Minutes 2007

Minutes of the Budget Meeting of Sligo County Council Held on 8th January 2007 at 11.00am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.


MEMBERS PRESENT:

  • Baker,
  • Barrett,
  • Barry,
  • Bree,
  • Cawley,
  • Colleary,
  • Conmy,
  • Devins,
  • Fleming,
  • Fox,
  • Gormley,
  • Healy McGowan,
  • Higgins,
  • Kilgannon,
  • Leonard,
  • Mac Manus,
  • McGarry,
  • McLoughlin,
  • McGrath,
  • Mullaney,
  • Murray,
  • Queenan

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr H. Kearns, County Manager
  • Mr T. Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Mr S. Concannon, Director of Services
  • Ms D. Clarke, Director of Services
  • Mr D. Breen, A/Director of Services
  • Ms M. McConnell, Senior Executive Officer
  • Mr K. Larkin, Senior Engineer
  • Mr J. McHugh, Senior Engineer
  • Mr T. Carroll, Senior Engineer
  • Mr M. Lydon, Head of Finance
  • Mr J. Owens, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Mr F. Moylan, Senior Executive Planner
  • Mr J. Moran, Administrative Officer
  • Ms P. R Gallagher, Senior Executive Officer
  • Mr C. Colleary, Veterinary Surgeon
  • Mr D. Tinney, County Librarian
  • Mr F. MacNabb, Administrative Officer
  • Mr C. McNamara, Staff Officer

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor J. McGarry presided.

VOTES OF SYMPATHY

Proposed by Councillor J. McGarry
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the Gray family on the death of Leo, and that the meeting be adjourned for 10 minutes as a mark of respect.

Proposed by Councillor T. McLoughlin
Seconded by Councillor S. Kilgannon

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the Yeats family on the death of Michael, and it was also further proposed that the meeting be then adjourned for a further 5 minutes as a mark of respect to the Yeats family”.

Before adjournment the following were also agreed by the meeting.

Proposed by S. Kilgannon
Seconded by A. Higgins

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the McDermott family, Rathedmond, on the death of Ita”

Proposed by Councillor T. McLoughlin
Seconded by Councillor S. Kilgannon

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Mrs Maisie McNabola on the death of her father, Matthew Bohan”.

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

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Tom Walsh, Tourlestrane, on the death of his mother, Maureen”.

Proposed by Councillor I. Fox
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

"That a vote of sympathy be extended to Vincent Horan, Barraroe, on the death of his wife Bridie and also to Martha Davey, Drumcliffe, on the death of her father Kevin McGowan”.

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

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to the McGann family, Riverstown, on the death of Paul”.

Proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor S. MacManus

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Caroline Colleary, staff member of Sligo County Council, on the death of her brother, David Kilcawley”.

Meeting was adjourned for 15 Minutes.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Proposed by Councillor S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Councillor A. Higgins

“That no further motions be voted on by the Council until such time as the entire budget has been considered in detail”.

As agreement could not be reached in relation to this resolution the Cathaoirleach asked that a pole be taken.

For: Baker, Barry, Bree, Cawley, Colleary, Devins, Healy McGowan, Higgins, Kilgannon, McGarry, Queenan, Sherlock.
Against: Barrett, Conmy, Fleming, Fox, Gormley, MacManus, McGrath, McLoughlin, Mullaney, Murray.

As the Result 12 for, 10 against the resolution was carried.

PROGRAMME GROUP 1; HOUSING AND BUILDING:

The members proceeded to consider Programme 1 Housing and Building;

Director of Service Ms Clarke outlined the housing and building programme for 2007.


She then responded to members queries as follows.

The allocation for housing construction not yet received from the Department though it is hoped that it will be increased again similar to 2006. In relation to Part V’s there would be approx 80 coming on stream in 2007. In response to a query on Respond she stated that difficulties had arisen in Strandhill on a number of issues including Health and Safety, however it was being resolved and she hoped to have a progress report for an area meeting at an early date. She stated that it was hoped that the Environmental Enhancement Scheme will continue beyond 3 years as it was very worthwhile and promoted involvement of residents in estates. The contract for Connolly Park, Tubbercurry was signed before Christmas and construction is soon to start. The improvement in lieu scheme is now functional again and the back log of applications is being dealt with. In response to queries on Disabled Persons Grants Ms Clarke stated that the scheme was being reviewed on a national basis, however it is felt that funding is adequate for 2007.

PROGRAMME GROUP 2; ROAD TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY:

The members proceeded to consider programme group 2 Road Transportation and safety.

Director of Services Mr S. Concannon outlined the Road Transportation and Safety programme.

In response to queries he stated that the N4 and N17 were scheduled for completion in 2010. In response to a query in relation to the Strandhill to Beladrehid road Mr. Concannon stated that the proposal for 2007 was for improvements only. Mr. Concannon stated in relation to the Western Distributor Road that works on the design would be completed by January 2007. It would then be going on display with a view to coming back to the members in March.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Proposed by Councillor S. MacManus
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

“To adjourn the meeting at 5pm until the 15th of January. It was further agreed to defer the Ordinary Meeting of the Council to Monday 22nd January at 11am”.

PROGRAMME GROUP NO. 3 - WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE:

The members proceeded to consider programme group 3, Water and Sewerage.

In relation to the cost of metered water supply as proposed in the 2007 Budget the County Manager pointed out that it was the Councils priority to provide the best supply and standard of water to its customers all year round. He stated that the water quality had improved great in recent years. The increased costs in 2007 related in the main to energy costs, staff costs of payments to the E.P.A. he also pointed out that costs countrywide would depend on the number of modern plants operating in the various counties – modern plants being more costly to run.  He also stated that it was a requirement to fix the charge in the year prior to the year the charge was fixed for.

VOTES OF SYMPATHY;

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

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to John and Mary McGann on the death of their son, Paul.

Proposed by Councillor M. Baker
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Mary Adams on the death of her husband, Philip.

Proposed by Councillor J. McGarry
Seconded by Councillor T. McLoughlin

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Vera Gray and family on the death of Leo”.

Proposed by Councillor I. Fox
Seconded by Councillor P.Conmy

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Vincent Horan on the death of his wife, Bridie”.

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Martha Davey on the death of her father, Kevin McGowan”.

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Maisie McNabola on the death of her father, Matthew Bohan”.

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Grainne Yeats on the death of her husband, Michael”.

Proposed by Councillor S. Kilgannon
Seconded by Councillor P. Barry

AND AGREED

That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Paddy McDermott on the death of his wife, Ita”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Padraig McGowan on the death of his father, Kevin”.

Proposed by Councillor M. Barrett
Seconded by Councillor P. McGrath

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Thomas Mahon on the death of his mother, Mary”.

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

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Joe Kennedy on the death of his nephew, Oliver”.

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Michael O’Hara on the death of his brother, John”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Tom Walsh on the death of his mother, Maureen”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Pauline Gilmartin on the death of his mother, Maureen Walsh”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to James Feely on the death of his father, John”.

“That a vote of sympathy be expressed to Eileen Brennan on the death of his sister, Rita Crowe”.

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

AND AGREEED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Ann Scanlon on the death of her mother, Shelia Foley”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Mary Doddy on the death of her husband, Joe”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Nicolas Murtagh and family on the death of his wife, Sadie”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Jim Benson on the death of his sister, Cassie McBride”.

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Caroline Collery on the death of her brother, David Kilcawley”.


The Meeting ended at 5.35pm.


Meeting Date 08/01/2007