Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 12th MARCH, 2007

Presiding -   Cllr. N. Doyle, Mayor.

Present - Cllr’s. P. Whitty, S. Meade, J. Mulvihill, D. Crowley, S. O’Connor, M. Keating, K. McCarthy 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. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

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

Committee Meeting        15th January, 2007  Proposed – Cllr Crowley
       Seconded – Cllr McCarthy

Monthly Meeting        12th February, 2007  Proposed – Cllr Crowley
       Seconded – Cllr McCarthy

Committee Meeting        19th February, 2007  Proposed – Cllr Crowley
       Seconded – Cllr McCarthy

On the proposal of Cllr Whitty Seconded by Cllr Doyle was agreed to amend the minutes of the monthly meeting of the 12th February 2007 in relation to two issues.

A) Cllr Whitty had asked that a delegation of the council meet with the new county manager.

B) Had asked Cllr. O Connor during the discussion Cllr Whitty concerning the involvement of the mayor in meetings in relation to the reordering of St. Colman’s Cathedral whether Cllr. O Connor was asking the mayor the question in her role as mayor or as a private citizen.   

Matters arising from Minutes

Attendance by Mr David O’Keeffe
Town Clerk stated that he had received responses from Mr O’Keeffe in relation to a number of the questions, which had been raised by the members at the last meeting. He stated that in relation to Westbourne Place Mr O’Keeffe had written to Mr Robert O Farrell & Mr Noel O’Keeffe, of Cork County Council, asking that the investigation and remedial works involved in this area being incorporated with the new sewerage scheme for Cobh.  On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Meade it was agreed Mr Town Clerk would write to Mr O’Keeffe highlighting the urgent need to have this work done as quickly as possible.  In relation to the road closure at Ballywilliam Town Clerk stated that a report had been issued by Mr Michael Heffernan Senior Engineer of Cork County Council, in relation to the road closure.  The report stated that the developers in this area had received permission from Cork County Council as the road authority to close the road. 

Cllr Crowley said that he was not happy that the developer had not been required to ensure that all vehicles were cleaned on site rather than dragging mud onto the public road.  Cllr O’Connor stated that he had received constant complaints about the condition of the road at Ballywilliam and also at East Hill as a result of the Belmont House development.  He stated that despite insurances from the developers that the drains from Eaton heights would be kept cleared, they were constantly blocked.   Cllr Mulvihill stated that if planning permission was granted for housing developments it should be a condition of the permission that the developer would require that vehicles were cleaned on site. 

In relation to the Lower Harbour Scheme the Town Clerk stated he received a report from Mr Robert O’Farrell, senior engineer, stated that subject to the approval of An Bórd Pleanála initially, and subsequently the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, it was hoped that construction work would start in 2009 to be completed in 2011.  A number of members expressed their disappointment that despite previous assurances that work on this project would start earlier that they were now being advised that work was 5 years away from completion.  Cllr Mulvihill asked for the update in relation to the Council Land at Ballynoe. The Town Clerk stated that permission had been received by Cork County Council from the Department of the Environment to construct a temporary waste water treatment plant to facilitate not only Cobh Town Council but also private developers who are constructing houses in the area.  He stated that the Architects Department of Cork County Council are currently preparing a brief to employ architectural consultants to draw out plans for the council lands.  In response to questions from the members he stated that he had received no further information from Mr O’Keeffe in relation to the condition of the sewer in Lynch’s Quay or the issue of a problem with the water supply in Plunkett Terrace it was agreed that Town Clerk would look for an update in this regard. 

Cobh Landslide Program
The manager stated that Cork County Council had now submitted a draft brief to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to the proposed review of the landslide program.  Cllr O’Connor stated that he had contacted the office of the Minister of the Environment directly in relation to this matter but had not yet received any response.  The number of Cllr’s expressed their frustration that despite a number of requests from officials and Cllr’s that there appeared to be no further progress in this regard.

Derelict sites
The Town Clerk advised that the manager had signed orders in relation to the placing of derelict sites levy on 1 and 2 Casement Square.  He stated that the cost of the levy 2007 of €7,500 in relation to no.1 and €10,500 in relation to no.2 Casement Square.  In response to query from members he stated that any planning application, which would be submitted on behalf of the owner of the two building, would not interfere with the enforcements of the derelict sites act.  Cllr Crowley stated that in addition to a derelict site there appear to be a problem in relation to skips being stored on the public road outside commercial premise, which were being developed.  He asked for an update in relation to the draft by laws on the control of skips.  Cllr Meade stated that some members had received advice that in certain circumstances the Council could restrict the life time of planning permission. She asked the town clerk to advise the members in which circumstances this could be done. It was agreed that the town clerk would report in this regard to the members in the next meeting.  Cllr Whitty asked for an update in relation to derelict sites at Albert Terrace and Wolfe Tone Street, Town Clerk stated that a derelict sites notice had been served on the property in Albert Terrace and that the property had been entered onto the register.  In relation to Wolfe Tone Street the Town Engineer had submitted a report and a preliminary notice had issued in this regard.  Cllr Whitty asked for an update in relation to a derelict sites register for the next meeting of the Council.  Cllr O Connor asked that Harbour Row be included in this update.

