Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 12^th JUNE, 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  

Mr. P. Lynch, Town Clerk.

Mr. G. O’Hora, Town Engineer

An apology for her inability to attend was received from the Manager

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

1.                  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

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

Monthly meeting           8^th May 2006               Proposed – Cllr Mulvihill

                                                                        Seconded – Cllr Whitty

Matters arising from Minutes.

Cllr O Connor asked for an update in relation to the speed ramps in Norwood Park Road. The Town Engineer stated that he had been advised by the County Council  Engineer dealing with the matter that contract documents were being prepared and it was hoped to go to tender within the next two weeks.

Cllr O Connor asked for an update in relation to the Landslide Program. The Town Clerk stated that he was not aware of any further progress on the matter. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would check the matter with the Manager.

Cllr Mc Carthy raised the issue of the pedestrian crossing at Midleton Street. The Town Engineer advised Member that having examined the location and having spoken to the Gardai, he was in favour of providing a pedestrian crossing subject to suitable funding available.

Cllr Mulvihill asked for a date for the first meeting of the Litter Audit Committee.

Cllr Whitty raised the issue of the roadway at Ticknock. The Town Engineer stated that the County Council has agreed to carry out work on resurfacing this roadway over the summer period.

Cllr Whitty raised the issue of the footpath at Newtown. The Town Engineer stated that Cobh Town Council Employees hoped to start this work within the next two weeks.

Cllr Crowley raised the issue of the funding for a skatepark in Cobh. It was agreed that the matter would be raised with the Manager on her return from leave.

Cllr Whitty asked for an update in relation to the proposed gates at the Archway between the squares. The Town Clerk stated that prices had been recieved both for this job as well as the replacement fence at the promenade and it was hoped that the work would be carried out as soon as possible.

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

2.                  VOTES OF CONDOLENCE

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

Paddy Jordan                                       Josephine Casey

Celia Radley                                         Peter McElhone

Mary O’Leary                                      Edward Fitzgerald

Thomas Foley                                       Helen Stewart

The Votes were passed in silence, all standing.

3        MANAGERS ORDERS

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

4.         CORRESPONDENCE

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

B)              Notice of Motion – Ballina Town Council – marked as read                                                                                     

C)              Cobh Martial Arts Academy – Letter of thanks from Cobh Martial Arts Academy in relation to funding received from the Council

D)              Parking fines income – Letter from the private secretary to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform acknowledging receipt of a letter in relation to parking fines income.

E)               Power of Local Authorities – Letter from the office of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to the power of Town Councils and County Councils.

F)               A number of Councillors raised the issue of difficulties they had experienced in trying to contact representatives of the water service in Cobh area. They had contacted Glashaboy and the Water Tower on a number of occasions and had failed to get a response. On the proposal of Cllr Doyle seconded by Cllr McCarthy it was agreed to write to Cork County Council outlining the problems experienced by Councillors in contacting  Cork County Council in connection with water and sewage problems. On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Crowley it was agreed that the letter would include an invitation to a representative of the County Council water section to the next meeting of the Council. Cllr Whitty stated that at a recent SPC meeting to discuss the South Cork Water Plan he had raised difficulties experienced by individuals in Cobh with Mr Kevin Sugrue, Senior Engineer. He stated that this had resulted in the work being done immediately. A number of Councillors voiced their dissatisfaction at the fact that Cobh Town Council staff were involved in carrying out works for Cork County Council concerning water and sewage. Cllr Doyle asked if the money received from Cork County Council in relation to work carrying out by Town Council staff could be used to employ short term contract staff to carry out work needed.

5.         OFFICER’S  REPORTS

A)                Pride of place competition

The Town Clerk circulated a letter which had issued jointly from himself, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce and the Chairperson of Cobh Tidy Towns in relation to the Tidy Towns Competition.

B)                Derelict Sites

The Town Clerk stated that following the issuing of 14 notices under section 8 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 it had been agreed jointly with the Town Manager that the Town Engineer would commence examining sites with a view to outlining the works to be done on each site to make sites less derelict. He stated that the first report had dealt with two buildings in Casement Square. He stated that he hoped to have Managers Orders prepared for the Manager for the end of the week and that notices would issue as soon as possible. A number of Councillors raised the issue of buildings which they felt should be included in any derelict site register. These included 30 Harbour Row and the Stanley Racing building in Pearse Square. The Town Engineer and the Town Clerk agreed to examine this matter further.

6.COMMITTEE REPORT

A)                Carrignafoy Leisure Limited

Councillor Crowley presented a report in relation to the directors meeting of Carrignafoy Leisure Limited. He stated that the Directors had met on a number of occasions over the last few months and that they were constantly monitoring the construction and financial progress of the project. He stated that the development was nearly completed ahead of schedule and close to budget. Councillor Crowley stated that the Directors were due to meet the operators of the pool this week.  The Town Clerk stated that he wished to record the thanks of the Directors to the Design team involved. He stated that the Town Architect in association with JODA Consulting Engineers and James  P. McGrath and Associates Quantity Surveyors had insured that the development  was both on target financially   and in terms of construction progress. On proposal of Cllr  Meade seconded by  Cllr Crowley it was agreed that the Town Clerk would arrange for a site visit by the members to the pool site.

