Minutes of the April Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, 7th April 2008 in the Council Chamber, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Presiding
- Mayor T. Brennan
Councillors present
- P. Considine
- M. Coote Ryan
- J. Flynn
- F. Neylon
- T. Glynn
- T. Matthew
- J. Reidy
Officials present
- T. Coughlan, Director of Service
- E. Power, Town Clerk
- T. Tiernan, Town Engineer
- B. Keating, Senior Staff Officer
Apologies
- Cllr. D. O’Bearra
The Register of Orders by the Director of Service, Town Clerk and Town Engineer and the Planning Register were on the meeting table.
Item 1 Adoption of the Minutes of the March Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held on Monday, 3rd March 2008 at 3.30 p.m.
Ar moladh Cllr. T. Glynn, cuidithe ag Cllr. T. Matthew agus glacadh leis:
"That the Minutes of the March Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council, held at 3.30 p.m. on Monday, 3rd March 2008 be adopted and signed."
Adoption of the Minutes of the Adjourned March Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council held on Thursday, 6th March 2008 at 4.30 p.m.
Ar moladh Cllr. T. Glynn, cuidithe ag Cllr. F. Neylon agus glacadh leis:
"That the Minutes of the Adjourned March Monthly Meeting of Ennis Town Council, held at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday, 6th March 2008 be adopted and signed."
Item 2 Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2006 (Part VIII) – Proposed Development at Corravarrin Railway Bridge, Tulla Road, Corravarrin, Ennis
Cllr. J. Flynn queried traffic management arrangements. Cllr. T. Glynn queried if sewerage works would be carried out at the same time. T. Tiernan, Town Engineer confirmed:
That the bridge would be replaced and the height of the bridge would be raised by 300mm,
A cycle lane is to be incorporated on the south side of the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists,
That the sewer would be upgraded and that these works will be carried out at the same time.
He stated that it would be necessary to close the road to facilitate same and that it was hoped to accommodate pedestrians. It is hoped that these works will commence at the end of May.
The Members welcomed this development and hoped that it would be carried out as soon as possible.
Cllr. J. Flynn enquired if a radar detection system would be installed and also how long the road would be closed. T. Tiernan, Town Engineer stated that he was unsure if a radar detection system would be effective and stated that he will raise this issue with Iarnrod Eireann.
Cllr. T. Glynn proposed that the bridge should be high enough to accommodate all H.G.V.s. Cllr. J. Reidy enquired if a pedestrian crossing would be constructed during this period. This is to be examined by the Town Engineer.
T. Tiernan, Town Engineer confirmed that it was not feasible to raise the height of the bridge as any extra height would affect gradient limits required for train movements. F. Neylon enquired if it would be possible to lower the road. T. Tiernan, Town Engineer confirmed that this approach had been taken previously and this could give rise to flooding issues.
Item 3 Declaration of a public road pursuant to Section 11 of the Roads Act 1993 – Inner Relief Road serving Cathedral Court
The Elected Members considered the report of E. Power, Town Clerk dated 2nd April 2008. On the proposal of Cllr. T. Glynn, seconded by Cllr. M. Coote Ryan and agreed to declare the inner relief road serving Cathedral Court as a public road pursuant to Section 11 of the Roads Act 1993.
Item 4 To approve the naming of development at Knockanean, Tulla Road, Ennis – Planning reference 06/19
The Elected Members considered the report of E. Power, Town Clerk dated 2nd April 2008. It was proposed by Cllr. T. Glynn, seconded by Cllr. M. Coote Ryan and agreed to name the development at Knockanean, Tulla Road, Ennis "An Muileann" – "The Mill".
Item 5 Fix date for the May Monthly Meeting of the Council
The Elected Members considered the report of E. Power, Town Clerk dated 2nd April 2008. It was agreed that the May Monthly Meeting would be held on Tuesday, 13th May 2008 at 3.30 p.m.
Item 6 Fix date for the Annual Meeting of the Council
The Elected Members considered the report of E. Power, Town Clerk dated 2nd April 2008. It was agreed that the Annual Meeting would be held on Friday, 27th June 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
Item 7 Adoption of a Resolution pursuant to Section 18(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 2001
This item was not considered.
