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Minutes of Council meetings- list.:Monthly Meeting 8th September, 2008MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER, 2008 Presiding - Cllr. J. Mulvihill, Mayor. Present - Cllrs. N. Doyle, K. McCarthy, M. Keating, P. Histon, D. Crowley, S. O’Connor and P. Whitty. Officials Present Ms. M. Ryan, Town Manager Ms. P. Lynch, Town Clerk Mr Robert O’Sullivan, Town Engineer An apology for her inability to attend was received from Cllr. Stella Meade. The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. 1. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES On the proposal of Cllr Whitty seconded by Cllr Doyle the minutes of the following meetings were adopted. Monthly Council meeting – 21st July 2008 MATTERS ARISING DERELICT SITES -1, 2 CASEMENT SQUARE – Cllrs. Whitty and Crowley asked for an update in relation to Nos. 1 & 2 Casement Square. The Town Clerk stated that a planning application had been submitted in relation to the site and that it was currently being processed. Cllr. Crowley asked if any commitments had been given by the developer to carry out work quickly in the event of planning permission being granted. The Town Manager stated that the developer had indicated that he was anxious to start work quickly. ST COLMAN’S CATHEDRAL – Cllr. O’Connor asked if planning permission had been granted for the recent works in the Cathedral. The Town Clerk stated that he hadn’t been contacted by anyone connected with the Cathedral in connection with the works but that he would ask the Town Architect to investigate. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MARINEGATE – In reply to a query from Cllr. Crowley, the Town Clerk stated that the construction of the houses appeared to be completed and that he had asked the Council’s solicitors to finalise the purchase of the houses. In the event that the Council acquired the houses in sufficient time, he hoped to place the disposal of the affordable houses on the agenda for the October meeting. Cllr. Doyle stated that she had been approached by people who were concerned that people who had been on the Town Council’s housing list for 6 or 7 years had not been housed while people moving into the town in the past 18 months had recently been housed in Cluain Ard. The Town Clerk stated that these houses had been allocated by Cork County Council and that some people on the Town Council’s list had been offered houses. Cllr. Doyle also stated that people on rent allowance for more than 18 months had not been contacted by the County Council’s RAS unit. Both the Town Manager and the Town Clerk stated that if they were given details of people in these circumstances, they would bring the attention of the RAS unit. MASTER PLAN – The Town Manager stated that the preliminary meeting with the consultants would take place at the start of October and that the Plan would be be completed within 9 weeks of that meeting. TITANIC COMMITTEE – The Town Clerk stated that some submissions had been received from interested parties. It was agreed to place the matter on the agenda for the October meeting. CONDITION OF TOILET BLOCK – In reply to a query from Cllr. Histon, the Town Engineer stated that he was currently examining the matter and that he intended carrying out works as soon as possible. FUTURE OF COBH POST OFFICE – The Town Clerk stated that he had written to An Post requesting a meeting but that no date had been received to date. Other matters raised were dealt with as appropriate 2. VOTES OF CONDOLENCE The Sympathy of the Council was extended to all those who had died since the previous meeting of the Council. The votes were passed in silence all standing. 3. MANAGERS ORDERS Cllrs noted Managers Orders copies of which had been circulated. Cllr. Crowley referred to the decision to grant permission for the provision of a river taxi terminal at Lynch’s Quay and stated that he was very disappointed that the decision had been appealed to An Bórd Pleanála by the Chairman of Cobh Tourism. He stated that the proposed development would hugely add to the tourism potential of the town and stated that the appeal would result in a significant delay for the project. Cllr. Whitty stated that the appeal had been made by that person in a personal capacity and not a Chairman of Cobh Tourism. Cllr. Histon stated that he was a member of Cobh Tourism and that the issue of the application, or objecting to it, had not bee discussed at any meetings of that organisation. Cllr. Doyle stated that she agreed with Cllr. Crowley and that she felt that there was a conflict of interest in this case as the appeal was associated with the Chairman of Cobh Tourism. She stated that the public perception would be that Cobh Tourism as an organisation was objecting to the proposal. Cllr. Whitty stated that as Cllr. Histon had stated earlier, the issue had not been discussed at a Cobh tourism meeting. He stated that he fully supported the proposed river ferry service and that he had made this support known to Cobh Town Council, Cork County Council and Cork City Council. Cllr. Crowley stated that he fully supported the work carried out by Cobh Tourism and that he recognised the efforts put into tourism promotion by all members of the group, including the Chairman but that he could not agree with the decision of the Chairman to object to a proposal that would hugely add to the tourist potential of the town while remaining on as Chairman of Cobh Tourism. Cllr. Mulvihill asked if the members of the Council who were involved with Cobh Tourism would convey the feelings of the Council to the Chairman. Cllrs. Doyle and Crowley asked if the Town Clerk could write to the Chairman asking him to consider his position given the conflict of interest involved. A number of Councillors objected to this suggestion and stated that they felt that any individual had the right to object to a planning application. