Minutes of Council meetings- list.:

Presiding - Cllr. Danny Crowley, Mayor.

Present - Cllrs. P. Histon, P. Whitty, M. Keating, S. Meade, J. Mulvihill,K. McCarthy, and S. O’Connor.

OFFICIALS PRESENT

Mr. K. Sugrue – Acting Town Manager

Mr. P. Lynch - Town Clerk.

Mr. G. O’Hora -Town Engineer.

An apology for her inability to attend was received from Cllr. Nóirín Doyle

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

1) PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED COUNCIL WEBSITE BY AVALON COMPUTING LTD

Mr Kevin O’Regan and Mr John Cotter of Avalon made a presentation to the members in relation to the proposed website. Mr Cotter outlined the features of the website which would include links to email addresses of any of the councillors who wished it. The website would also provide for members of the public to download application forms and other public documentation provided by the town council.It was agreed that details of recycling centres in the Cobh area would be included on the website.It was also agreed that any changes to the website would be agreed by the Town Clerk prior to the changes being made. Following the presentation the councillors thanked Mr Cotter and Mr O’Regan who then left.

2)ATTENDANCE BY MR EDDIE RONAYNE, COBH TIDY TOWNS ASSOCIATION

Mr Ronayne advised the members that Cobh Tidy Towns had had a separate existence for 10 years.He stated that the aim of the group in Cobh was to improve their results in the national Tidy Towns competition year on year. He made reference on his hopes to reintroduce the Tidy District Scheme in 2005. He advised the members that the marks achieved in Cobh had improved year on year in the national competition from 1992 to 2003.He stated that there was no increase from 2003-2004.He stated that in his view litter was a major problem in Cobh.He outlined a number of recommendations to improving the situation in the town.He stated that the Tidy Towns Association had invited Mr Frank Donaldson to carry out a review of the situation in the town and he presented a copy of the report to each member of the Council.He stated that in his view it was important that a member of the Town Council would sit on the committee of the Tidy Towns as a delegate.He also stated that he felt that extra staff should be provided by the County Council to deal with issues in the Cobh area.Following the presentation Mr Ronayne was thanked by the Mayor and the Councillors.Mr Ronayne then withdrew.

3)CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

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

(a)Monthly Meeting-10^th December, 2004

ProposedCllr. Meade.

SecondedCllr. Mulvihill

1)Monthly meeting, 3^rd December 2004.Proposed Cllr Meade, seconded Cllr Mulvihill.

2)Statutory budget meeting, 21^st December.Proposed Cllr Keating, seconded Cllr Whitty.

Cllr Histon raised the issue of the overgrowth on the railway track into the Five Foot Way car park.Town Clerk stated that he had not yet received a reply to his letter and he agreed to issue a reminder to Irish Rail.

Cllr Mulvihill raised the issue of seating in the Five Foot Way.The Town Engineer stated that the work was weather dependent, that the Town Foreman was hoping to deal with it as soon as possible.

Cllr O’Connor asked for an update in relation to the Cobh Landslide programme.The Town Clerk advised the members that contract documents which had been referred to the department in December, were currently being examined and that once approval was received work would commence at the earliest possible date.

The Town Clerk advised members that work was ongoing in relation to the Central Heating Project and that work was well underway in Lower Belmont Place and Fr Corbett Terrace.

Cllr Mulvihill raised the issue of ramps in the town.The Town Engineer stated that the draft scheme which had been submitted to the elected members of Cork County Council, and had not yet been adopted by the county.It was agreed to discuss the matter further at future meetings of the council.

Cllr Whitty raised the issue of Cobh Hospital.It was agreed that the Town Clerk would follow up this matter with the Matron of the hospital.

The Town Clerk advised the members that a meeting had been arranged for Tuesday 18^th January, to be held in the Commodore Hotel, with bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, Cobh Tourism, and Cobh Tidy Towns.

Cllr Mulvihill asked for an update in relation to the motion adopted at the December meeting to invite Superintendent Sheehan to the next meeting of the Council.The Town Clerk stated that the Superintendent had agreed to meet with the members at a date in January.It was agreed to invite Superintended Sheehan to meet with the members at a committee meeting of the Council to be held on Monday 17^th January at 6pm in the Town Hall.

Cllr McCarthy raised the issue of fencing around houses for the elderly in Russell Heights.The Town Clerk stated that prices were currently being sought and the matter would be dealt with as soon as possible.

