Minutes of the January Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 7th January 2009 in the Council Chamber, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis, Co. Clare
Presiding
- Mayor P. Considine
Councillors present
- T. Brennan
- J. Flynn
- T. Glynn
- F. Neylon
- T. Matthew
- D. O'Bearra
- J. Reidy
- M. Coote-Ryan
Officials present
- T. Coughlan, Director of Service
- E. Power, Town Clerk
- E. O'Dea, Town Engineer
- S. Barrett, Staff Officer
Register: The Register of Orders by the Director of Service, Town Clerk and Town Engineer and the Planning Register were on the meeting table.
1. Adoption of the Minutes
(a) Adoption of the Minutes of the December Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held on Monday, 1st December 2008 at 3:30 p.m.
Ar moladh Cllr. T. Brennan, cuidite ag Cllr. T. Matthew agus glacadh leis: "That the Minutes of the December Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 3:30 p.m.on Monday, 1st December 2008 be signed"
(b) Adoption of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, 8th December 2008
Ar moladh Cllr. J. Reidy, cuidite ag Cllr. F. Neylon agus glacadh leis: "That the Minutes of the Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 2.00 p.m. on Monday, 8th December 2008 be signed"
(c) Adoption of the Minutes of the Adjourned Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 2:30 p.m.on Monday, 8th December 2008
Ar moladh Cllr. T. Brennan, cuidite ag Cllr. M. Coote-Ryan agus glacadh leis: "That the Minutes of the Adjourned Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, 8th December 2008 be signed"
(d) Adoption of the Minutes of the Adjourned Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 8th December 2008.
Ar moladh Cllr. T. Matthew, cuidite ag Cllr. F. Neylon agus glacadh leis: "That the Minutes of the Adjourned Special Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 8th December 2008 be signed"
(e) Adoption of the Minutes of the Annual Budget Meeting of Ennis Town Council held on Wednesday, 17th December 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Ar moladh Cllr. M. Coote-Ryan, cuidite ag Cllr. T. Brennan agus glacadh leis: "That the Minutes of the Annual Budget Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 6:30 p.m.on Wednesday, 17th December 2008 be signed"
Matters arising
E. Power, Town Clerk, stated that at the Annual Budget Meeting held on the 17th December 2008 the matter of providing a waiver scheme for refuse collection was raised.
He advised that the Ombudsman issued a report entitled 'Waste waiver schemes administered by local authorities – A report of an investigation by the Ombudsman, October 2008' on waiver schemes for refuse services following a complaint in relation to a waiver scheme operating in a particular Local Authority.
The Ombudsman has stated thatWaste Management legislation is silent in relation to the imposition or waiving of charges by private waste operators.
Also, a High Court judgement delivered in June 2005 notes that a local authority is not entitled to pay a third party for a waiver scheme. It is only entitled to waive a charge it levies for a service provided by or on behalf of the local authority.
E. Power, Town Clerk, pointed out that this Council had previously received legal advice in relation to a waiver scheme for persons whose refuse is being collected by a private company.
He indicated that there was no conflict between that advice given to the Council and the position as outlined by the Ombudsman in the report.
Tom Coughlan, Town Manager, stated that the County & City Manager's Association has issued a reply to the Ombudsman, and they held the view that this is a national issue.
Cllr. T. Brennan stated that the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of the Environment should deal with this matter, to which Cllr P. Considine replied that correspondence had issued to the Department of Social Welfare. Cllr. J. Flynn welcomed the information supplied.
Cllr T. Brennan stated that the 4 Dáil Deputies should push this issue in the Dáil and that correspondence should issue to them regarding this matter.
Tom Coughlan, Town Manager, pointed out that this is a matter for the Department of Social & Family Affairs.
2. Proposed amendmends
- Proposed amendment of Ennis Town Council On Street Parking Pay & Display Bye-Laws 2005 - Report to follow.
- Proposed amendment of Ennis Town Council Car Park Bye-Laws 2005 – Report to follow.
E. Power, Town Clerk advised the meeting that the parking byelaws will be reviewed to implement the decision made by the Council at the Budget Meeting to increase parking charges.
3. Set dates for the official opening of projects
The Elected Members agreed the following dates:
- The Westbourne Court Housing Development to be opened on the 2nd February 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
- Coote Park Playing Pitch and Dressing Rooms to be opened on the 1st March 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
- The Glenina Playing pitch to be opened on the 1st March 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
- The synthetic running track at Lees Road to be opened on the 1st March 2009 at 3:00 p.m..
