Minutes of the July Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council Held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, 2nd July 2007 in the Council Chamber, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis, Co. Clare
Presiding: Mayor T. Brennan
Councillors present:
- J. Reidy
- P. Considine
- J. Flynn
- T. Glynn
- T. Matthew
- F. Neylon
- D. O'Bearra
- M. Coote Ryan
Officials present:
- E. Power, A/Director of Service
- D. O'Regan, A/Town Engineer
- L. O'Connor, Senior Staff Officer
The Register of Orders by the Director of Service, Town Clerk and Town Engineer and the Planning Register were on the meeting table.
At the outset of the meeting Mayor T. Brennan proposed that item 7 of the Agenda would be heard first. This was seconded by Cllr. Frankie Neylon and agreed.
Item No. 7 Attendance of a deputation from Ivy Hill residents in relation to road safety
Three residents from Ivy Hill addressed the meeting and expressed concerns regarding road safety in the estate. They requested that speed bumps/ramps or traffic islands would be put in place to deter vehicles from speeding. The residents noted that children at play signs had been erected in the estate but this has not deterred motorists from speeding.
Mayor T. Brennan informed the delegation that the Town Engineer would be requested to look at possible road safety measures and would reply back to the residents. Cllr. D. O'Bearra noted that the problems outlined by the Ivy Hill residents were occurring in many housing estates in the town.
Item No. 1 Adoption of the Minutes of the June Monthly Meeting held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 6th June 2007
Ar moladh Cllr. F. Neylon, cuidithe ag Cllr. M. Coote Ryan agus glacadh leis:
"That the minutes of the June Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 6th June 2007 be adopted and signed"
In response to queries from Cllr. J. Flynn on the Annual Financial Statement, L. O'Connor informed the meeting that most of the transfers to reserves in the Annual Financial Statement related to loan principal repayments which were transferred from the revenue account to the capital account in line with national accounting practices. Over expenditure in programme group 8 mostly related to the provision of water services but this was a contra item as the expenditure incurred was recovered from Clare County Council.
Item No. 2 To approve the naming of development at Roslevan, Ennis. Planning Ref 04/200
The elected members considered the report of B. Keating, Acting Town Clerk dated 27th June 2007. On the proposal of Cllr. T. Glynn, seconded by Cllr. P. Considine it was agreed that the housing development would be broken into 3 names as follows:
- Cluain Ros Leachan
- Bru Ros Leachan
- Clochan Ros Leachan
Item No. 3 Community & Arts Grants Scheme 2007
The elected members considered the report of B. Keating, Acting Town Clerk dated 27th June 2007. On the proposal of Mayor T. Brennan, seconded by Cllr. F. Neylon it was agreed that the following allocations would be made under the Community and Arts Grants Scheme.
- Friary Heating Fund 1,500
- St. Columba's Church 1,500
- National Association of Traveller Centres 1,000
- Clare Haven Services. 1,500
- Clare Classic & Vintage Club 1,000
- Banner Minor GAA Club 1,000
- Lifford Ladies Football Club 1,000
- Ennis St. John's Community Games 2,500
- An Boithrin GAA Club 1,000
- Lifford Football Club 1,000
- Banner Ladies Football Club 1,000
- Summer School of Music 800
- An Clar as Gaeilge 750
- Conradh na Gaeilge 750
- Coiste Fheile na hInse 1,000
- Ennis Musical Society 1,000
- Cummann Scoildramaiochta 500
- Ennis Street Festival 1,000
- Tic Tac Puppets 1,500
- Ennis Golf Club 1,000
- Ennis Players 1,000
Item No. 4 Briefing on local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006
E. Power, A/Director of Service informed the elected members that parts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 of the Act have come into force. He added that under the Act businesses groups could make proposals to improve their areas. The relevant local authority must approve improvement schemes and as the schemes are financed by the rate payers, a plebiscite must be carried out and a majority of rate payers must vote in favour of the scheme. He also outlined that the Act allows for a general re-valuation of all commercial properties. The Act also allows for individual re-valuations of properties to come into effect on the year of the valuation. He added that the parts of the Act relating to the Audit Committee have not been commenced yet. A general discussion followed and the members noted the legislation.
