Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 10^th DECEMBER 2007

Presiding -Cllr. P. Whitty, Mayor.

Present -Cllrs. N. Doyle, S. Meade, S. O'Connor, K. McCarthy, P. Histon, J. Mulvihill and D. Crowley

Officials Present

Ms. M. Ryan, Town Manager

Mr. P.Lynch, Town Clerk

Mr G. O'Hora, Town Engineer

Ms. R. Mullarkey, Staff Officer

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

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

Cllr.Whitty proposed sending well wishes to Cork County Councillor, John Mulvihill Senior, on his recent illness.

1.CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

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

Monthly Meeting12^th November 2007

Proposed – Cllr Meade - seconded – Cllr Crowley

Matters arising from Minutes

Cobh Landslide Programme

Cllr. O'Connor asked that the Council write to the Department again requesting an update on the funding submission. The Town Clerk stated that he had received a response from the Department of the Environment but there had been no reply from the Department of Finance.

Children at Play Signs in Council Housing Estates

The Town Engineer stated that the signs had been erected in Springfield Park and Russell Heights. Works were ongoing in Hartlands Point.

Local Bus Service

After queries from the Members in relation to areas without service and whether the service would operate during the upcoming holidays, the Town Clerk agreed to write to Barrys Coaches regarding their future plans for this service. Cllr. O'Connor spoke of the disappointment expressed by some members of the public in relation to this service and he also asked whether the other bus company who had expressed an interest initially in running the service, would still be interested in the route. Cllr. Whitty spoke of the fact that funding for a local bus service would be looked at in the context of the ECAD submission.

Old Church Cemetery Lodge

The Town Engineer stated that he was compiling a report in relation to the above. He stated that all prices had been received and that the report would be available for the January meeting.

Parking at Assumption Place

The Members were informed that this issue was referred to Cork County Council. Cllr. McCarthy informed the Members that the residents have since replied to Derry O'Sullivan, Cork County Council.

Sewer Blockage in Elton Estate

The Members were informed that this issue was referred to the Sanitary Engineer of Cork County Council and was still ongoing.

Entrance to the Rock

The Town Clerk stated that a land registry search is to take place on this area and its surroundings.

Miscellaneous

Members previously expressed concern over the condition of the Camber with sewerage and litter. Cllr. Histon stated that the Port of Cork had commenced a clean up of the area. Cllr. Whitty stated that when the clean up of the Camber is complete, an agreement should be reached between the Port of Cork and the Council in relation to its regular maintenance.

Cllr. O'Connor asked if there was any update on the entrance to the Cathedral. The Town Clerk stated that this issue was still outstanding with no update. He stated that there was no planning application lodged for any works to the Cathedral after Cllr.O'Connor stated that these works had been advertised for tender. The Town Clerk agreed to write to the Trustees again advising them of their obligations under planning legislation and their proposals in relation to these works.

Cllr. O'Connor stated that the proposal he had made at the November meeting of €2,000 to be given to the Russell Heights Residents Association, but not seconded, had been omitted from the minutes of that meeting. Cllr. Whitty informed the Members that he had met with John O'Brien of the Russell Heights Residents Association to discuss all outstanding issues in relation to this estate. On the proposal of Cllr. O'Connor and seconded by Cllr. McCarthy, it was agreed to give this association additional funding of €1000.

A proposal of the 9^th January 2008 at 3pm for the meeting between the Mayor, the Town Clerk, the Town Engineer and Derry O'Sullivan, Cork County Council was suggested to discuss the previous notice of motion in relation to the traffic management problems in Harbour Row.

The Town Clerk informed the Members that an acknowledgement had been received from the Department of Transport in relation to the previous notice of motion regarding the proposed appointment of a representative of Cobh to the Board of Directors of the Port of Cork. The acknowledgement also stated that a second reply would follow in relation to same.

The Town Clerk informed the Members that the Finance Department of Cork County Council had been written to again in relation to waivering of water charges for non-commercial ventures. He also stated that Cork Dockyard had been written out to again in relation to their future proposals for the units.

The proposal to return land to the trustees of Rushbrooke Tennis Club will be dealt with in the January meeting as a disposal notice needs to be issued prior to this meeting.

The Town Clerk informed the Members that an Employee had been placed on full time litter duty for one month on a pilot basis as proposed in a previous notice of motion.

The Town Clerk then gave an update on the vacant houses in the housing stock. One house had been served an abandonment notice and this notice will lapse on the 11^th January 2008, after which, the house can be taken over by the Council. Cllr. McCarthy queried what turnaround time would be involved in allocating this house. The Town Clerk stated that the Council will determine this when the house is seen internally on the 11^th January 2008 as it would be considered trespass if the Council entered before this time.