Cllr O’Connor asked for an update in relation to the footpaths on Harbour Row.The Town Engineer stated that the County Council had no plans at present to carry out any further work to this location.

The Town Engineer advised members that work was currently ongoing in relation to preparing proposals for spending the 2005 road fund grant, and asked that if any member with specific road works they felt should be included, should notify him as soon as possible.

Cllr O’Connor raised the issue of the pay by weight system.He stated that in his view, the current system had been imposed by the County Council without any consideration for people who had no transport and who were unable to avail recycling facilities.A number of Councillors raised issued in relation to problems being encountered by peoplein Cobh with pay by weight system.Cllr Crowley stated that it was vital that the town would have a full civic amenities site during 2005.The Manager stated that the proposed Cobh site was on the list of work to be done during 2005.

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

4) VOTES OF CONDOLENCE

The sympathy of the Council was extended to the relatives of the following:-

Paddy Hurley,Harbour Row.

John Gilley,Coolamber Cresent.

Ann O’Sullivan,Whitepoint Estate.

Nora O’Shea,Joe Reid Pce.,

Olive Horgan, Ballynoe,Cobh.

Pat Spillane, Lake Road , Cobh.

Carmel Hogan O’Reilly, Plunkett Place.

Godfrey Bernall, Rushbrooke Terrace.

Joan Ronayne, Bishop Ahern Close.

Former Minister Eileen Desmond;

All victims of the Tsunami Disaster.

On the proposal of Cllr Crowley, seconded by Cllr O’Connor, it was agreed to provide €1000 to assist Doctor Mary McLaughlin in her work for Goal in dealing with the tsunami disaster.

The votes were passed in silence, all standing.

5) MANAGERS ORDERS

Councillors noted Managers orders, copies of which have been circulated.

6) CORRESPONDENCE

A) O’Sullivan Place Residents Association.Letter received from Sir Leo Owens of the O’Sullivan Place Residents Association seeking 2000 Euro to assist the Association with its work in 2005.On the proposal of Cllr O’Connor, seconded by Cllr Meade, it was agreed to pay 2000 euro to the Residents Association.

B) Merriman Winter School.Notification received in relation to the annual Merriman Winter School in Bunratty, Co Clare. Marked as read.

C) Notice of motion, Carrick-on-Suir Town Council.Marked as read.

7) OFFICER’S REPORTS.

a) Right of Way Ringacoltig – The Town Clerk advised the members that he had received a submission of behalf of Murnane & O’Shea Ltd, who had received planning permission to carry out housing development in Ringacoltig.He stated that the permission provided for the construction of houses on land which it now appeared constituted a public right of way.He stated that the request on behalf of the developers was that the existing right of way be extinguished and replaced with a new right of way across the site which would not impact upon any individual houses.On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr O’Connor, it was agreed that the Town Clerk would commence the procedure to extinguish the existing right of way and to create a new right of way.

b) Town Clerk read a letter received from Mr Peter Sommer, Mayor of the town of Apensen, inviting the delegation from Cobh town council to attend the 25^th Anniversary of the twinning between Ploermel and Apensen in June.On the proposal of Cllr Meade, seconded by Cllr Mulvihill it was agreed that the Mayor, accompanied by his wife, would travel to Apensen in June.On the proposal of Cllr Keating, seconded by Cllr Whitty, it was agreed that Cllr Meade would travel.On the proposal of Cllr Meade, seconded by Cllr Crowley it was proposed that Cllr Keating would travel.On the proposal of Cllr Crowley, seconded by Cllr Keating, it was agreed Cllr Whitty would travel.On the proposal of Cllr Crowley, seconded by Cllr Keating, it was agreed that the Town Clerk would accompany the delegation.

c) Cobh Ramblers – The Town Clerk stated that he had been approached by the chairman of Cobh Ramblers in relation to the land on which Cobh Ramblers clubhouse had been constructed.He stated that it appeared that the land was still registered as being owned by Cobh Town Council.He stated that the clubhouse had been constructed sometime in the early 1970’s. Cobh Ramblers were now asking that the land would be formerly transferred from the Council to the club.On the proposal of Cllr Crowley, seconded by Cllr O’Connor it was agreed to commence the process of transferring the land.

8) Notice of Motion

The following notice of motion standing in the name of Cllr Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr Crowley was adopted.

“That the Cobh Town Council call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche TD to suspend the pay by weight system until adequate recycling facilities are in place in the town of Cobh.”

