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| Cobh Town Council, Town Hall, Cobh, Co. Cork. Phone: 021 481 1307 FAX: 021 481 1732 Contact Us |
Minutes of Council meetings- list.:MONDAY 15th DECEMBER 2008.MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF BUDGET MEETING 2009 OF COBH TOWN COUNCIL, HELD AT CARRIG HOUSE, COBH, ON MONDAY 15th DECEMBER 2008. Presiding - Cllr. D. Crowley (Deputy Mayor) Present - Cllrs. N. Doyle, S. Meade, P. Histon, P. Whitty, K. McCarthy, M. Keating, and S. O’Connor. Officials Present Ms. M. Ryan, Town Manager Mr. P.Lynch, Town Clerk Mr. Michael O’Sullivan, Staff Officer An apology for his inability to attend was received from Mayor John Mulvihill. Cllr Crowley also welcomed Cllr Meade upon her return after her recent illness. The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in silence. Budget 2009 The Manager in introducing the budget referred to the changed economic situation of recent months and the impact that this was having on the working of local authorities. The Manager stated in the course of Budget 2009 that it would be necessary to reduce the level of expenditure to meet the anticipated level of income for 2009 and that this would mean a reduced level of funding to various groups in the town. The Manager stated however that she had managed to secure agreement from Cork County Council an once-off allocation of €20,000 for funding for various groups whose work extends beyond the remit of the town. In introducing the budget the Manager also referred to a letter from the DOEH&LG regarding the Rates scheme and the irrecoverable Rates scheme. Cllr O’Connor questioned if a meeting had been held with Russell Heights Residents. The Town Clerk stated that they had met the Mayor John Mulvihill. Programme Group 1: Housing: The Manager stated her intention to use Internal Capital Receipts to fund housing repairs. Cllr Whitty queried that money unspent in the central heating programme. In reply the Town Clerk stated that the money was spent on other repairs. In response also to a query from Cllr McCarthy in relation to monies allocated to housing the Town Clerk stated that there was a system of prioritization in place. The Town Clerk in response to a query from Cllr Whitty regarding gas contractors stated that there was an existing contract in place for repairs and that a price were being sought from contractors for installation. Cllr McCarthy asked again about a heating request from a tenant. Programme Group 2 Road Transportation and Safety In relation to the allocation towards public lighting Cllr Whitty queried the condition of lighting at Cobh Cathedral. Cllr O’Connor also stated that the lighting at the Town Clock and the Cathedral were unsatisfactory. Road Traffic and Parking In relation to Road Traffic and parking issues the Manager referred to the reduction of projected income as a result of the introduction of one-hour free parking. Cllr Whitty rejected the manager’s assertion that any loss of income resulted from the free hour parking and stated that the parking should be better policed and more fines should be collected. The Town Clerk stated that the Traffic Warden was active in this matter. Cllr Whitty queried the decision to buy parking machines. The Town Clerk stated that the decision to get parking machines on a trial basis was made before the December meeting and the intention had been to inform the Councillors at the December meeting. Cllr Meade stated that when this option was examined previously it had been rejected as being too costly. The Town Clerk stated that the only decision made at present is to spend €700 on a trial basis for two machines. Cllr Whitty stated that the members should have been consulted. Cllr Crowley stated that Bye-Laws were a function of Councillors and members need to be made aware of changes such as the introduction of machines. In response to a question from Cllr Meade the Town Clerk stated that he estimated that 20-25 machines would be needed for the town. Cllr Crowley asked the Council to consider employing school warden relief as at present Council staff was being diverted from their present duties. The Town Clerk agreed to check with the personnel department. Programme Group 3 Water Supply and Sewerage The Manager stated that in response to queries raised by members in relation to the cost of providing the Automated Public Convenience in the town she asked the Town Clerk to examine the feasibility, and the cost, of buying this facility rather than leasing it as at present. In response to a query from Cllr Whitty the Town Clerk stated that the rise in charges for the Superloo were in line with the CPI. Programme Group 4 Development Incentives and Controls In relation to the budget allocation Cllr McCarthy queried why the Cobh & Harbour Chamber of Commerce were granted money as opposed to other groups such as the Great Island Business Association. Cllr McCarthy stated that he was asking this question as he was informed that they had received funding from another source. Cllr Doyle stated that a tourism office was needed in the town and this was being run by the Chamber of commerce. The sum of €4,000 was being given for this purpose. Cllr McCarthy stated that the other business group was being ignored. Cllr Crowley stated that the other grant money being given to the Chamber of Commerce was dependent on the lands at Ballynoe being developed and it was not guaranteed the draw down of these monies. Cllr Meade stated that a tourism office was out of reach of the Council’s cost on its own. The Town Clerk stated that the funding proposed for the Chamber was a contribution to running the tourist office which in previous years received funding to produce a brochure. The Town Manager stated that it was very difficult to get funding for groups. Cork County Council cannot fund residents associations but it can fund projects that serve the greater Island. Cllr Crowley stated that he agreed with the breakdown as given. Cllr Whitty stated that funding should be a function of the councillors but thanked the manager for her efforts. Programme Group 5 Environmental Protection Cllr McCarthy stated that there