Cllr. Crowley raised the issue of previous meeting arrangements being changed without prior consultation with all Members. It was agreed that appropriate notice will be given and a general consensus formed before any changes to decisions made at Council meetings.

Other matters arising at the minutes were dealt with as appropriate.

2.VOTES OF CONDOLENCE

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

Councillors noted Manager's orders, copies of which had been circulated.

4.CORRESPONDENCE

1.Correspondence from the Robert Forde Memorial Committee thanking Council for previous decision of future maintenance and also regarding fundraising – Town Clerk spoke of possibility of local groups funding. Cllr Whitty stated that they should be requested to submit more detailed costings.

2.Notice of Motion – Ballyshannon Town Council.

3.Notice of Motion – Trim Town Council.

4.Notice of Motion – Monaghan Town Council.

5.Mid-West Regional Authority – notification of 14^th Annual Conference, Adare, Co. Limerick.

All correspondence acknowledged and marked as read.

5.OFFICER'SREPORTS

a.)Draft Joint Housing Strategy.

The Town Clerk spoke of the significant change in this Housing Strategy – the amendment of the allocation percentages of Social and Affordable Housing from 25/75 to 50/50.It was a joint strategy between all the local authorities in Cork city and County including Cobh Town Council. A copy of this strategy will be on display from the 14^th December onwards and all Councillors will receive a copy. Cllr. Crowley also queried if Cork County Council was to take over the housing function of Cobh Town Council in the future. The Town Clerk replied that this was not to his knowledge and Cllr. Whitty stated that the Cobh Town Council's affordable housing scheme will run separately to Cork County Councils. The Town Clerk also clarified that Cobh Town Council's housing objectives will be included in this joint housing strategy.

The Town Clerk informed the Members that the Marinegate development, of which the Council were buying 8 units under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, were close to completion and that the Council were now entering into the process of signing legal agreements with the lending institutions who would be offering mortgages to the eligible applicants of the Affordable Housing Element.

b.)Irish Public Bodies

The Town Clerk informed the Members that IPB had submitted their standard scheme details but that the Members could enter into other schemes if they so wished.

c.)Derelict Sites Report

The Town Clerk circulated a report on the current status of the Derelict Sites Register. It stated that a consultation had taken place between the Town Engineer and a Consultant acting for the owner of 1&2 Casement Square. A submission had been received which outlined remedial works and a possible planning application in early 2008. Cllr. Meade queried the nature of the both the remedial works and the planning application. She stated that the planning application could possibly delay the development of this site yet again. The Town Clerk clarified that the planning and dereliction process were controlled by separate legislation and that should a planning application be submitted, the site would still have to undergo the dereliction process until it was rendered non-derelict. Councillors Histon and Mulvihill also queried the nature of the remedial works and the Town Engineer clarified that these works were only a temporary solution until the sites were developed in a suitable manner.

Cllr. McCarthy queried whether the derelict sites levy was chargeable annually. The Town Clerk stated that it was chargeable until the site was no longer considered derelict. The Town Clerk also clarified that the 2006 levy was still outstanding and that a valuation search was also necessary in order to obtain a valuation certificate as these properties were unregistered after a query from Councillor Mulvihill.

Solicitors have also been requested to perform a valuation search on any additional names on the properties before the next stage of the dereliction process. 5 Pearse Square had completed all works requested of them and a Managers Order has been drafted for signature in order to remove this property from the Register in accordance with Section 8(4) of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Valuations were also sought on 14 and 30 Harbour Row for levy purposes and the owners written out to informing them of same. 1 Church St. has completed some of the works and has been written out to informing them that they have 2 more weeks in which to complete the works.

Cllr. Crowley spoke of the improvements to the face of the town since the dereliction process started. The Town Manager also spoke of the importance of encouraging the owners of these derelict sites to develop through planning applications and consultation as the means of funding dereliction enforcement was limited and lengthy.

d.)Master Plan

The Town Clerk spoke briefly of the proposed Master Plan along the foreshore of Cobh. The Members needed to approve the start of this process.

Cllrs. Mulvihill, Crowley, McCarthy and Doyle expressed concerns that the proposal might impact on the location of the Marina. The Town Manager clarified her position following a query from Cllr. McCarthy, that Cobh needed a Master Plan to guide future planning development. It would augment the development plan and would be, in effect, a more detailed scoping study. It will encompass the foreshore and the town centre as well as the Marina.

All stakeholders would be involved and a public consultation would be undertaken, with the plan eventually coming back to Council to adopt. A PPP process through expressions of interest, could also be looked at.

