Minutes of the December Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 3^rd December, 2007 at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee.

Cathaoirleach sa Cathair

• Cllr. P.J Lardner

I Láthair

• Cllr. Tom Nolan
• Cllr. P J Linnane
• Cllr. Brian Keane
• Cllr. Claire Haugh
• Cllr. Michael McGrath
• Cllr. Carmel Deloughery

Apologies

• Cllr. Michael Martin
• Cllr. Lily Marrinan Sullivan

I Láthair      

• David Timlin, Director of Service & Town Manager
• Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
• Siobhan O'Keeffe, A/Town Clerk

Item 1: Minutes of the November monthly meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 5^th November 2007 at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee.

Cllr. Nolan requested to clarify that the request for a dedicated medical helicopter to be sent to the department was obviously in the context of serving West Clare and the entire region and not just Kilkee.

The minutes of the November monthly meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 5^th November were then adopted having been proposed by Cllr. Tom Nolan and seconded by Cllr. PJ Lardner.

Item 2: Progress report on Hodges Green, UVR Scheme

Written report submitted by Derek Troy, Exexutive Engineer

The tarmacadam is now complete at Hodges Green. An application has been forwarded to ESB re connection of uplights and we are awaiting approval of same

Planting / landscaping will then follow but will be subject to seasonal factors such as weather etc

Report Ends

Cllr. Nolan asked whether the paving in Hodges Green will continue onto Grattan Street. Derek Troy, Executive Engineer confirmed that there is plans for a roundabout at that location and so the kerbing would not be continued until after that project comes to fruition.

Item 3: Review of Kilkee Traffic Management Plan

Written report submitted by Siobhán O'Keeffe, A/Town Clerk

A reminder notice will appear in the Clare Champion dated 7^th December regarding the review process. It advises again that the plan is available for inspection until 17^th December and that submissions can be made in writing to the roads section, Clare County Council, Town Hall, Kilrush until the 8^th January 2008. To date 2 submissions have been received.

Derek Troy, Executive Engineer has carried out a speed survey in one direction along Marine Parade. A small percentage of excessive speeding was recorded in this survey. A further survey, taken from the opposite direction will be carried out in the coming days which should present a more complete picture.

Report Ends

Siobhán O'Keeffe, A/Town Clerk asked members to encourage residents to forward submissions before the deadline of the 8^th January.
Cllr. Claire Haugh advised that members of the local fire service had expressed concerns regarding the lack of parking available in Erin Street for firemen in emergency situations.

Item 4: Burns Cove

Cllr. Tom Nolan passed his proposal for improvement works on Burns Cove to Derek Troy and advised that he was happy to accommodate a site visit to explain further any aspect of it.
It was agreed that Derek Troy, Executive Engineer would examine the proposal.

Item 5: Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Tom Nolan

'That this council seek the immediate cessation, including interlocutory injunction, of quarrying at Moveen East, pending full examination and inquiry into the acquisition and grant of registration of the quarry by Clare County Council, the use of the quarry by Clare County Council, the enforcement (of lack of same) of conditions attaching to the operation of the quarry, the disruption of the peaceful existence of the people of Kilkee and its visitors by lorries using the quarry and the detrimental impact on the environment and the economic future of the area from a touristic perspective'

At the outset Cllr. Nolan advised that he wished to change his request to call on Clare County Council to take a section 5 referral to An Bord Pleanala to consider a review of the planning permission on Moveen Quarry as to whether a fresh planning permission should be sought regarding the level of activity taking place in this quarry from the original grant of permission.

Cllr. Haugh said that she agreed with some of the issues raised by Cllr. Nolan on this matter such as the need for enforcement on screening and overladen lorries but would not agree with the closure of the quarry and the loss of jobs.
Cllr. Linnane said that Kilkee Town Council should wait for due process in the appeal to An Bord Pleanala to take place.

Cllr. Keane said that locals are under the impression that the double yellow lines on Marine Parade have been put down to accommodate the lorries travelling to and from Moveen Quarry.

Cllr. Nolan said that he was worried that due process will not take place because of the conflict of interest with Clare County Council using material from the quarry and reiterated his request for Clare County Council to take a section 5 referral to An Bord Pleanala.

David Timlin, Town Manager stressed that there was no conflict of interest as the volume being bought by Clare County Council from Moveen Quarry was very small and that nothing would stand in the way of due process. He stressed again that the planning permission had been granted on appeal by the Minister in the late 60's.

Item 6: Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Tom Nolan

'That all parking fees collected in Kilkee over the summer period, or a fixed percentage of same, be assigned to Kilkee Town Council for spending on agreed improvements to tourist amenities in the town'

Already dealt with at the Annual Budget Meeting

Item 7: Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Tom Nolan

'That the Town Manager end the practice of levying a minimum charge for water on rate paying business premises with water metres in place'

Written report submitted by David Timlin, Town Manager
Water Services, Clare County Council are currently installing meters for all non-domestic customers in the county. Once this programme is completed in 2008, I understand that a fixed meter charge and a variable charge for water consumption is likely to be introduced.

Report Ends

Cllr. Nolan advised that a situation has arisen whereby despite having a meter the amount being charged has been increased to a minimum amount. He said that this was not in keeping with Clare County Councils policy issued last year. He said it is flawed, unfair and not in accordance with the Polluter Pays Principle but instead the less you use, you actually pay a minimum charge. He called on the Manager to end this practice and just to levy the amount used.

David Timlin, Town Manager stressed that the Council has very little discretion on this matter with policy on water pricing being driven from Government / EU. He requested that Cllr. Nolan bring forward individual cases and that he would bring them to the attention of the water service: s section to investigate.

Item A.O.B

Contribution towards Kilkee Christmas Lights

Siobhán O'Keeffe, A/Town Clerk requested approval from the elected members to issue the annual contribution to Kilkee Chamber of Commerce towards the Christmas Lighting in Kilkee. She confirmed that this contribution is accommodated under the miscellaneous expenses in the budget. Members approved the contribution.

Replacement of Sign

Cllr. PJ Lardner requested that the sign for Kilfearagh Cemetery be replaced with a sign for Kilfearagh Graveyard. Derek Troy agreed to look at this.

Bog Road, Kilkee

Cllr. Keane expressed his serious concerns regarding the condition of the bog road as a result of the ongoing housing development. Derek Troy advised that he was monitoring the situation and has instructed the developers that all vehicles must be taken off the road in compliance with the condition attached to the grant of planning permission.

Infrastructure Projects

Derek Troy, Executive Engineer advised the members of two projects due to commence as follows;

• Storm Line from the Convent development to Carrigaholt Road Roundabout. This is due to start in the next few weeks.
• West Clare Water Supply. The supply from the Donnaghtboy reservoir is being upgraded. As part of this scheme a new line is to be laod from Donnaghtboy to the Carrigaholt Roundabout. Derek confirmed that in time this will make the reservoir / treatment plant redundant and will greatly improve the water supply issues in Kilkee.

As there was no further business the meeting concluded.