Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 8^th MAY, 2006

Presiding -                  Cllr. Stella Meade, Mayor.

Present -                     Cllrs.   P. Whitty, N.Doyle, J.Mulvihill, D. Crowley,

 S. O’Connor, K. McCarthy, M. Keating and P. Histon.

OFFICIALS PRESENT  

Ms. M. O’Halloran, Town Manager

Mr. P. Lynch, Town Clerk.

Mr. G. O’Hora, Town Engineer

The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer

1.            ATTENDANCE BY MR. JIM WILSON

Cllr Meade welcomed Mr. Wilson to the meeting. Mr. Wilson made a presentation to the members in relation to the Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve. He stated that Cuskinny could be a major tourist attraction for the town. The Marsh had featured in international magazines as an important natural resource. It was important to ensure that the Marsh was maintained as a Green area. He advised that between 8 and 10,000 visited the Marsh on an annual basis but that the increase in road traffic in the area was becoming a threat to those visitors. He stated that he wanted to publicly thank David and Heather Bird, as well as Mrs. Ronan who owned the land surrounding the Marsh for ensuring that the site was maintained. He also thanked Cobh Tourism for their recent work in upgrading the visitor amenities.

All of the members praised Mr. Wilson for the work he has done to maintain and improve the Marsh. Cllr. Meade thanked Mr. Wilson for attending; he then withdrew from the meeting.

2.                  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The following minutes of Council meetings held having been circulated, were adopted as follows:

Monthly meeting           10^th April 2006             Proposed – Cllr Mulvihill

                                                                        Seconded – Cllr Doyle

Committee meeting       10^th April 2006             Proposed – Cllr Mulvihill

                                                                        Seconded – Cllr Keating

Matters arising from Minutes.

Cllr O Connor asked for an update in relation to the speed ramps on Norwood Park road. The Town Engineer stated that he had no further update from the County council in connection with this matter. The Town Manager agreed to raise the matter with the Council’s Sanitary Engineer.

Cllr O Connor asked for an update in relation to the landslide programme. The Town Manager stated that she had spoken again to Departmental officials who had advised her that they were still waiting for a report from the National Roads Authority in relation to technical assessment of proposals submitted by the Council.

Cllr O Connor asked for an update in relation to flooding at Whitepoint. The Town Engineer stated that work was being carried out by Town Council staff in ensuring that the gullies were kept clean in an attempt to minimise the threat of further flooding.

Cllr Keating raised the issue of the Cobh Local Bus service. The Town Clerk stated that the updated submission had been completed and forwarded to the Department of Transport for their comments.

Cllr McCarthy asked for an update in relation to the pedestrian crossing at Midleton street. The Town Engineer stated that he was currently in consultations with the Gardaí in this regard and that he hoped to come back to the Members with a report as soon as possible.

Cllr Crowley asked whether or not any funding was being provided for a skate park in Cobh. The Manager stated that the Department official dealing with the matter was currently on leave and that she would raise the matter further when he returned.

Cllr. Crowley raised the issue of the provision of disabled parking facilities at Victoria Estate. The Town Engineer advised that he had no further report in the matter but would look at the issue again.

Cllr. Whitty asked for an update in relation to the proposed gates at the Archway between the Squares. The Town Clerk stated that he had requested a price for this work and that he hoped to have the work completed as soon as possible.

Other matters arising from the meeting were dealt with as appropriate.

3.                  VOTES OF CONDOLENCE

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the relatives of the following:

Pauline O’Connell                                 Charles Ryan

Mairead McCarthy                               Peg Twomey

David Aherne                                       Eileen  Ahern

The Votes were passed in silence, all standing.

4                    MANAGERS ORDERS

Cllr’s noted Managers Orders, copies of which have been circulated.

5.         CORRESPONDENCE

A)                Notice of Motion –Killarney Town Council – marked as read.

B)                A.M.A.I. request for motions for Annual Conference – marked as read.

C)                Letter from the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs acknowledging receipt of notice of motion in relation to the Kennedy/McCain Bill

D)              Letter from the office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform acknowledging receipt of notice of motion in relation to parking fines income.

E)               Letter from Cobh Youth Services asking if the organisation could use the old Town Hall for a short period of between 8 and 10 weeks while their existing premises was being refurbished. On the proposal of Cllr. Crowley, seconded by Cllr. Meade, it was agreed that the request could be granted if the auctioneers dealing with the sale of the building did not feel it would have a negative impact on the sale of the property. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would contact the auctioneers in this regard.

