Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE OF COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 10^th APRIL, 2006.

Presiding -      Cllr. S. Meade

Present -         Councillors N. Doyle, P. Histon, S O’Connor, K. McCarthy, J. Mulvihill, P. Whitty, D Crowley

OFFICIALS PRESENT  

Ms. M. O’Halloran – Town Manager

Mr. P. Lynch – Town Clerk

Mr. G. O’Hora – Town Engineer

Mr. S. Connolly – Senior Planner

An apology for his inability to attend was received from Cllr M Keating

1)             COBH DEVELOPMENT PLAN SCOPING STUDIES

Cllr Meade welcomed Sean Connolly to the meeting and asked him to present an update in relation to work carried out on the scooping studies in accordance with the development plan. Mr Connolly outlined work done to date in relation to a number of the scoping studies.

a.            Greater Cobh Development Strategy

Mr Connolly stated that he had been in discussions with the Planning Policy Unit of Cork County Council in relation to the possibility of zoning extra land for industrial or commercial development. He stated that the County Development Plan process was due to start a review in February 2007 and that the Planning Policy Unit was not willing to consider any changes prior to that day. He stated however, that the issue would be examined as part of the review of the County Development Plan.

b.            Greater Cobh Retail Strategy

Mr Connolly stated that the position in relation to this matter was similar to that of the Greater Cobh Development strategy and that the matter would be considered as part of the 2007 review of the County Development Plan.

c.            Town Centre Congestion Control And Accessibility

Mr Connolly stated that he was examining the possibility of introducing a one way system to cover the entire town centre. This would allow for one way traffic along Westbourne Place, West Beach, East Beach, Harbour Hill, Sandymount and Spy Hill. He stated that he had looked at the issue of car parking and was hoping to examine the possibility of an underground car park being provided adjacent to the old Town Hall. He stated that it was his long term aim to reduce on-street parking in the town centre. Cllr O Connor asked that the 1998 Part 10 scheme for the Promenade next to the Town Hall would be included in any consideration given by Mr Connolly in this area.

d.           Landscaping And Open Spaces Study

Mr Connolly stated that he had done some preparatory work on identifying open spaces with a view to encouraging public participation in approving these areas. He stated that he hoped to be in a position to come back to the councillors before the end of the summer with further work in this area. Cllr Meade thanked Mr Connolly for his work to date. It was agreed that the council would meet again in committee when further progress had been carried out.

2)         FUTURE USE OF THE OLD TOWN HALL

The Town Clerk raised the issue of the proposal to sell the Town Hall. He stated that a second auctioneer had carried out a valuation and that the valuation provided by the second auctioneer was broadly in line with the initial valuation. On the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Histon it was agreed to place the Town Hall on the market with the second auctioneer. It was also agreed to exclude the Car Park and the Quay from the property to be sold. It was agreed that a reserve in line with the original valuation prepared by Coholan Downing would be placed on the building.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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