Item No. 5 Update on Election Posters
The elected members considered the report dated June 27th 2007 from the Town Clerk regarding election posters. On the proposal of Cllr. T. Glynn, seconded by Cllr. D. O'Bearra it was agreed to submit the following notice of motion to the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland Conference in September.
"Having regard to the favourable public reaction and the positive response from candidates and political parties to the Ennis Town Council request not to erect election posters in Ennis during the 2007 election campaign, this Conference calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to review the legislation pertaining to election posters with a view to allowing Town Councils the discretion to restrict and control under byelaws, the erection of posters in their functional areas".
Item No. 6 Allocation of €20,000 received from IBAL
Cllr. F. Neylon proposed that the €20,000 received from IBAL would be allocated as follows:
- €4,000 Cahercalla Hospice
€4,000 Clare 250 Mile Cycle
€2,000 Tony Griffin Foundation
€10,000 Environmental Work
This was seconded by Cllr. T. Brennan and agreed. The elected members suggested that the environmental work should be carried out at the Rocky Road. In response to a query from Cllr. J. Flynn, E. Power told the members that possible locations for the Icarus would be brought before Council at a later date.
Item No. 7 Correspondence
Letter received from Ennis Chamber of Commerce in relation to a Public Service Obligation for Shannon Airport
Concern was expressed regarding the status of Shannon Airport if it was subject to a Public Service Obligation. It was agreed that the Board of Shannon Airport would be written to with a view of ascertaining the implications of a Public Service Obligation for Shannon.
Letter received from the Office of the Financial Regulator in response to correspondence issued by this Council in relation to mortgage repayments
The members expressed concern that no support was forthcoming from the Department of Finance on this issue. Cllr. J. Flynn suggested that the services of Money Advice and Budgeting Service should be highlighted to the public.
Letter received from Ennis West Partners seeking funding in relation to its Educational Supports Programme
The members expressed concern that Minister O'Cuiv had cut funding for this programme. After some discussion Cllr. J. Reidy agreed to report back to the Council with clarification as to why funding was reduced.
Letter received from Kilrush Town Council in relation to a Notice of Motion adopted by that Council regarding the Fas Job Initiative Scheme
On the proposal of Cllr. P. Considine, seconded by Cllr. T. Brennan it was agreed that the following notice of motion would be supported
"To ask this Council to call on the Minister for Trade & Employment to lift the embargo on recruitment via FAS Job Initiative Scheme."
Letter received from Dr. Janos Balassa, Ambassador, City Council of Erzsebetvarus, Budapest inviting the Mayor and a Delegation from Ennis to discuss the potential and opportunities of town twinning between Ennis and Erzsebetvarus
Cllr. D. O'Bearra proposed that the invitation issued by the City Council of Erzsebetvarus be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr. P. Considine and agreed.
Letter received From REHAB Group in relation to the 2007 People of the Year Awards
On the proposed of Cllr. F. Neylon, seconded by Cllr. T. Brennan it was agreed that John Dunne and Tony Griffin would both be nominated for People of the Year Awards.
Item No. 8 Any Other Business
Votes of Sympathy
The elected members passed a vote of sympathy to the family and relatives of the late:
- Michael Doherty, Ashline, Ennis.
- Terry de Valera, Dublin.
- Flan Lynch, Kilrush, Co. Clare.
- Mrs. Peader Kelly, Ashfield Park, Ennis.
Local Authority Housing
In response to a query from Cllr. Frankie Neylon, E. Power told the meeting that an advertisement had been published inviting tenders for the refurbishment of Ennis Town Council houses at Gordon Drive and Shallee Drive.
Public Lighting
In response to a query from Cllr. J. Flynn, E. Power told the meeting that a report on public lighting would be issued to the members by the Town Engineer.
The meeting then concluded.
Town Clerk
Méara Bhaile na hInse.