Minutes of the February Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 1st February 2010, at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cathaoirleach sa Cathair

• Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan

I Láthair

• Cllr. P. Collins
• Cllr. B. Keane
• Cllr. PJ Lardner
• Cllr. M. Owens
• Cllr. M. McGrath
• Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes
• Cllr. C. Haugh

Apologies

• Cllr. PJ Lardner Cllr. K. Reilly

I Láthair

• N. Kaye, Acting Director of Services Housing and Social Policy
• J. Corry, Acting Town Clerk

Minutes of the January monthly Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 4th January 2010 at 8.00 p.m. at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

The Minutes were proposed by Cllr. C. Haugh and seconded by Cllr. E Haugh Hayes.

2. Kilkee Library renovation

R. Hurley, Co Architect, H. Walsh, Co. Librarian and S. Mulcahy Co. Arts Officer were present to give a presentation on the Kilkee Library renovation.

R. Hurley went through the plan for the renovation of the library in Kilkee.  She indicated that it was proposed to be a multifunctional building with a library, theatre, meeting rooms, etc.  She indicated that it was likely that the proposed renovation would go to planning in April 2010 and then to tender in August 2010 with the project commencing in November 2010.  She estimated that it would take the project one year to complete.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan questioned if there would be space in the design to accommodate a Tourist Office.

H. Walsh confirmed that there would be however that the tourist office would have to be manned by staff employed by Shannon Development.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan queried as to whether local workers could be considered to carry out some of the work in these difficult economic times.

N. Kaye indicated that the project could be advertised locally in advance of project going to tender so that all local contractors would have an opportunity to tender for the works.

Cllr. P. Collins queried if there would be an archive section in the design bearing in mind all the old documents relating to Kilkee.

H. Walsh indicated that material being archived needed to be stored in an environment that was secure and that also had a controlled temperature, etc. and that this building would not be suitable for same.

When questioned as to the most likely temporary home for the library whilst the redesign was taking place H. Walsh indicated that a number of options were being explored but that same was likely to be the Community Centre.

The members queried as to examples of libraries that would be good to visit to get an idea as to how a library use should be maximised.

H. Walsh indicated that she would recommend the libraries in Dooradoyle, Rathkeale and Scariff.

H. Walsh added that the library would retain the name Sweeney Memorial Library.

The members asked if the stained glass could be retained in the redesigned library.

R. Hurley indicated that this would not be a problem.

The members thanked R. Hurley, H. Walsh and S. Mulcahy for their presentation and welcomed the fact that the multifunctional aspect of the library was now being restored.

3. Corporate Plan

J. Corry indicated that the complete Corporate Plan was to go before each of the local authorities in Clare at their February meetings.  He indicated that all the members had been circulated with the draft plan at an earlier meeting and that their submissions had been invited.

Cllr. P. Collins queried as to the point of having a Corporate Plan.

N. Kaye said that same would be the framework within which Clare Local Authorities would operate for the next 5 years.  She added that each directorate had their own operational plans, which have objectives to be met which then feed into the Corporate Plan.  She said that in order to achieve corporate objectives that they need to action what needed to be done.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said you need to have a framework.

The Corporate Plan was therefore proposed by Cllr. B. Keane and seconded by Cllr. C. Haugh.

4. Boundary Extension

N. Kaye circulated a map of the proposed boundary extension together with a report on same. She indicated that from a planning and roads point of view that the proposed extension would satisfy the needs of Kilkee for the foreseeable future.  She added that if the members read through the report for the proposed boundary extension and that if they had any proposed amendments, etc. that same could be considered.  It was suggested that the proposed boundary extension would appear as a headed item again for the March meeting.

5. Allender's Field

J. Corry indicated that the sheltered fencing for the plants had been put in place by the Head Gardener in Vandeleur Walled Garden.  He added that the Head Gardener had advised that the plants planted last September were doing well.

J. Corry also mentioned re the footpaths in Allender's Field and indicated that water coming in to the site was the cause of the problem washing away the surface provided.  He added that the Town Foreman was looking at diverting water away from the site to solve this issue.  He also added that there would be more planting carried out here in the springtime.

N. Kaye added that she had put in a request to get further trees from Clare County Council.  She added that there was a lot of work to be done with regard to tidying up Allender's Field.  She suggested that there should be a plan in place with the Tidy Towns regarding Allender's Field and she suggested that perhaps monthly meetings could be held from March on.

Cllr. B. Keane asked if there were any plans to provide solar lighting in Allender's Field.

N. Kaye suggested that this could be examined.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said that she had investigated cost of solar lighting and that they cost €300 to €400 each.

6. Beach Bye Laws

J. Corry indicated that he had made further changes to the draft Byelaws based on feedback received.  He sought clarity on the extent of the byelaws and it was agreed that same would be from the Pollock Holes to the town boundary on the East End.  It was then collectively agreed and indicated on a map where the boundary was to extend from.  The dog restrictions were agreed to go from the Pollock Holes to the Beach. 

J. Corry said that the slipway would be covered by the Traffic Bye-Laws as opposed to the Beach Bye-Laws.  It was agreed however that it would be better to include the slipway on the Beach Bye-Laws.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan indicated that we would need to be careful that people would continue to be allowed walk their dogs on a leash in certain areas.