7. Supplementary Estimate

On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Keating it was agreed that a supplementary estimate as provided in  section eleven of the  City and County  Management Act 1955 was amended by section eleven of the 1978  financial provisions act  arising from expenditure incurred on the financial year ended on the 31^st December, 2005 in excess on programme one (1)  Housing and Building - €154,145.00. Programme three (3) Water Supply and Sewerage - €104,064.00. Programme five (5)  Environmental  Protection -  €57,896.00 . Programme six (6) Recreation and Amenity - €30,974.00.

8 .Approval for Overdraft facilities for Cobh Town Council

The Town Clerk advised that the sanction had been received from the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government to allow the Council to look for overdraft facilities for the period from January to June, 2006. This had been done to deal with any cash flow problems which may arise during the construction of the pool.  On the proposal of Cllr Crowley seconded by Cllr Doyle it was agreed that the Council would seek overdraft facilities in the sum of €500,000.00 for the period  1^st July ,2006 to the 31^st December, 2006 subject to  sanction being received from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

9. Date for Annual Meeting

On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill seconded by Cllr. Keating , it was agreed to hold the Annual Meeting of the Council on Tuesday, 20^th June,2006 at 6pm.

10. Progress on the Litter Action Plan 2006.

The Town Clerk advised the Members that the Tidy Districts Competition had been launched on the 29^th May,2006, in the Council Chamber, sponsorship had been received from the Port of Cork Company and from Mr Henderick Verwey. He said that applications for the Competitions were  available in the Town Hall and advised the members  that the closing date for receipt of applications was Friday , the30th June, 2006.

In relation to the Proposed  Information Leaflet he advised that the Bank of Ireland, Cobh, had agreed to sponsor the Leaflet, he stated that the leaflet was almost ready and he hoped to have it printed and distributed as soon as possible. The Town Clerk stated that the Council had commenced a Programme of enforcement Litter Laws in front and rear gardens throughout the town. He stated that over two hundred and fifty houses had been inspected by the Litter Wardens in Russell Heights, Pat O’Brien Close, Innishmore Park, Belmont Place and Thomas Kent street over the previous months.    He stated that thirty-two warning letters had been issued  in relation to litter which had been deposited in front and rear gardens , he stated that the warning letters gave fourteen days to remove the litter or face the possibility of receiving a fine.  He stated following issuing of the warning letters , two Council Litter Wardens had carried out further inspections and on foot of these inspections eight Litter fines had been issued.  He stated that any person who had received the warning letter and who had complied fully had received a letter of Thanks  from the litter Wardens for their efforts in keeping the Town clean.

A number of Councillors raised issues in relation to individuals who  had received letters from the Council, it stated that some people who had received letters from the litter wardens felt victimised . The Town Clerk stated that he was satisfied that in every case that a litter fine or a warning letter issued  that it was warranted. 

 Cllr Whitty stated that he wished to record the fact that he agreed with the policy adopted by the Council, he said that he felt that the Council should also include Business premises as well as Residential Estates

11. Disposal of Freehold

The disposal of the Freehold of 18 Belmont Place, 30 Philip O’Neill Place, and 22 Glavin Tce.,Cobh, pursuaint to section ninety of the Housing Act ,1966 and section twenty-six of the Landlord and Tenant Ground Rents  No. 2 Act 1978 was approved on the proposal of Cllr Crowley seconded by Cllr Whitty.

12. Notice of Motion

The following Notices of Motion standing in the name of Cllr John Mulvihill  seconded by Cllr Danny Crowley was adopted that Cobh Town Council take immediate action to repair the facia and soffits , gutters and  drains in  Sarsfield Hogan Place which are in a poor state of repair . It was agreed that the Town Clerk would raise the matter with the Town Foreman.

Cllr Mulvihill asked that the Town Engineer provide a Report to the Members at the next meeting of the Council.

Cllr Crowley asked  that St. Mary’s Close be included  in any inspection.

Cllr McCarthy  asked that all Council houses be included in the report by the Town Engineer.

13. The following Notices of Motion  - standing in the name of Cllr John Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Doyle was adopted  - I request the following details re Cobh Town Council Housing stock :-

(a)    What is the total number of Cobh Town Council Houses as at June 1^st 2006.

(b)   What is the total number of houses currently under construction as at June 1^st 2006.

(c)    What number of houses allocated by the Cobh Town Council in the five years up to the  1^st June, 2006, are new allocations rather than relocation from existing Cobh Town Council stock

(d)   What number of houses allocated in the five years to the 1^st June,2006 are relocations .

(e)    What number of relocations in the five years on the 1^st June,2006 has been made more than once.                                                                     

14. Any other Business

 On the proposal of Cllr Keating  seconded by Cllr McCarthy  it was agreed that Cllr O’Connor would attend the AMAI Conference in September,2006 as an Observer.   Cllr O’Connor stated that he wished to record his delight at the decision of An Bord Pleanala in relation to the proposed changes to St Colemans Cathedral, and stated that he wished to record his thanks to Louise Harrington for her work in relation to this Planning Application.

On the proposal of Cllr O’Connor seconded by Cllr McCarthy it was agreed that the Town Clerk would write to Cork County Council requesting that kerb site recycling for glass would be introduced as soon as possible.

On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Crowley a vote of congratulations was passed to Cllr Doyle on the birth of her fifth grandchild.

Traffic calming measures at Benmore Cross – the Town Engineer to examine.

This concluded the business of the meeting.  

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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