Shannon.ie - Town Council Meeting Minutes October 2010

Present were Councillors; Brennan, Duff, Fleming, Flynn, McCafferty, McCarthy, Mc Loughlin & McMahon

In attendance were; Bernadette Kinsella – Town Manager & Liam O’Connor – Town Clerk

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Brennan and agreed; “That the minutes of the September Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday September 7th, 2010 having being circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile” Cllr. Fleming referred back to the July Meeting of Shannon Town Council and requested an update on the provision of a bus shelter at Cronan. The Town Clerk told the meeting that LIT are interested in a bus shelter project as had been done previously. The completion date for such a project would be April or May. The Town Clerk added that ancillary works pertaining to the provision of a bus shelter would be carried out by Clare County Council, but Shannon Town Council would have to fund the works. He estimated that the cost of the shelter would be a minimum of €9,000. It was noted that the provision of a bus shelter by Clare County Council was previously estimated at €10,250. It was agreed that a written proposal on the bus shelter would be brought to council

The following Notice of Motion adopted by Monaghan Town Council was supported by the elected members; “That this Council deplores the decision by ESB to increase charges by almost 5% at a time when the wholesale cost of same has reduced by 2%”

A letter from Ray Cordon of Radharc na Coille regarding grass cutting and the taking in charge of the estate was noted. It was requested that Clare County Council would respond to the residents on the issues

The notification of the Tourism Conference was noted. Cllr. McLoughlin stated that in previous years non County Council members were afforded the opportunity of attending this conference

A petition from St. Caimins School requesting a pedestrian barrier, upgrade of road lining and additional cycling facilities was noted. The elected members felt that parking facilities in the school grounds should be used as the main problems related to parking on the road outside the school

The report from the July Area Meeting, having been circulated was noted

Cllr. Brennan noted that she had met the Roads Engineer on the issue of defective signs in Shannon. The members expressed concern regarding the costs of the signs. It was agreed that an update on the issue would be got for the next meeting. Cllr. Fleming told the meeting that plans for a family fun day at Halloween were progressing. On the proposal of Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. McLoughlin it was agreed that a contribution of €300 would be given to the event

It was agreed that a meeting to discuss the community grants allocations and liosta na laochra awards for 2010 would be held on November 2nd, 2010 at 5.30 p.m

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by McCarthy and agreed; “To ask the Area Engineer to attend the next meeting of Shannon Town Council to advise and discuss what arrangements will be put in place this coming winter in the event of we getting severe frost or flooding”

Mr. Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer, Roads will attend the next Shannon Electoral Area meeting and will discuss the “Review of the Transport Response to Severe Weather in November 2009 to January 2010”, as published by the Dept of Transport recently, and the recommendations made in that report. Minutes from this meeting will be made available to the next Town Council meeting. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Cllr. McLoughlin expressed disappointment that the engineer would only be submitting a report to the next meeting. The Meara Bhaile noted that the Area Engineer and Senior Engineer would be invited to the next meeting

Proposed by Cllr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and agreed; “To ask the Housing Section Clare County Council what is the up to date position on social housing in Shannon Town, A. How many are on the housing list? B. What type of accommodation is required? C. How many units will be allocated in the next 4 years?”

A: 505 B: The types of accommodation required are generally 2 or 3 bedroom units. Approximately 3% of housing applicants for the Shannon area would have a requirement for accommodation comprising of 4 bedroom units. C: In the current economic climate it is unlikely that any large scale new housing schemes will receive approval from the DOEHLG. Accordingly, alternative social housing options will continue to be used to meet housing need in the Shannon area, including the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Social Leasing Scheme and the filling of casual vacancies. It is not possible to predict how many units will be allocated in the next 4 years. Liam O’Connor Senior Staff Officer Housing, Social & Cultural Services Clare County Council Members expressed concern that the housing list was growing and that there were no funds being provided to construct new houses. Cllr. Flynn requested that the figure given for the amount of people on the housing list would be clarified as he had previously been given a figure of 900. It was agreed that this would be clarified at the next meeting, as well as the amount of people that are in receipt of rent supplement and the longest length of time that an applicant has been on the housing list

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCafferty; “That Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to apply to the Minister for the Environment for emergency funds to deal with essential remedial repairs to the wastewater infrastructure in Shannon in view of the alarming state of the local infrastructure”

As outlined by Mr. Sean Ward, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, to the September meeting of the Shannon Electoral Area a brief has been prepared in relation to the Shannon sewerage scheme for consultants to

1. Design the advance works contract to upgrade the biggest foul pumping stations and associated infrastructure. This advance works contract is of critical importance to Shannon. It is expected that these documents will be ready by early 2011, and the Preliminary Report with its accompanying EIS will be forwarded to the DEHLG for approval

Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

The elected members expressed concern regarding the issue of wastewater infrastructure in Shannon. It was noted that the council needed to submit a report to the Department as soon as possible on the issue, to enable funds to be drawndown for temporary works before the main contract goes ahead

Proposed by Cllr. McMahon, seconded by Cllr. Fleming and agreed; “That double yellow lines on Bealach Bri, at the junction to Brookfields, Oakfields and Tullyvarraga Hill (Opposite the Health Centre), be extended in the direction of the Town Centre to give better visibility to approaching traffic when accessing that road”

Improving visibility is desirable at this junction. I will therefore arrange to have the necessary bye laws drafted for the extension of double yellow lines on Bealach Bri and brought before an electoral area meeting for consideration

Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Cllr. McMahon noted that the junction was very dangerous and needs to be addressed. In response to a query from Cllr. McLoughlin regarding bye-laws, the Town Clerk told the meeting that Clare County Council were the roads authority for Shannon and therefore would be responsible for traffic bye-laws