Item 8 To note Schedule of Uncollected Rates 2007
The Elected Members noted E. Power, Town Clerk’s report dated 31st March 2008 on the Schedule of Uncollected Rates for 2007.
It was agreed by the Elected Members to take item 12 on the Agenda at this stage.
Item 12 Presentation by Representatives from the Fleadh Nua Committee in relation to plans for 2008
Rory Casey from the Fleadh Nua Committee made a presentation to the Council in respect of the Programme of activities for Fleadh Nua 2007. He stated that the Town Council has always been a great supporter of the Fleadh Nua and sought the Council’s continued support for the ambitious plans for 2008.
The Elected Members thanked Mr. Casey for his presentation and unanimously agreed to support the Fleadh Nua Committee in 2008.
Item 9 Presentation on the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Draft Guidelines
Brian McCarthy, A/Senior Planner and John Bradley, A/Senior Planner gave a presentation to the Council on the Draft Guidelines for Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas. J. Bradley informed the Council that Local Authorities have received a directive from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that these guidelines should be used as best practice. Mayor T. Brennan suggested that the Council should revert to the Minister and wait for the Directive to be brought into law. Cllr. P. Considine queried whether or not the guidelines were enforceable. Cllr. J. Flynn enquired if the deadline of 6th May could be extended. Mayor T. Brennan asked if the guidelines would be included in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, which was currently under review. He suggested that the Plan should include a statement that the Council will take account of these guidelines when they are brought into law. Cllr. P. Considine suggested that J. Bradley should return to the Council to further discuss the matter before making any submission. It was proposed by Cllr. P. Considine and seconded by Cllr. T. Brennan that B. McCarthy and J. Bradley put together a submission and that a workshop would be held with the Members who could then make changes and deal with issues. It was agreed that this workshop would be held at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 28th April 2008 in the Council Chamber.
Item 10 To note Roadworks Programme 2008
The Elected Members noted the report of T. Tiernan, Town Engineer dated 28th March 2008 in respect of the 2008 Roadworks Programme.
Item 11 County Clare Recreation and Sports Strategy 2009 – 2011
The Elected Members considered the report of E. Power, Town Clerk dated 2nd April 2008 in respect of the County Clare Recreation Strategy 2009- 2011. Cllr. T. Glynn suggested that a weekly event could be organised such as a walk or run. Clare Sports Partnership should be involved in this and provide information for clubs. Cllr. F. Neylon stated that access to facilities at Lees Road and the Fairgreen were second to none. Cllr. J. Flynn stated that there was a need to double the size of Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park and that there was a huge need for indoor and outdoor facilities. He welcomed the initiative and stated that he would be making a submission. The Elected Members welcomed the preparation of the Strategy and noted that the dates of the public consultation meetings.
Item 13 Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Johnny Flynn
"That Ennis Town and Clare County Council’s redevelop the Doora Landfill site as a Sports and Recreational Facility, with portion of the site jointly developed with Clubs wishing to overcome the lack of their own facilities by investing time and money in the development of such facilities and that phase 1, as a pilot scheme could provide for pitch and putt, playground and club funded pitches for Avenue United, Banner Ladies Football, Ennis Town Football Academy among others."
Cllr. J. Flynn highlighted that the wording of Item 13 on the Agenda paper differed from the wording submitted by him. He stated that his wording did not include the words "Ask the Town Manger and Town Engineer" and the Notice of Motion could not be regarded as a question in the format he submitted. E. Power, Town Clerk categorically denied that Cllr. J. Flynn’s Notice of Motion was deliberately altered. The Mayor made a ruling and agreed to take the item as a Notice of Motion.
Sean Ward, Senior Engineer, Environment Section, Clare County Council has provided the following information:-
"The main purpose of the remediation project for the closed landfill at Doora is to comply with both the High Court Order and the EPA licence requirements. Due to the topography and existing infrastructure of the site it will only be possible to provide active recreational facilities in a relatively small area of the site. To this end, areas of the landfill (essentially Zones 2 & 3 as described below) need to be securely capped and reshaped to prevent further water ingress. Much of the material to be used in the capping works is already existing on site, having been previously stored there during the initial construction phase of the Central Waste Management Facility in Inagh, but it may be necessary to import some further material. This clay has a low permeability and will prevent the ingress of surface water to the waste body thereby further reducing the generation of leachate.
