Minutes 2006

Minutes of the Special Meeting of Sligo County Council Held on 22nd May 2006 at 11.00am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Baker,
  • Barrett,
  • Barry,
  • Bree,
  • Cawley,
  • Conmy,
  • Devins,
  • Fleming,
  • Gormley,
  • Healy McGowan,
  • Higgins,
  • Kilgannon,
  • Leonard,
  • Lundy,
  • MacManus,
  • McGarry,
  • McGrath,
  • McLoughlin,
  • Sherlock

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
  • Mr P. Forkan, Director of Services
  • Mr D. Breen, Acting Director of Services
  • Mr B. Carolan, Senior Planner
  • Ms F. Meagher, Senior Executive Planner
  • Mr F. Moylan, Senior Executive Planner
  • Mr T. Carroll, Senior Engineer
  • Mr K. Larkin, Senior Engineer
  • Mr D. Harrison, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Ms J. McNamara, Administrative Officer
  • Ms T. Dunleavy, Clerical Officer
  • Mr N. Ballantyne, Technician Grade 1
  • Mr F. MacNabb, Administrative Officer
  • Mr C. McNamara, Staff Officer
  • Ms M. Collery, Clerical Officer

CATHAOIRLEACH:

  • The Cathaoirleach, Councillor P. Barry presided.

The Cathaoirleach addressed the meeting concerning the Ordinary Meeting of 8th May 2006, and read the following statement to the meeting:-

"Before proceeding with the order of business today, I think it is very important that I as Cathaoirleach of the Council make a public comment on the circumstances which led to the adjournment of the May meeting of the Council. The fact that all of the officials present left the meeting in protest leaves me with no option but to address this very serious issue.

The Cathaoirleach is responsible for the conduct of Council meetings and is charged with maintaining order. It is my duty, to the best of my ability, to uphold the integrity of this Council and to safeguard the reputation and standing of the people in this chamber.

Standing Order no. 39 clearly indicates that Council meetings shall be carried out in a dignified manner and in an atmosphere of respect for all concerned.

The Council cannot operate without a minimum level of mutual respect between elected members and staff, and this respect has been seriously eroded and the reputation of the Council compromised.

Standing orders are broad enough to accommodate full and frank debate. Members have a duty to examine and debate decisions and action of the Council, but are obliged to do so without impugning the reputation of officials.

I also wish to focus on the role of Councillors generally in the conduct of meetings. Members have collective responsibility to ensure that our proceedings are carried out in a fair and dignified manner and in a way that protects the staff from personal invective or harassment.

I am anxious to ensure we have no repetition of the events at our May monthly meeting, and am therefore proposing that this matter be considered by our Protocol Committee, who may make recommendations they deem appropriate to our standing orders."

The proposal by the Cathaoirleach that this matter be considered by the Protocol committee was seconded by Cllr D. Bree and agreed.

MINI-PLANS

At the outset it was proposed by Cllr P. McGrath, seconded by Cllr M. Barrett and agreed that the Mini Plan for Carney be take last.

Mr Pat Forkan, DOS said that the Mini-Plans were drafts and had not yet gone to public consultation. He said that there would be one public consultation stage of 4 weeks after which the members then had 6 weeks to adopt the plans. The purpose of today's meetings was for the members to consider what was being put before them so that they could progress to public consultation stage.

Following a general discussion it was Proposed by Cllr S. MacManus, Seconded by Cllr P. Conmy and agreed to proceed with the presentations of the three Mini Plans.

Ms. Fionnuala Meagher, Senior Executive Planner gave the presentation on the Mini-Plans.

Following the presentation, further discussion took place and it was Proposed by Cllr S. MacManus, Seconded by Cllr M. Gormley and agreed that copies of the presentation be circulated to members. It was decided at 1.00 pm to adjourn for lunch and to reconvene at 2.00pm and take the proposals from the floor with regard to each of the plans. The meeting reconvened at 2.15pm.

Coolaney / Rockfield Mini-Plan

Proposed by Cllr J. Lundy
Seconded by Cllr P. McGrath

AND AGREED

"To include area marked A on attached map for Light Industry/Residential"

Cllr D Bree and Cllr S. MacManus abstained.