Cllr. Doyle stated that she would support the Master Plan in Cobh to support its future development after she made the comparison of Schull, currently heavily advertised as a possible tourist destination. She also stated that June 2008 should be the deadline by which the report would be completed. The Town Manager confirmed that June 2008 should see the report complete. She also clarified that the original stakeholders in the Marina were consulted. Cllr. Meade spoke of her support for the Master Plan but would only support the old location for a Marina. The Town Manager stated that the future development of a Marina in Cobh will also be based on developing a mix of both commercial and residential use as a Marina would not be viable otherwise.

Cllrs. Crowley and Mulvihill both spoke of their support for the Master Plan. Both the Town Clerk and the Mayor clarified that an independent consultant will be advertised for and that the brief for this consultant could be circulated to all Members.

Cllrs. Doyle and Histon proposed and seconded the start of the Master Plan process.

e.)Budget 2008.

The Town Clerk circulated a report on budget 2008. Cllr. Mulvihill queried the amount of rent arrears. The Town Clerk replied by saying that regular correspondence was sent out on the creation of rent arrears spanning more than six weeks and that this had reduced the amount of rent arrears that would normally be outstanding. Some tenants had notices to quit served on them in the previous week. The Town Clerk also spoke of the capital balances and particularly mentioned balances where recoupment was possible such as the balance on the landslide programme, the swimming pool and the Ballynoe development.

6.COMMITTEE REPORTS

ECAD Meeting.

Cllr Whitty advised the members that a decision had been taken at the above meeting to appoint each of the four mayors in East Cork in rotation to the new board of ECAD.

7.PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF OYSTER BANK BY PORT OFCORK COMPANY LTD.

The Town Clerk advised that this proposal was currently being considered by An Bórd Pleanála. Members referred to spoke of the submission by the Council to the E.I.S. which had been prepared by RPS. It was agreed on the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr. Doyle that a formal objection to the application would be prepared by the town Clerk and submitted to An Bórd Pleanála before the deadline for receipt of submissions on 28^th January 2008. It was agreed to discuss the matter further at the January monthly meeting.

8.SUBMISSION BY AMAI RE: GREEN PAPER ON LOCAL

GOVERNMENT REFORM.

Cllr. Crowley referred to the submission by AMAI and advised that the green paper was nearly completed and was due in the New Year. Cllr. Doyle spoke of her support for the paper and agreed with its findings of the narrow range of functions of Town Councils in comparison with the County Councils and that boundary proposals were very relevant in this regard. Cllr.Whitty agreed with all the recommendations of the paper and requested that the Minister should be written to in relation to same. Cllrs Meade and Crowley proposed and seconded the Councils association with this paper.

9.ANY OTHER BUSINESS

1. Cllr. Crowley mentioned the Carrignafoy Directors meeting and AGM. All accounts were now signed off. He also mentioned that the accounts of the swimming pool should be looked at in the New Year along with the overall running of the centre. He also queried the update on the purchase of the Town Hall. Cllr. Whitty clarified that both the Town Clerk and Town Manager were to meet with the owner and this issue would be placed on the January Agenda.
2. Cllr. Meade spoke of the sewerage in Kidney Strand. The Town Engineer stated that this would be referred to David O'Keeffe, Cork County Council.
3. Cllr. O'Connor asked for an update on the Council sites around the town. The Town Clerk stated that he would update at the next meeting.
4. Cllr.McCarthy asked that the Town Engineer examine problems in O'Donovans Place after works were carried out in the adjacent Russell Heights a short time ago. The Town Engineer stated he would refer this issue to David O'Keeffe. He also stated that the gates for Russell Heights were currently being fabricated.
5. The Town Manager spoke briefly of the sites at Ballynoe after some queries from the Members. The sewerage issues had to be resolved in this area and legislation has also changed in relation to Public Procurement thereby voiding all works done to date on this scheme. She stated that the Architect's Department were currently working on this issue.
6. Cllr. Histon spoke of the footpaths in Rushbrooke and thanked the Officials for the progress made on the Preacher House Steps near the Archway.
7. The Manager stated that Cork County Council Rental Accommodation Scheme Officer, Anne O'Donnell, would be present at January's monthly meeting.
8. Invitations would be sent out for dinner on the 14^th December for all the Members.
9. Invitations would also be sent out for all ex-Councillors and Councillors for a function after the budget meeting at 7.15pm on the 17^th December. Venue to be decided.
10. Cllr. Whitty thanked his colleagues and officials for their support and assistance during his first six months in office.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

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CATHAOIRLEACH

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TOWN CLERK

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