Pedestrian Crossing at Midleton Street
The Town Engineer stated that the ESB were due to switch on the power in the next week.

Local Bus Service
The manager stated that she had examined the situation in relation to the Rural Transport Initiative. She stated that she had been advised that the initiative only dealt with the Transport of people in rural areas into a town.  In response to queries in memos she stated that she had been advised that a town service was operating in Mallow but that this has not been funded through the Rural Transport Initiative.  It was agreed that the matter would be raised with ECAD to see if it was possible that they could be involved in this regard. 

Road Markings at exit from St Colman’s Square
The Town Engineer stated that work had been completed.  

Loading Bay at Poc Fada
The Town Engineer stated that this work had been completed.

Exit from the Cathedral
The Town Engineer stated that the sign to be erected was listed for work and was due to be done in the next two weeks.

On the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Meade it was agreed that the Town Clerk would write to the County Manager to ask for a meeting with members of the Town Council. It was agreed that members who wished to have issues raised at any such meeting would notify the Town Clerk.

Collection of Refuse Bins from Sarsfield Hogan Place
Manager stated that it had been agreed that Cork County Council would collect the bins from the doors of the houses in this estate. In relation to the Fascias and Soffits at Sarsfield Hogan Place, Town Engineer stated that prices had been received and were currently being examined. 

Anti-social Behaviour at a Council Estate
Town Clerk stated that the litter had been removed from the first house raised by Cllr O Connor at the last meeting and that he had asked the town foreman to prepare a report in relation to the works necessary to repair the second house.  

Parking at the junction of Thomas Kent Street and Bishops Street
The Town Engineer stated that he was currently examining the possibility that he would extend the double yellow lines.  Town Clerk stated that following discussion with the Town Engineer it was his intention to speck to the principals of the schools on Bishops Street to see if an agreement could be reached in relation to the location of a pedestrian crossing to facilitate children entering and exciting the school.  Cllr O Connor asked that in relation to this matter that the Town Engineer would look at the possibility of placing the pedestrian crossing close to the junction.

Road gully at Thomas Street
Town Engineer stated that this was listed for work.

Issue of privacy in the office of the Rent Collector
Town Clerk stated that work had been listed in this regard and it would be carried out as soon as possible. 

Cllr Mulvihill raised the issue of the use of the offices in Carrig House. He stated that Cork County Council had agreed to lease an office from the Town Council when the Council moved to Carrig House and that this office was consistently unused.  He stated that Cork County Council should transfer the Glanmire office to Cobh, as Cobh was the largest town in the area.  The Town Clerk stated that the office was used on an occasional basis by officers from Cork County Council visiting Cobh on County Council Business.

Other matters arising from Meeting were dealt with as appropriate.

2. VOTES OF CONDOLENCE & CONGRATULATIONS

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the relatives of all of those who had died since the previous meeting of the Council. The votes were passed in silence all standing.

3 MANAGERS ORDERS

Cllr noted Manager’s orders copies of which had been circulated.

Cllr Crowley stated that he wished to record that he had raised an issue in relation to a Notice to Quit served on a tenant with staff of the Town Council.  He stated that he found that the staff that he dealt with were very helpful when dealing with the query and he thanked the staff for their courtesy.

4 CORRESPONDENCE

A) St Patrick’s Day Mass
Letter received from Fr Michael Leamy inviting members of the Town Council to 10 O’Clock Mass in St Colman’s Cathedral on St Patrick’s Day. 
 
B) St Patrick’s Day Parade
Letter from Junior Chamber Ireland in relation to the St Patrick’s Day Parade on proposal by Cllr Crowley, seconded by Cllr Mulvihill it was agreed that the Town Council would contribute €700 towards the cost of the Parade.

C) Cobh Pirates
Letter from secretary of Cobh Pirates in relation to a proposed trip by the club to Pontarddulais at the end of March on the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill seconded by Cllr Whitty it was agreed that the Council would pay €500 towards the cost of the trip. 

D) Notice of Dail Question in relation to Cobh Bus Service
The issue of the bus service had been raised by Deputy David Stanton in Dail and Minister Martin Cullen had responded that funding for loss making economically and socially necessary public transport services was currently provided to CIE only and that no funding was available for other bodies.

E) Cobh Landslide Program
Letter from Minister Michael Ahern enclosing an acknowledgement for Minister Dick Roche in relation to the Cobh Landslide Program.

F) Sirius Art Centre
Letter from Peggy Sue Amison Director of the Sirius Art Centre seeking funding for 2007. On the proposal of Cllr Crowley seconded by Cllr Meade it was agreed that the sum of €5000 provided in the budget would be paid to the Art Centre.