had been no improvement in the litter problem and stated that there should be permanent litter wardens which had the potential to generate more money than traffic fines. Cllr Crowley stated that the title of ‘Dirtiest Town’ was exaggerated and not justified. Cllr Histon stated that funding for residents associations was being cut back at a time when there was a need to make a greater effort to keep the town tidy and he could not agree to these cuts. He stated that the street sweeper needed to be better utilised and also queried the sending of a truck to Youghal landfill each day. The Town Clerk stated that he had spoken to the Waste management section in Cork County Council regarding the use of landfill service. Cllr Whitty cited a case of a newly formed residents association who had not had the work done by the council that they were promised and proposed that the allowance for the Rates scheme be used for residents groups. In relation to a full-time litter warden the Town Clerk stated that was still set to increase by 2 ½ %, street cleaning by 20%. In relation to parking fines there was provision for income to increase to €9,000. The Manager stated that the figure for irrecoverable rates would rise to €45,000. Programme Group 6 Recreation and Amenity Programme Group 8 Miscellaneous Services Cllr Crowley complimented the manager for the Budget. He also referred to the continuing undermining of Town Council’s and the discussion regarding them losing the services of Architects in the coming year. The Town Manager stated that a review was taking place in the County Architects department but that no decision had been made as yet. Cllr Meade also expressed frustration that the Council was only allowed to build 6-7 houses yearly even though there was a waiting list of 600. In response to a query from Cllr O’Connor in relation to other expenses the Town Clerk stated that there was no proposal to increase them. Cllr McCarthy stated that the Department of Environment & Local Government was to blame for the funding crisis in local councils and that passing the budget would be sending them the wrong signal. Cllr Histon stated that he would not be supporting the budget for two reasons namely the litter problem in the town and the lack of funding for local groups. Cllr Crowley stated that it was a waste of time fighting the Department. He also stated that the Council’s difficulties lay with its low rate base. Cllr Whitty stated that there had been no progress made on projects of a capital nature such as housing for the elderly or the development of council lands. He also stated that the discussions regarding the lands were taking place without the councillors input. Other past budgets he said had been predicated on three-monthly reports being submitted and only one had been received. Cllr Whitty agreed to pass the budget on the basis of the 5,000 set aside for irrecoverable rates being re-allocated to groups. Cllr Histon stated that there were now 20 residents associations in existence as opposed to two when he began working in this area and the same level of funding remained. Cllr Keating stated that even during the height of the Celtic Tiger the Town Councils were being attacked by central government. The Town Manager stated that it would be possible to increase the funding for groups by 3,250 by reducing the amount provided for irrecoverable rates, which Cllrs Histon and Whitty agreed to support. Cllr McCarthy said that he wished to acknowledge the Managers work in securing €20,000 from Cork County Council but stated that the Manager was not being serious in bringing in revenue from litter fines. In response the Manager stated that it was very difficult to generate revenue from litter fines, while the Town Clerk stated that of the last three fines issued there had only been one conviction which was subsequently appealed and the fine reduced. Cllr Crowley stated however that improvements were being made in the area of litter control. On the proposal of Cllr. Doyle, seconded by Cllr. Keating the following resolutions were adopted unanimously: Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €580,498 and estimated income of €639,216, for Programme Group 1 - Housing & Building, be adopted” Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €677,000, and estimated income of €395,720, for Programme Group 2 – Road Transportation & Safety, be adopted.” Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €336,333 and estimated income of €6,832, for Programme Group 3 - Water Supply & Sewerage, be adopted. Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €130,694, and estimated income of €17,000, for Programme Group 4 – Development Incentives & Controls be adopted. Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €288,578, and estimated income of €79,615, for Programme Group 5 – Environmental Protection, be adopted. Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €188,926, and estimated income of €12,893, for Programme Group 6 - Recreation and Amenity be adopted. Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €429, for Programme Group 7 – Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare be adopted. Resolved: “That estimated expenditure of €325,701, and estimated income of €11,970, for Programme Group 8 - Miscellaneous Services be adopted. RATEABLE VALUATION MULTIPLIER. Resolved: “That the Draft Local Authority Budget setting out the amounts which will be required for the local financial year ending 31st December, 2009, to provide for the liabilities and requirements of the Council, and for the sums to be supplied to the Public Bodies, whom the Council are bound to supply with monies, as set out on the attached Tables A and B, be adopted. In accordance with the said Budget, the rate set out in Table B (71.53), be determined to be the Rateable Valuation Multiplier to be levied for the several purposes specified in the said Budget, for the local financial year ending 31st December, 2009.” This concluded the business of the meeting. __________________ CATHAOIRLEACH _______________________ TOWN CLERK ________________________ DATE
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