Topsoil will have to be imported onto the site to facilitate landscaping and recreational works. The landscaping works will in the main consist of shrubs, hedging and grass areas in keeping with the local surroundings.
The site comprises three distinct zones – Zone 1 nearest the Quin Road, Zone 2 comprising a narrow stretch of land north of Zone 1, and Zone 3 comprising the main body of the landfill containing the most recently placed waste (up to cessation of waste deposition in June 2001).
Two new sports pitches will be located in Zone 1, which contains very old waste which has almost ceased generating gas. Zone 1 will not require the full capping and re-grading which will be provided in Zones 2 & 3, and thus will be remaining at approximately its existing levels, which are suitable for provision of pitches. One of the pitches will have a high quality finish surface with surface drainage suitable for matches while the other will be a graded, levelled and seeded pitch suitable for training purposes.
A new entrance will be constructed further east along the Quin Rd from the existing landfill entrance, and this will access a public car park via a height restriction barrier. From the car park there will be pedestrian only access to the pitches and to Zones 2 and 3, which will have a network of scenic walks and a landscaping scheme to complement the return of this land to nature. Walkways and public access will terminate at Zone 3 due to the necessity to continue monitoring leachate and gas levels generated on site. In addition an extensive gas collection system will remain in place in Zone 3 for a number of years to come, as the waste in this zone is sufficiently recent to produce gas for several years into the future.
Works are at an advanced stage on this project and it is currently going through the Part VIII Planning process. It is expected to go to construction tender in the near future. The works will cost in the region of €1.6m and will be funded solely by Clare County Council. The Council has applied to the DEHLG for a remediation grant for the project, but since the expiry of the previous scheme of grants at the end of 2007 (for which the Council unsuccessfully applied), no new grant scheme has been announced by the Department. Any other additional recreational facilities would have to be separately costed and funded. It would be difficult to accommodate any active sports facilities in Zones 2 and 3 due to the planned topography of the restored site, and to the fact that gas will continue to be produced and managed in these zones for several years into the future."
Cllr. J. Flynn stated that Doora landfill site was lying idle and that there is a need for facilities on the eastern side of town. He asked that a portion of the Doora site be made available to Avenue United, Banner Ladies Football, Ennis Town Football Academy, among others, for pitch and putt and that a playground also be provided. Cllr. T. Brennan stated that this is a matter for Clare County Council. The Town Council Elected Members have no say unless Clare County Council decides what they are going to do with the site.
Cllr. T. Glynn enquired if the Council could do anything to help clubs who had decided to buy and develop land for sporting facilities.
T. Coughlan, Town Manager informed the Members that the raising of a loan to develop the Doora site was on the Agenda for the next meeting of Clare County Council. He stated that Clare County Council had no intention of selling the land.
Cllr. F. Neylon suggested that clubs should group together to develop their own pitches.
Item 14 Question submitted by Cllr. Johnny Flynn.
Ask the Town Engineer for a Report on proposed speed limit reductions within housing estates, adjacent to schools and other pedestrian risk areas."
In his written reply the Town Engineer replied as follows:
There are no current proposals for speed limit reductions. However, a new review process will be commencing during the coming months at which time an appropriate public consultation process will be incorporated in the procedures.
Councillors will be aware through the Draft Special Roadworks Programme, 2008 incorporated with the Agenda for the April meeting and through other previous reports that traffic calming measures are to be introduced in several areas throughout the town this year. While there are no proposals at present to reduce speed limits in any of these areas, the traffic calming facilities to be provided will undoubtedly have the effect of speed reduction in a practical way. The areas involved include Friar’s Close, Toberteascain, Hermitage, Shallee Drive, John Paul Avenue, Gordon Drive, Turnpike Road, Old Mill Road, Drehidnagower Road, laneway beside St. Joseph’s Hospital, Collins Park, Summerhill, Connolly Villas and Bridge Court.