G) Sea Angling Club
Letter from Mary Geary on Re Secretary of the Sea Angling Club in relation to the 41st Cobh International Sea Angling Festival.  On the proposal of Cllr Keating, seconded by Cllr Connor it was agreed that a sum of  €2000 would be provided to the club.

H) Cobh Carillon Committee
Invitation from Mr Adrian Gebrueurs of the Cobh Carillon Committee, to the members of the town Council to tour the Carillon at a convenient time.  It was agreed that the Mayor would speck to Mr Gebrueurs with a view to arranging a suitable time for a visit.

I) Letter from Mrs Therese Wilson in relation to Pay Parking in Cobh.
On the proposal Cllr Meade seconded by Cllr Whitty it was agreed that a special meeting would be held in committee to discussed retail problem including parking in the town.
On the proposal of Cllr Keating seconded by Cllr McCarthy it was agreed that the Town Clerk would seek to get a copy of the Cobh and Lower Harbour task force report prior to this meeting

J) Crash of Aer Lingus flight 712
Letter from Mr Patrick A Kavanagh in relation to a discussion to be held in the Commodore Hotel on Sat 24th March in relation to the anniversary of the crash of Aer Lingus Flight 712 off Tuskers Rock.  On the proposal of Cllr. Whitty seconded by Cllr. Meade it was agreed that the Council would give a donation of €300 toward the cost of organising this conference and that a town plaque would also be presented to each of the two participants at this conference.

5. OFFICER’S  REPORTS

A)     Non-National Road Fund Grant Allocation

Town Engineer circulated a report in relation to proposals for spending the Non National Road Fund Grant for 2007.  He stated that the total of €287,000 was being made available by the department and that it was proposed to carry out a total of 25 projects under this scheme.  On the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Meade, the Town Engineers proposals were adopted by the members.  

B) Parking at the Heritage Centre
 
Town Clerk stated that he had been contacted by the manager of Cobh Heritage Centre in relation to difficulties concerning the parking of busses close to the Heritage Centre.  He stated that on days when liners were visiting Cobh the Deep Water Key was closed to vehicles or traffic and Busses visiting the Heritage Centre weren’t able to park there.  He stated that having discussed the matter with the Town Engineer and the Town Foreman he was proposing that the exciting Coach Parking spaces adjacent to the Grotto, Westbourne Place would be used for normal parking and 3 Coach spaces would be provided on Lower Road close to the entrance of the railway station.  On the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr O Connor this proposal was adopted.

C) Development potential of Town Council own land

It was agreed that the Town Clerk would circulated a copy of the Town Architect report in this regard for consideration at the next meeting of the Council.

D) Aura Cobh Leisure Centre

It was agreed that the Town Clerk would circulate a copy of the report in this regard to the members for their consideration.

6. COMMITTEE REPORTS

No issues were raised under this item

7 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Keating stated that he had been approached by a tenant of a Council House in Fosters Haven in relation to cracks in the floor of the house. The Town Clerk stated that the Town Foreman would examine the matter. 

Cllr Whitty stated that the County Council leak detection unit had recently caused damage to a private wall and asked that the Town Engineer would raise the matter with the Cork Council with review to having the damage repaired.

Cllr Whitty stated that he had raised the fact that Cobh was not represented on the Port of Cork Company with Minister Michael Ahern at a recent meeting.  Members agreed that it was important that the town be represented on the Port of Cork Company. 

Cllr’s stated that he had been contacted by Mr Michael O Sullivan West end Terrace in relation to rubbish, which had been dumped, on his property before Christmas.  He asked the Town Clerk for a report in this regard. The Town Clerk stated that Mr O Sullivan had contacted the Town Hall in December in relation to rubbish, which had been dumped, on his property from the Burma Steps, which pass adjacent to his rear garden.  He stated that the Town Foreman had visited the site and had taken away a number of items with a view to issuing a litter fine.  He stated that when the Foreman had returned to the office he had been advised that it was not possible for the Council to issue a fine in relation to the material which was dumped on private property and that the Litter Pollution Act only aloud prosecution of the owner or the occupier of the land.  He stated that the material was then disposed of properly. The Town Clerk stated that both he and the Town Foreman had advised Mr O Sullivan of this fact.  It was agreed that a no Litter Sign would be placed on Burma Steps.  Cllr Crowley stated that at pervious meetings the issue of issuing Litter Fines in relation to dog fouling had been raised, he stated he now wished to have it recorded that the Litter Warden had issued a number of Fines in relation to dog fouling, members expressed there satisfaction at the action of the Litter Warden in this regard. 

In response to a query from Cllr Meade the Town Clerk stated that he would ask the Town Foreman to arrange for notice at either end of the Five Foot Way stating that dogs were to be kept on leash.

In response to a query from Cllr Whitty, Town Clerk stated that he would arrange for the erection of a sign adjacent to the Sea Scouts Shed advising that no dumping was aloud.
 

This concluded the business of the meeting.  

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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