Proposed by Cllr J. Lundy
Seconded by Cllr J. Sherlock

AND AGREED

"To include area marked B on attached map for Residential Use"

Proposed by Cllr M. Fleming
Seconded by Cllr J. Lundy and Cllr M. Gormley

AND AGREED

"To include land in submission No 10 for Residential Use"

Proposed by Cllr M. Gormley
Seconded by Cllr M. Fleming and Cllr J. Lundy

AND AGREED

"That the two planning applications that are currently under consideration in Coolaney - Ref No's 04/1422 and 06/137 be included in the Coolaney/Rockfield Mini Plan – map attached.

Proposed by Cllr V. Cawley
Seconded by Cllr J. McGarry

AND AGREED

"That the triangle marked E be zoned as community facilities".

Carney Mini-Plan

Proposed by Cllr S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Cllr J. Devins

AND AGREED

That the following zoning requests be agreed:-
Submission 4B – Residential Use 1.71 Acres
Submission 7 – Residential Use 8 Acres
Submission 22 – Residential Use 6.93 Acres

Dromore West Mini-Plan

Proposed by Cllr M. Barrett
Seconded by Cllr A. Higgins

AND AGREED

"That the area marked No 1 on the map be included for Residential use.

Cllr P. Conmy abstained.

Carney Mini-Plan

Proposed by Cllr V. Cawley
Seconded by Cllr D. Bree

AND AGREED

"That the junction on the entry road to Carney South be upgraded for safety reasons – Drumcliffe Road – J2”

COOLANEY ROCKFIELD MINI-PLAN

Proposed by Cllr S. MacManus
Seconded by Cllr S. Kilgannon

AND AGREED

"Having considered the proposed Draft Mini-Plan for Coolaney – Rockfield, dated May 2006 prepared by the County Manager in accordance with the variation procedure as set out in S.13 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2002 it is hereby resolved to approve the Draft Plan as submitted by the County Manager in order that public notice may be given of the preparation of the Draft Plan and written submissions or observations may be invited from the public for the further consideration of this Planning Authority before the making of the Plan in accordance with the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2002 and Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (subject to amendment(s) agreed at this meeting).

DROMORE WEST MINI-PLAN

Proposed by Cllr M. Barrett
Seconded by Cllr M. Fleming

AND AGREED

"Having considered the proposed Draft Mini-Plan for Dromore West, dated May 2006 prepared by the County Manager in accordance with the variation procedure as set out in S.13 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2002 it is hereby resolved to approve the Draft Plan as submitted by the County Manager in order that public notice may be given of the preparation of the Draft Plan and written submissions or observations may be invited from the public for the further consideration of this Planning Authority before the making of the Plan in accordance with the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2002 and Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (subject to amendment(s) agreed at this meeting)".

CARNEY MINI-PLAN

Proposed by Cllr S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Cllr J. McGarry

AND AGREED

"Having considered the proposed Draft Mini-Plan for Carney, dated May, 2006 prepared by the County Manager in accordance with the variation procedure as set out in S.13 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2002 it is hereby resolved to approve the Draft Plan as submitted by the County Manager in order that public notice may be given of the preparation of the Draft Plan and written submissions or observations may be invited from the public for the further consideration of this Planning Authority before the making of the Plan in accordance with the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2002 and Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (subject to amendment(s) agreed at this meeting)".

VOTES OF SYMPATHY:

Proposed by Councillor M. Gormley
Seconded by Councillor M. Fleming

AND AGREED

"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to John Gardiner on the death of his father, Noel".
"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Evelyn Gallagher on the death of her father, Jack Phillips".
"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Maura O'Rourke and family on the death of her husband, Paddy".
"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Cllr Gerry and Teesh Murray on the death of Paddy O'Rourke".

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor V. Cawley

AND AGREED

"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Manus and Brenda O'Riordan on the death of their father, Michael".

Proposed by Councillor P. Conmy
Seconded by Councillor M. Fleming

AND AGREED

"That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Kathleen Leonard on the death of her husband, Desmond".

The meeting ended at 3.30pm


Meeting Date 22/05/2006