During the previous process pertaining to speed limit adjustment, it is acknowledged that some representations were received regarding the possible introduction of reduced speed limits in the vicinity of schools. I am informed that the NRA undertook to carry out some pilot studies at national level with a view to establishing if the concept of introduction of reduced speed limits in the vicinity of schools had any benefit. The prospect of introduction of any such speed limit reductions in Ennis was deferred pending the outcome of the NRA studies. The NRA hasn’t yet reported on this matter.
Item 15 Correspondence
Letter received from Clonmel Borough Council in relation to a Notice of Motion adopted by that Council at a recent meeting regarding their opposition to any move by Bookmaker Chains to have gaming machines placed in their offices.
It was proposed by Cllr. J. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. P. Considine and agreed to support the following Notices of Motion which had been adopted by Clonmel Borough Council at a recent meeting:
"That this Borough Council request all Borough/Town Councils to call on the Minister for Justice to continue to oppose any move by Bookmaker Chains to have gaming machines placed in their offices. This is to help families from returning to poverty status, when parents get hooked on these machines as has happened in Clonmel in the not too distant past".
"That this Borough Council undertake not to apply any water charges to non-commercial activities such as schools, etc.".
Letter received from Clones Town Council in relation to a Notice of Motion adopted by that Council at a recent meeting regarding the appointment of an Ombudsman in the Department of Health.
Cllr. T. Glynn supported this Notice of Motion adopted by Clones Town Council. F. Neylon raised the issue of Ennis General Hospital and whether or not the development of the hospital was proceeding. He stated that the Council should write to the incoming Taoiseach and request that he remove Mary Harney as Minister for Health. This was seconded by Cllr. J. Flynn. Mayor T. Brennan agreed in principle. However, he suggested that the Council write to the incoming Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen asking him to honour the commitment given by Mary Harney, T.D., Minister for Health to the five Clare Mayors in relation to the development of the Hospital. Cllr. P. Considine complimented the staff of the hospital and offered his thanks to the staff following his recent illness. He also stated that he wished to thank the Mayor and Elected Members for their good wishes.
Cllr. F. Neylon stated that the frontline staff do a fantastic job in substandard facilities and the Elected Members should pursue and lobby the H.S.E. and the Minister for to improve these facilities. Cllr. F. Neylon then withdrew his suggestion regarding the removal of Mary Harney, T.D., Minister for Health and stated that he supported Mayor T. Brennan.
Letter received from Tralee Town Council in relation to a Notice of Motion adopted by that Council at a recent meeting regarding the reinstatement of co-habitee tax relief on properties in which they reside.
It was proposed by Cllr. T. Glynn, seconded by Cllr. J. Flynn and agreed to support the following Notice of Motion which was adopted by Tralee Town Council:
"That Tralee Town Council would request the Government to reinstate the co-habitee tax relief on properties in which they reside (that was eliminated in the Finance Act 07 except for carers) and that a special higher gift and inheritance tax threshold be introduced for co-habiting couples to ensure that they will not be treated as strangers for tax purposes".
Letter received from the Clare People Schoolboys/Girls Soccer League requesting that a Civic Welcome be granted to the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland who are holding their Annual Conference in Ennis on 31st May 2008.
It was proposed by Cllr. F. Neylon, seconded by Cllr. P. Considine and agreed to accord a civic welcome to the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland at 7.00 p.m. on 30th May 2008.
Item 16 Conferences and Seminars
There were no Conference nominations.
Item 17 Any Other Business
Cllr. M. Coote Ryan enquired about the refurbishment of laneways and stated that Fahy’s Lane needed to be upgraded. T. Tiernan, Town Engineer acknowledged that the lane needed attention but advised the meeting that there were problems with title on adjacent property. The Town Engineer agreed to examine the issue.
E. Power, Town Clerk informed the meeting that an invitation had been received from the City Council of Erzsébetváros to visit that town from 30th May to 1st June inclusive. The Elected Members agreed to accept the invitation.
T. Tiernan, Town Engineer advised the meeting that the long awaited Flood Relief Scheme commenced today.
Cllr. T. Brennan requested that markings be put on the bollards at Lower Market Street.
The meeting then concluded.