Proposed by Cllr. McCafferty, seconded by Cllr. McLoughlin and agreed; “That Shannon Town Council calls on the members and executive of Clare County Council to act in the interests of local business and employment by significantly reducing commercial rates for tourism, retail and SME sector”

All Business within our County and its competitiveness is an integral part of our local economy and we continue to be cognisant of this. In the period 2005 to date Clare County Council have reduced the increase in commercial rates year on year, from a level of 7.5% increase in 2002 to no increase in 2010. In adopting our budget for 2010, Clare County Council did not increase commercial rates for 2010 and has reduced our water charge by 3%

The consideration of a reduction in commercial rates for the county would have to be done in the context of the Budget process as the legislation specifies and this is a function of the members of the council. This total Commercial Rates income in our 2010 budget is €35.7m, and is used to fund the general provision of services throughout the county To introduce a reduction in this ARV or multiplier for 2011 would require the identification of matching additional income sources and/or reduced expenditure budgets

Clare Local Authorities is experiencing significant revenue income shortfalls from central government. In 2009 our Local Government fund reduced 10% over the previous year levels with a further reduction of 6.02% in 2010

Noeleen Fitzgerald A/Head of Finance Clare County Council

Cllr. McCafferty noted that a huge number of jobs had been lost in the Shannon area and that one of the factors for closures of businesses was the burden of rates. She added that the local authority should identify savings to reduce rates, such as a reduction in pay, and called on the elected members of Clare County Council to cut rates. In supporting the motion Cllr. McLoughlin noted that more funding should be provided by central government. Concerns were expressed that businesses in the town centre were paying for services charges as well as commercial rates. Cllr. McCarthy noted that a small sector were paying rates and that situation could only be changed by central government. She added that council employees had already had their pay cut and have been subject to a pension levy and an income levy. Cllr. Mulcahy noted that funding been provided from central government was insufficient

Proposed by Cllr. McCafferty, seconded by Cllr. Fleming and agreed; “That the Shannon Town Manager and Director of Services for Housing, Social & Cultural Services furnish this council with a report on; The apparent absence of activity on the building site for so-called ‘affordable housing’ at Cluain Airne

There have been delays in the completion of this contract arising from a number of factors, including the poor weather conditions last winter, the requirement to extinguish rights of way and general issues associated with the economic downturn. The Council, cognizant of the impact of these issues on contract delivery has agreed to a extension of contract completion date. It is planned that the current contract will be completed in March, 2011

There are currently 147 expressions of interest registered and communication will issue to the interested parties in the next few weeks

Sixteen houses in the scheme will be available for direct purchase under the affordable housing scheme. The remaining six units, which are designated as “step down” are not available for purchase. The terms of the incremental purchase scheme therefore do not apply

Bernadette Kinsella Director of Service & Shannon Town Manager

Concerns were expressed regarding the fact that work on the site appeared to have stopped. Queries were raised relating to landscaping, the access road to the site, infrastructure works, the possibility of further delays, if penalties were in place on the contract, how much of a loan was drawndown for the works and if the lower end of the site could be tidied up. In response the Town Manager noted that works had not stopped on the site and that a contract was still in place. She added that it was unfortunate that there was slippage with regard to the completion date for the works but there was no reason to think that the works would not be completed by March. With regard to future development at Cluain Airne, Ms. Kinsella outlined that it would be dependent on demand and supply. She outlined that the elected members would be kept informed of progress on the development

Proposed by Cllr. Fleming, seconded by Cllr. Duff and agreed; “I am asking Clare County Council to look at the possibility of providing a set down area at the front of Skycourt Shopping Centre facing Rossbracken, as it is unfair that people using the ATM and Video Shop for 5 minutes are being ticketed”

The provision of a set down area in front of the Skycourt Shopping Centre is a matter for the Skycourt Management Company and not Clare County Council at this location given that the footpath is not in the ownership of the Council. A proposed layout was drafted for a set down area some time ago by the Skycourt’s Management Company however this has not progressed

Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Safety concerns were expressed regarding the area in question by the elected members and Cllr. Fleming requested that clarification would be got as to whether Skycourt or Clare County Council were responsible for the area in question

Proposed by Cllr. Duff; " Shannon Town Council call on the Clare County Council to give priority to filling in the potholes in the Inis Fail, Ard na Mara & the other areas in the town in which this problem is occurring as a result of weathering & wear."

I will arrange to have the potholes in the Inis Fail and Ard na Mara filled

Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Cllr. Duff was satisfied with the reply

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McCafferty and agreed; " Shannon Town Council call on the Clare County Council to include Ard na Mara in their footpath replacement programme"

This footpath will be considered for inclusion in the 2011 footpath repairs programme. Eugene O’Shea Senior Executive Engineer Shannon Area Office Clare County Council

Cllr. McMahon was satisfied with the reply

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCafferty and agreed; “That Shannon Town Council request the Town Manager to help the committee of the local Tullyvarraga Community Hall in their efforts to keep this facility open for community use in Shannon”

The most recent community grants scheme operated by the County Council was deferred in 2008 owing to severe financial restrictions. It would be a matter for the Town or County Council to consider the reintroduction of any such scheme in conjunction with the budgetary process 2011

Bernadette Kinsella Director of Service and Shannon Town Manager

The elected members noted that the importance of keeping this community facility open. In response to a request from Cllr. Flynn, the Town Manager indicated that she would meet the committee of the Tullyvarraga Community Hall. It was noted that the issue of the community hall had been brought up at a previous meeting and it was agreed that this would be clarified for the next meeting

The meeting then concluded

Meara BhaileSigned : ___________________Dated : ______________

Signed : ___________________ Dated : __________ Town Clerk