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would seek the advice of the Council’s Solicitors in this regard and that the matter would be discussed further at the October meeting of the Council. 4. CORRESPONDENCE – a. Greystones Town Council – notification of Conference – marked as read. b. Douglas Hyde Conference – marked as read. c. Request for Funding from Mr. Frank O’Brien in relation to Special Olympics – members agreed to consider at Budget time d. Request from Hendrick Verwey in relation to the St. Patrick’s Festival. On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, it was agreed that the Town Clerk would issue a letter as requested. e. Notice of Motion from Kerry County Council - marked as read f. Notice of Motion from Donegal County Council - marked as read g. Notice of Motion from Mullingar Town Council - marked as read h. Notice of Motion from Skibbereen Town Council - marked as read i. Notice of Motion from Mullingar Town Council - marked as read j. Letter of thanks from Irish Water Safety for recent funding k. Cobh Lions Club praising recent work by Council in providing plants in the town l. Request for funding from Rushbrooke Rowing Club – on the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr. Doyle, it was agreed to make a contribution of €500. 5. OFFICERS REPORTS 1. Cobh Landslide Programme – The Town Clerk advised the members that the consultants appointed to carry out the study of the landslide programme had commenced work and had carried out an initial inspection of most of the rock slopes and retaining walls in the town. They hoped to visit any remaining properties as quickly as possible. The Town Clerk stated that the consultants intended providing regular updates which he would forward to the members and to the local press to keep people in Cobh informed of their progress. He stated that the consultants may need to engage specialist advice for specific parts of the project and that this may involve a tender process. As the current Town Council policy in relation to tenders was to open all tenders at a monthly meeting, the consultants had some concerns that this may give rise to delays in carrying out work. On the proposal of Cllr. O’Connor, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, it was agreed to amend the tendering policy in respect of the Landslide Project only. In the event of the final date for the receipt of tenders being more than 7 days before the date of a scheduled Council meeting, the tenders can be opened by the Mayor with either the Town Clerk or Town Manager in attendance. 2. Íarnród Éireann – The Town Clerk stated that he had met with Mr. Andrew Roche of Íarnród Éireann who had advised him that the rail line between Cobh and Cork would be closed in its entirety from 3rd October to 10th November. The proposed closure was to allow for the upgrading of the platforms in all of the stations on the line as well as other essential maintenance works. An alternative bus service would be provided between these two dates. On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, it was agreed that the Council would seek a meeting with Mr. Roche to discuss the issue. 3. Housing Turnover Policy – The Town Engineer circulated a Draft policy for dealing with Council houses which were being handed back to the Council. Members thanked the Town Engineer for his work in drawing up the policy and expressed their support for the new policy. 4. Signage on the N25 – The Town Clerk advised members that following a recent meeting with the Cobh & Harbour Chamber attended by the Mayor and Manager, the issue of signage on the N25 had been raised. He stated that it had been agreed that previous submissions to the NRA in this regard from Cobh Town Council, Cork County Council, Cobh & Harbour Chamber, Cobh Tourism and the South West Regional Authority would be amalgamated and forwarded to the County Engineer who would raise the matter directly with the NRA. He stated that this process was now complete and that the submission would issue during the week. 5. Radon Testing of Council Houses – The Town Clerk stated that Cork County Council was proposing to carry out a radon survey of all Council houses in South Cork and that this study would include the Town Councils. He undertook to keep the members informed of any developments in this area. 6. Industrial Lands at Ballynoe – The Town Clerk advised that the Manager had asked for a master plan for the Council’s land in Ballynoe to be prepared with a view to examining the development potential of the land. The Architect’s Department were currently looking at the issue and would prepare a draft plan. The Town Clerk had met with a number of parties who were interested in this land and he would report further progress to the members in due course. 