councillor Bree asked if Minister Mr. Michael Finneran TD Minister for Housing and Local Services had suggested a date to meet with the Members of Sligo Borough Council.

Members were informed that the Minister will notify them with a proposed date as soon as possible.

Councillor Sean MacManus queried if Bus Eireann had agreed to attend the May meeting of the Borough Council.

Members were informed that a Bus Eireann representative was unable to attend the May meeting but would attend the June meeting.

2. DRAFT CAR PARK BYE-LAWS 2010 AND DRAFT PARKING BYE LAWS 2010

A copy of the draft Car Park and Parking Places Bye Laws 2010 were circulated to members on 16th April, 2010.

On the proposal of Councillor Jude Devins, seconded by Councillor Jim McGarry, it was unanimously agreed to proceed with the consultation process in relation to the above Bye-Laws subject to the following changes:

Proposed by Councillor Declan Bree, seconded by Councillor Jim Mc Garry and agreed
“that the following text be included in both Parking Places (Article 23) and Car Park Bye Laws (Article 27):
“that these Bye-Laws or sections of these Bye-Laws may be suspended when the Borough Council by resolution deems it appropriate”.

Proposed by Councillor Marcella McGarry, seconded by Councillor Veronica Cawley and agreed
“That the parking spaces (4) beside the area known as the Weighbridge houses be included in the Pay and Display areas of the parking by-laws”.

Proposed by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, seconded by Councillor David Cawley and agreed
“that Adelaide Car Park be included in the List 1 Schedule of Car Parks and that the hourly charge for this car park will be €1.00”

3. AUDIT REPORT

The statutory report on the Accounts of Sligo Borough Council for the year ended 31/12/2008 had been circulated with Agenda on 11th May, 2010.

A lengthy discussion took place on the matter and Members queried a number of items including the future of the Ballinode Public Private Partnership project, the repayment of loans for lands purchased for the development of social housing schemes and collection procedures for outstanding development levies.

With regard to the latter, Councillor Chris MacManus asked that it be put on record that despite his requests, he had received no comment from the executive on development contribution collection procedures pre 2009, which he said were shambolic.

The following motion was agreed with regard to the Ballinode Private Partnership Project, On the proposal of Councillor Sean MacManus, seconded by Councillor Bree
“that Sligo Borough receive for the June 2010 monthly meeting a comprehensive report outlining the work carried out by the PPU Unit since its formation and the total costs associated with its functions during that time and the sources of this funding”.

The following amendment to the minutes was requested by Councillor David Cawley:
“The Executive stated that the inter agency balance (Sligo County Vs Sligo Borough Council) was correctly stated in the accounts for Sligo Borough Council, despite the fact that the amounts differed in both sets of accounts. I cannot accept that both sets of accounts were correct despite having differing amounts due in each at the same date, but I am unable to clarify which set of accounts are correctly stated”

“The fact that the Auditor was of the opinion the Debtors figure was inadequate and that the Executive did not adjust the accounts accordingly to ensure the auditors concerns were addressed. I was not comfortable with the response of the Executive as I could not get any clarity on the effect of the restatement of this figure and it's effect of the accounts for year ending 2008 and/or future accounting periods”

“I suggested that the Auditors be requested to provide a figure that they would deem to be an adequate figure for this heading during their work on the next audit period year ending 2009 and the effect of this new figure on the accounts for 2008 and 2009”.

All queries were dealt with by Hubert Kearns County Manager, Marie Leydon, Head of Finance and Paula R Gallagher, Acting Director of Services.

4. RENT ASSESSMENTS REPORT

A report on the cost of implementing the Notice of Motion passed at the March meeting was circulated with the April Agenda.

Members noted that as a result of the decision, the housing rental income would be reduced and the housing maintenance programme for the remainder of the year would not be curtailed.

Members requested that no adjustment be made to the housing maintenance programme, that a report issue at the September monthly meeting which should detail the cost of implementing the resolution and a decision would then be made as to how the cost will be funded.

5. SLIGO TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Ms Paula R. Gallagher, Acting Director of Services, outlined the present position on proposed developments in the Town Centre Masterplan.

6. SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT PROGRAMME ALLOCATION 2010

A copy of the DoEHLG circular regarding Social Housing Investment Programme Allocations for the current year was circulated to members on 11th May, 2010.

Members expressed their disappointment at the reduced allocation for the Borough Council for 2010.

On the proposal of Councillor Bree, seconded by Councillor Chris Mac Manus and agreed
“that concerned with the growing housing crisis in Sligo, this council expresses its outrage and dismay at the major cut backs in the Governments Housing Allocation, and further this Council calls for the immediate resignation of the Minister for Housing Michael Finneran”

Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady dissented from the motion.

7. SYMPATHY

The sympathy of the Council was extended to:
Tommy & Mary McDonagh, Treacy Avenue on the death of their granddaughter Claire O’Dowd.

This concluded the business of the meeting which ended at 10.30pm

Meeting Date 17/05/2010