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Minutes of March Special Meeting of Sligo County Council held on 29th March, 2010 at 11.00am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.

COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

• Councillor Baker,
• Councillor Barrett,
• Councillor Barry,
• Councillor Bree,
• Councillor Cawley,
• Councillor Clarke,
• Councillor Devins,
• Councillor Gormley,
• Councillor Healy-McGowan,
• Councillor Keaney,
• Councillor Leonard,
• Councillor Lundy,
• Councillor Lyons,
• Councillor MacManus,
• Councillor McGarry,
• Councillor McGrath,
• Councillor McLoughlin,
• Councillor Mullaney,
• Councillor Mulvey,
• Councillor Murray
• Councillor Queenan.
  

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

• Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
• Ms D. Clarke,  Director of Services
• Ms P. R. Gallagher, Acting Director of Services
• Ms Marie Leydon, Head of Finance
• Mr F. O’ Driscoll, Acting Senior Engineer
• Mr T. Brennan, Senior Engineer
• Mr S. O’Toole, Senior Executive Engineer
• Mr G. Salter, Senior Executive Engineer
• Mr S. Ward, Senior Executive Planner
• Mr P. Doyle, Project Manager
• Ms M. McGovern, Clerical Officer
• Mr F. MacNabb, Meetings Administrator
• Mr Paddy Kavanagh, Senior Consultant, ESB International
• Ms Maire Ní Chionna, Western River Basin District Co-ordinator
  

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor G. Murray presided. He welcomed Mr. Kavanagh and Ms. Ní Chionna and laid out the format for the meeting.

Ms Maire Ní Chionna and Mr Paddy Kavanagh gave presentations on the Western, North West International and Shannon River Basin Management Plans and outlined the legal framework governing the setting up of the various River Basin Management Districts and the progression to the production of the three River Basin Management Plans.

The Cathaoirleach invited questions and comments from Members.

Questions were raised in relation to:

• Cost implications of the plans and funding
• Staff Resources to implement the Plans
• Limitations on planning for rural housing
• Meetings of River Basin District Advisory Councils and their role in the preparation of the Plans
• Implications for the Agricultural Sector
• Introduction of Water Charges
• Possible regulations regarding existing septic tanks
• Public consultation process
• Whether the plans as submitted could be amended by the Council

In reply to the question on costs and staff resources, Mr H. Kearns County Manager stated that following adoption of this plan Local Authorities will develop implementation programmes and identify all resource implications and funding requirements. It is likely that the resource requirements will exceed the current capacity of Local Authorities. Meeting the commitments contained in the plan will depend on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government together with other government departments making provision for required resources and funding.

In relation to Rural Housing, Mr P. Kavanagh stated that if developments were fully compliant with the necessary regulations, no issues should arise.  Ms M. Ní Chionna stated that no meetings of the River Basin District Advisory Councils’ took place since the June, 2009 Local Elections.

Mr P. Kavanagh stated that the impact of the plans on the agricultural sector would be no more than that required under the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations already in place.  In reply to queries relating to the introduction of Water Charges and the Licensing of septic tanks, it was stated that these issues were matters for decision by National Government. Mr H. Kearns, County Manager informed the meeting that there was no provision in the legislation for the Elected Members to amend the plans.

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor M. Gormley

AND AGREED

“That before Sligo County Council adopts the Western River Basin Management Plan, that the Members would be provided with a comprehensive report indicating the ramifications on among others, planning, rural life, agriculture, waste water treatment and possible financial costs of the implementation of the Management Plan.”

VOTES OF SYMPATHY:

Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor G. Murray

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Henry Hunt on the death of his sister, Mary Allen.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Gerald Doherty on the death of his mother, Mary.”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Monica Taheny on the death of her sister, Evelyn McDonagh.”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Kate Brennan and family on the death of her husband, Fergus.”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Noel McDonagh and family on the death of his wife, Evelyn.”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Joe Cawley on the death of his wife, Jean”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Seamus Hunt on the death of his brother, Joe”

Proposed by Councillor T. McLoughlin
Seconded by Councillor M. Lyons

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to The Prior Dominican Church on the death of brother Philip”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to June Donaghy on the death of her husband, William”

Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Diane Burns on the death of her mother, Mrs O’Dowd.”

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Owen Kilgannon on the death of his sister, Sally Walshe.”

END OF MEETING:

The meeting ended at 1.05pm.