Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE OF COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 12th MARCH, 2007.

Presiding - Cllr. N. Doyle

Present - Councillors S. Meade, P. Whitty, J. Mulvihill, and 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

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

1. REPORT OF THE HOUSING SUB-COMMITTEE

Cllr McCarthy stated that he wished to propose acceptance of the Point System drawn up by the housing sub-committee.  He stated that not with standing the managers pervious comments in relations to proposals for a new national system for assessing housing applications the Council should make a decision now rather then wait for the Department of Environment he stated that no information had been provided as to how long it would take the department to prepare national guidelines and that it was not acceptable to wait.

Cllr Mulvihill stated that he wished to have the council to consider a number of amendments to the point system following a discussion involving the members. It was agreed that the amendments would be considered over a period of 6 months following the approval of the scheme by the Minister. 

The Manager stated that her views on the proposal were well known, she stated that the information that she had received was that a national system could be in place by the end of 2007.  She stated that Cork County Council had previously advised that they would not be in a position to provide resources to consider a point system while all other housing authorities in County Cork operated a separate system.  She stated that members were aware that Cobh Town Council did not have the resources to carry out an assessment at housing needs and that if a new scheme was adopted a new additional resources would have to be sought from the department.  Cllr Whitty stated that he wished to second Cllr McCarthy’s proposal he stated that his view was that a national system was a further removal of powers from local authorities.  He stated that the proposed system would be a guidance tool for the manager of considerable applications and he asked that when the proposal was being forwarded to the minister that it would be accompanied by a request for additional resources to carry out this assessment properly.  Cllr Mulvihill asked that his reservations towards the system would be minuted he stated that he had commented originally when the draft had been submitted to the members at a pervious meeting, he stated that those comments referred to the fact that the original draft had not provided for priorities status rather then an objection to the over all scheme, he stated that he was now happy that his objections had been noted and that the scheme had been amended.  On proposal of Cllr McCarthy seconded by Cllr Whitty the draft point system was adopted.

2. TOURISM FUNDING

Manager stated that she had spoken to Ryan Howard in relation to the request form East Cork Tourism for an allocation for €7000 for 2007.  She stated that Mr Howard had confirmed that East Cork Tourism were seeking €7000 from each town in East Cork to be met with matching funds from ECAD.  This money would then be used to finance the cost of administration.  She stated that Mr Howard had confirmed that the proposal was that East Cork Tourism would employ an individual to source granted by forwarding proposal for EU funding for projects in the three towns.  She stated on the basis of this conversation she could not recommend increase the allocation for 2007 to €7000.

Cllr Whitty stated a total of €24000 was available in the Tourism budget he stated that Ryan Howard has previously looked for a plan from Cobh Town Council but that no work had taken place in this regard.  East Cork Tourism was trying to organise the marketing of East Cork on renewed basis his understanding that new funding was to be used to source additional funding for projects in East Cork.

On proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Mulvihill it was agreed that the tourism reps in Town Councils in Cobh Youghal and Middleton would meet as soon as possible to discuss this matter.  Cllr Meade stated that she would ask the local Fota Ireland representive to meet the members to discuss funding.  Town Clerk stated that he was due to meet with Town Clerks of Youghal and Middleton later this week and that he would ask whether or not the €7000 had been paid by each of the Town Councils to East Cork Tourism.  He stated that he would also ask the Town Clerks to give him the details of the Tourism representive in Youghal and Middleton Town Councils.  In relation to the letter, which had been issued to Cobh and Harbour Chamber Commerce, he stated he was still awaiting a reply in this regard.

3.  ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Whitty stated that Cobh Tourism was organising a Titanic weekend for the 14th of April he stated that in addition to Cobh Tourism Commemoration Cobh Heritage Centre inviting a Belgium Band who played the music that was played on the Titanic to Cobh to play in the Heritage on Sat 14th of April.  He stated that the cost of the band was €3000 and that the Heritage Trust were asking that Cobh Town Council would pay 50% of the cost on the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Doyle it was agreed that Cobh Town Council would pay €1500 towards the cost of the band.  Cllr Whitty stated that an addition to the band Heritage Centre would be open free of charge on the 14th of April and that other activities were proposed in relation to the commemoration.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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