4. Set date for launch of promotional DVD of Ennis and Environmental Awareness DVD for Schools
The Councillors agreed that the promotional DVD of Ennis and the Environmental Awareness DVD for Schools would be launched on 12/02/09 at 5:00 p.m.
5. Set date for launch of Ennis brochure
The Councillors agreed that the Ennis brochure would be launched on 12/02/09 at 5:00 p.m.
6. Correspondence
(a) Letter received from Macroom Town Council in relation to a Notice of Motion adopted by that Council regarding education cut backs.
Cllr F. Neylon supported the Notice of Motion from Macroom Town Council, and stated that the Council must support the parents and teachers of Ennis National School.
Cllr P. Considine supported the sentiments expressed by Councillor Neylon and proposed that the Councillors write to the Minister of Education, and that the four elected representatives should be invited to a meeting and asked to approach the Department of Education.
Cllr T. Brennan advised that the Educate Together and Cloughleigh National School also require new schools. Cllr Brennan seconded the proposal that the four Dáil Deputies should be invited to a meeting with the Councillors.
Cllr. T. Brennan recommended that the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ennis should also be discussed at any such meeting. Cllr. T. Glynn suggested that the Minister for Health be invited to a meeting also. Cllr Brennan also recommended that she be asked to honour the commitments that she gave in relation to the redevelopment of the Mid Western Regional Hospital. Cllr. F. Neylon expressed concern about the performance of the Minister of Health having regard to the fact that there were 425 people on trollies in hospitals all over the country on the previous day.
Cllr. P. Considine stated that having regard to the fact that there were only 3 people on trolleys in Ennis and 38 in Limerick on the previous day, he queried the reason for the selection of Ennis for comment in the National media.
Cllr. J. Flynn agreed with the proposal to discuss the education issue with the 4 Dáil Deputies. He also questioned the performance of the Minister of Health. He called for the Teamwork Report to be published immediately, stating that it was appalling that it was published in the Irish Times today.
Cllr. T. Matthew supported the Notice of Motion from Killarney Town Council, as cervical cancer will be the second biggest killer in Ireland and Europe.
Cllr. M. Coote Ryan supported calling the meeting with the 4 T.D.'s as Ennis Hospital has served the people of Clare very well.
Cllr. D. O'Bearra supported his fellow Councillors, and in relation to the Notice of Motion from Killarney Town Council, he stated that this is one of the few countries that do not offer this vaccination.
Cllr. J. Reidy stated that we have been campaigning since 2004, when the Council was elected, for the upgrading of the schools concerned in Ennis and that it is now time for action in relation to the hospital. The report in today's paper should have been published long before it appeared in the paper.
Cllr. T. Glynn demanded that a 24hour, full A&E service be provided at the Mid West Regional Hospital in Ennis.
Following a discussion it was agreed that the four Dáil Deputies would be invited to meet the Councillors to discuss Ennis Hospital, the education cuts and the schools in Ennis.
7. Any other business
Cllr. T. Brennan enquired as to whether the St. Vincent de Paul centre on the Limerick Road, Ennis, was open and if it was fully compliant with the planning permission granted.
T. Coughlan, Town Manager, stated that he would clarify the issues raised and would revert to the Council.
Cllr. M. Coote Ryan stated that there was a pedestrian crossing required at Cusack Road. E. O'Dea, Town Engineer, replied that there is already a proposal for a pedestrian crossing between Cloughleigh Road and the roundabout at the Maid of Erin.
Cllr. F. Neylon considered that the St. Vincent de Paul centre on the Limerick Road is incorrectly being called a hostel. It is being run by the St Vincent de Paul and his understanding was that it is a transition house.
Cllr. T. Brennan reported that water is lodging in St Michael's Villas and also on the Tulla Road. He also stated that the dumping beside the new Child Care Centre on the Watery Road must be cleaned up and that there was also some dumping at Ashline Halting Site.
Cllr. T. Glynn stated that the provision of alternative taxi ranks needed to be examined. The Mayor replied that a report is being prepared on this matter.
Cllr. T. Glynn referred to the Annual Meeting and proposed that Cllr. D. O'Bearra be elected Deputy Mayor for the remaining period of this Council. E. Power, Town Clerk, advised the Councillors of the formal procedure to be followed, regarding the Deputy Mayor's resignation from office and the subsequent filling of the office of Deputy Mayor. Following receipt of notification of the resignation of the Deputy Mayor, the matter will then be considered by the Council at its next meeting.
E. Power, Town Clerk also advised the meeting that it was planned to review the Market Byelaws.
The meeting then concluded.