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS – a. Cllr. Mulvihill stated that he wished to express his disappointment that at a recent meeting with the Cobh & Harbour Chamber, the Manager had given information in relation to the Master Plan to the Chamber which had not previously been given to the members. The Manager stated that the information she had given the Chamber was the same information that she had given to the members at the July meeting and that she had kept the members of the Town Council fully informed of issues in relation to the Master Plan. b. Cllr. Doyle advised the members that Cobh Sailing Club had received a Grant of €25,000 under National Lottery Funding in relation to the Dinghy Park in the Five Foot Way Carpark. The Club was working with the Community college to provide sailing training for first years in the school as part of the school curriculum. c. Cllr. Crowley stated that the Board of Carrignafoy Leisure Ltd. had met recently to discuss the future of the Cobh Leisure Centre. The Company’s Accountant had attended the meeting to discuss issues in relation to VAT registration and that the Board were seeking a meeting with Aura Sports & Leisure Management to discuss the centre. On the proposal of Cllr. Crowley, seconded by Cllr. O’Connor, an extension of time was proposed to allow the business of the meeting to continue. 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATUTORY AUDIT REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007 On the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr. Histon, the Auditor’s report was adopted. Cllr. Whitty asked for details of Capital Expenditure and Income for 2007 as a large proportion of the figure provided was described as “miscellaneous” 8. DRAFT RATES SCHEME 2008 The Town Clerk circulated the Draft Rates Scheme for consideration by the members. On the proposal of Cllr. Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy, it was agreed to place the matter on the agenda for the October meeting of the Council. 9. DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY On the proposal of Cllr. O’Connor, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, the disposal of the Freehold of the property known as Cobh Heritage Centre, Lower Road, Cobh pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001 was approved. 10. NOTICE OF MOTION The following Notice of Motion, standing in the name of Cllr. John Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr. Crowley, was adopted. "That Cobh Town Council opposes any move for the reintroduction of domestic water charges as called for by Seán Murphy, Director of Policy, Chambers Ireland. That Cobh Town Council also request clarification from Cobh and Harbour Chamber if they support such a measure." It was agreed to circulate the motion to all local authorities in Ireland for their support. 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS – a) Proposed opening of new road through College Manor – Town Engineer to discuss with Cork County Council. b) Update on Whitepoint Planning – Town Clerk to raise with Town Architect c) Sale of site at Bishop Roche Park Site – to be placed on agenda of October meeting d) Condition of Burma Steps – Town Clerk advised that it was not possible to close the steps at night without first extinguishing the public right of way. It was agreed to look at ways of upgrading the steps through improving the public lighting. e) Parking area in Russell Heights – Town Engineer confirmed that this was listed for work shortly. f) Resurfacing of roadway in Assumption Place – Town Engineer to discuss with Cork County Council. g) Update on Ballynoe Housing Scheme – Town Clerk advised that a Project Appraisal had been submitted to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government but that no approval had issued to date. h) Blocked gully traps in town – Town Engineer to examine i) Local Bus Service – On the proposal of Cllr. Whitty, seconded by Cllr. Mulvihill, it was agreed to write to the Department of Transport, outlining the Council’s support for an application by a local bus company for an a licence for an additional bus service in Cobh. In addition, Cllrs. Whitty and Histon had received over 1,400 signatures from people in Cobh who were unhappy with the current bus service in the town. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would forward these signatures to the Department of Transport for their consideration. j) Cllr. Mulvihill advised that he was due to meet shortly with representatives of the Transition Year students in the secondary schools in Cobh who were interested in setting up a Student Council. It was agreed that Cllr. Mulvihill would keep the members informed of progress in this regard. This concluded the business of the meeting ___________________ Cathaoirleach ___________________ Town Clerk Date
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