Cllr Histon stated that he wished to disassociate himself from this motion.He stated that it was pointless in passing this motion at this late stage.He stated that what was needed was action on the issue.The Town manager stated that the pay by weight scheme had been discussed at the Cork County Council estimates meeting.He stated that he pay by weight scheme had been adopted by the members, he also stated that further motions had been adopted by the members in relation to waivers for over 65’s and the removal of the standing charge and that the Cork County Manager was currently considering those.

Cllr Whitty stated that he felt that information given by the manager in relation to the estimated cost to householders of the pay by weight scheme was incorrect.The manager stated that Mary O’Halloran had been miss-quoted in a newspaper in relation to her comments in this regard and that she had written to the press asking for her comments to be corrected.

Extension of time

On the proposal of Cllr Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr McCarthy, it was agreed to suspend standing orders to allow an extension of time.

9) Notice of Motion

The following notices of motion standing in the name of Cllr John Mulvihill, seconded by Cllr Keating were adopted.

“That Cobh Town Council call on the Minister for Justice and Law Reform Michael McDowell TD and the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche TD to enact legislation to redirect revenue from fines issued by An Garda Síochána in relation to parking fines and litter fines to the Local Authority in which the offence has been committed”

“Cobh Town Council call on the Minister for Justice and Law Reform Michael McDowell TD and the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche TD to enact legislation to redirect revenue from parking fines and litter fines which are appealed through the court system to the Local Authority in which the offence has been committed.”

It was agreed to send both motions to every Local Authority in the State and to the AMAI.

11) Notice of Motion

The following notice of motion is standing in the name of Cllr O’Connor, seconded by Cllr Meade was considered.

“The following changes be introduced into the towns pay parking arrangements, that parking on the south side of Westbourne place from the public toilets is to be changed to an all day parking area from 9am-6pm with a daily ticket introduced.That the 3-hour limit at the railway station be changed to 4 hours.That a 2-hour ticket be printed and introduced.That hotel and guesthouse residence would receive a 1-hour concession in the morning until 10am.”

Following a discussion on this matter, it was agreed to commence the process of reviewing the pay parking bylaws, as well as the taxi bylaws and the casual trading bylaws immediately.It was also agreed that the council would meet in committee Monday 17^th January to discuss these issues.

12) ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr. McCarthy raised the issue of a school warden at the Gael School.It was agreed that the Town Clerk would write to the personnel department of the County Council in this regard.

Cllr McCarthy raised the issue of a flood, which occurred at Assumption Place over Christmas.He stated that the problem had been caused by the failure of the ESB to remove a pole and the surrounding kerb in that area.

Cllr Keating asked that the roadway between 24 and 36 Elmwood Grove be included in the road fund grant of 2005.

Cllr Keating raised the issue of a shore next to Elmwood Grove that was blocked.The Town Forman to examine.

Cllr Keating also raised the issue of flooding between Kirkwood Villa’s and Maurice Moore Place.The Town Engineer to examine.

Cllr O’Connor raised the issue of a council house in Russell Heights with damage to the fascias and soffits.The Town Clerk to refer to the Town Foreman.

Cllr O’Connor stated that the roadway at 35 Assumption Place was subsiding.The Town Engineer to examine.

Cllr Histon raised the issue of the roadway outside Supervalu at Ticknock flooding.The Town Engineer to examine for Cork County Council.

Cllr Histon stated that a footpath was needed outside numbers 1-5 Dock Terrace.The Town Engineer to examine in the context of the 2005 road fund grant.

Cllr Meade raised the issue of locks for wheelie bins.The Town Clerk stated that he had been advised by Cork County Council that the company supplying the locks would be advertising the availability of those locks shortly.

Cllr Whitty raised the issue of a nameplate for Lake Road.He stated that he had raised it at previous meetings of the council and asked that the work be carried out as soon as possible.

Cllr Whitty asked that the Town Engineer would examine signage at Beechmount.He stated that some of the residents had concerns in relation to the signage there.

Cllr. Mulvihill stated that in view of the bad weather forecast for the following day, if the Council would provide sand bags for the residents at Whitepoint.The Town Clerk agreed to raise the issue with the town foreman.

Cllr Crowley asked that the meeting of the various statutory bodies would be organised for as soon as possible.The Town Clerk stated that the matter would be attended to on the return of leave from the Town Manager.

This concluded the business of the meeting.