F)               Invitation from Cobh Museum to attend the official opening of an exhibition on 20^th May, 2006.

G)              Sirius Arts Centre – Letter from Ms. Peggy Sue Amison in relation to a proposal to hold a one day installation of a community arts project in the Council Chamber. On the proposal of Cllr. Crowley, seconded by Cllr. Doyle, it was agreed that the Chamber could be used for the installation.

6.         OFFICER’S  REPORTS

A)                FBD Insurance RÁS

The Town Clerk circulated details of the proposed road closures, and parking restrictions which would apply on the date of the Rás. The Town Clerk advised that Council staff would erect a number of information signs along the route alerting the public to the restrictions.

B)                Cobh Community Centre

The Town Clerk circulated a copy of a letter of support for a funding application being made by the Community Centre to the Department of the environment, Heritage and Local Government. All of the members agreed to sign the letter of support.

C)                Local Group Funding

The Town Clerk circulated a list of the local organisations that received funding under the 2006 Community Funding Scheme.

D)                Disabled Parking Spaces

The Town engineer advised that he had received requests for the provision of disabled parking facilities at Norwood School and close to the Commodore Hotel. He advised that subject to the members’ agreement he was in favour of these requests. On the proposal of Cllr. Doyle, seconded by Cllr. Meade, it was agreed to provide the spaces.

7.         COMMITTEE REPORT

Cllr. Whitty reported that the Lusitania Memorial which had been organised by Cobh Tourism had been a success. He stated that Cobh Tourism wished to thank the staff of Cobh Town Council who had ensured that both the Lusitania Monument and the Old Church Cemetery were in good condition fore the occasion.

8.         LITTER ACTION PLAN 2006

The Manager advised the members that she had secured sponsorship for the Tidy Districts Competition and that it was hoped to arrange for a press launch of the event towards the end of the month. She advised that a letter had issued to a number of Residents’ Associations as well as the Chamber looking for Litter Champions. She stated that she was currently looking for sponsorship for the proposed Pride in Cobh Week and that she was hoping that if sponsorship was forthcoming to arrange for a number of skips for the large housing estates in Cobh. In relation to the Schools Programme, she advised that she was hoping to arrange a meeting with the Principal of Rushbrooke N.S. finally she advised that it was hoped to arrange for an information leaflet to be prepared and delivered to every home and business in Cobh as soon as possible.

On the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr Histon, it was agreed that the Action Plan would be placed on the Agenda of every meeting.

The Manager stated that she was looking for nominations for an Audit committee to monitor progress on the Action Plan.

On the proposal of Cllr. Crowley, seconded by Cllr. Doyle, it was agreed that Cllr. Mulvihill would sit on the committee.

On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, it was agreed that Cllr. Doyle would sit on the committee.

On the proposal of Cllr. Doyle, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, it was agreed that Cllr. Histon would sit on the committee.

On the proposal of Cllr. Histon, seconded by Cllr. Doyle, it was agreed that Cllr. Whitty would sit on the committee.

9.         NOTICE OF MOTION

On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill seconded by Cllr. Crowley, the following motion was adopted unanimously:

“That Cobh Town Council accord a civic reception in recognition of Cobh Pirates Rugby Club winning the Munster Junior Cup in Musgrave Park On Sunday 31st April.”

Cllr .Mulvihill advised that a representative of the club would contact the Town Clerk to arrange a suitable date for the Reception.

Cllr. Whitty stated that he wished to record his thanks to the club for recently hosting a visiting team from Pontarddulais.

10        ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

It was agreed to hold a committee meeting the following Monday at 6.00 p.m. to discuss the Community Awards.

It was agreed to hold the function for the allocation of Community Funding on Tuesday 23^rd May, at 6.00 p.m.

It was agreed to host the press launch of the Tidy Districts Competition on Monday 29^th May at 7.00 p.m. in the Commodore Hotel.

Traffic sign directly outside No. 11 Bayview – Town Engineer to examine.

Traffic claming at the Spar at Newtown – Town Engineer to examine.

Traffic Calming at West View – The Town Engineer stated that there were no plans to resurface this road as the road had been designed specifically to prevent skidding on the steep hill.

Condition of road at Ticknock – Town Engineer to examine for Cork County Council.

Provision of footpath at Newtown Road – Town Engineer to examine

Presentation by Mr. Michael Martin to the members in relation to the future of Spike Island. On the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr. Histon, it was agreed that Cobh Town Council would fully support Mr. Martin’s campaign to have Spike Island declared a National Heritage Site.

This concluded the business of the meeting.  

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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