Cllr. C. Haugh agreed.

J. Corry indicated that within the designated beach byelaw areas that there would be specific restrictions within this area for the control of dogs, etc.

J. Corry asked if people had any further items, etc. that they wanted accommodated in the Beach Bye-Laws to contact him re same.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. C Haugh

"That Clare Co. Council reinstate the cleaning of the town at week - ends"

Response from Nora Kaye, A/Director of Services, Planning Land Use and Transportation.

We are endeavouring to review street cleaning in Kilkee and other towns during the winter months and will revert to the Council in due course.

Response Ends

Cllr. C. Haugh claimed that it was vitally important that the street cleaning at weekends was brought back without delay as she felt that it was vitally important to keep the streets clean at weekends.

Cllr. P. Collins agreed.

N. Kaye emphasised that budgets did not provide for overtime and street cleaning at weekends would all be done on overtime, which would be double time.  She emphasised that last year all costs were reduced on foot of a €9 million reduction on road grants.  She emphasised that workers then agreed to work at weekends for time in lieu as opposed to paid overtime.  She said the issue with this now was that so much time in lieu had been worked up that it was making it very difficult to manage even when Kilkee had been brought back to one day at the weekend.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes stated that weekends were most important time to a seaside resort and asked if one day could be cut during week instead of weekend.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that this would not be possible as unions, etc. would not agree with same.

N. Kaye emphasised that she would look at having same restored for the summer months.  She added that the weekday service had not been affected.  She also emphasised that there was a Community Warden appointed in Kilrush and that there was flexibility with his hours and that this could be also considered.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. C Haugh

 "Seeking clarification from Clare Co Council on the method used to pay local road staff for overtime"

Response from Nora Kaye, Acting Director of Services, Planning Land Use and Transportation.

As part of a cost cutting exercise in 2009 a number of measures were introduced, following consultation with relevant unions, whereby overtime would be in the first instance eliminated or reduced to the absolute minimum e.g. emergencies, and that where overtime was necessary that time in lieu would be granted instead of payment for same.

Response Ends

Cllr. C. Haugh asked if Water Services staff were paid for overtime as opposed to time in lieu.

N. Kaye said the proposal was sent to the Union before Christmas to have the same basis of compensation for water services staff as for roads staff, i.e. a time in lieu basis.  She said her understanding was that this proposal had been accepted but that she had not seen it in writing yet.  She said that same initially commenced with road staff on foot of the huge reduction in funding and that it was then decided that same should also apply to water services staff.  She also added that the proposal with the roads staff was for 1 year only and it needed to be agreed again with unions after this time.  N. Kaye said that local authorities also had to comply with the Working Time Act.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. C Haugh

"Re the shelters on the promenade, if same are used as a commercial outlet what income is derived from same and who benefits from it?"

Response from John Corry, Acting Town Clerk

Under the draft Beach Bye Laws for Kilkee, which are presently being prepared by Kilkee Town Council, it is envisaged that any commercial use made of the shelters on the promenade will be done so by licence under the Kilkee Beach Bye Laws. Any income generated from the granting of such licences will be payable to Kilkee Town Council.

 Response Ends

Cllr. C. Haugh queried as to what income was being derived by Kilkee Town Council for the use of the two beach huts being used by a local business.

J. Corry indicated that no income was being derived from same at the moment, as there was no mechanism by which Kilkee Town Council could legally charge for their use.  He added that the Beach Bye-Laws, which were presently being prepared, provided for deriving an income from the use of same.  J. Corry indicated that the business who was using the premises was very anxious to have same regularised going forward and that he did not have a problem with making a payment.

Correspondence

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan said she agreed with no. 5 and added that she would have a major problem with the minimum wage being reduced.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan added that she was also disappointed with the response Re the NPPR.

 Cllr P. Collins asked if there was any idea as to how much income had been generated by NPPR in Kilkee. 

John Corry added that there was a difficulty with obtaining same because there was no mechanism for determining how much income had been collected for Kilkee.

Nora Kaye said that unfortunately it was a national decision that had been made that non rating authorities would not be able to collect such revenue.

John Corry indicated that he hoped to have details of the income collected by NPPR for the March meeting.

11. A.O.B.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan said that a decision needed to be made by Kilkee Town Council whether or not they were prepared to make a one off contribution towards the Tourist Office in order to try and retain it in Kilkee.

John Corry indicated that a provision of €2K had been made in the Budget for Economic and Tourism Development.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan enquired of the members as to how they felt about utilising this provision.  She added that in order to ensure that the Tourist Office remained open that both the Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce needed to contribute towards same.

Cllr. Elaine Haugh Hayes added that they only required funding for this year as it was hoped that the Tourist Office could be provided in the renovated library the following year thereby significantly reducing the cost of running the Tourist Office for Shannon Development.

It was agreed by the Town Council that some funds might potentially be sourced for the Tourist Office on a one off basis.

Cllr. Li Marrinan Sullivan mentioned that there was a lot of dog soiling going on outside the school and that it was dangerous for kids.

Cllr. P. Collins queried as to whether or not signage could be put up.

Cllr. Elaine Haugh Hayes suggested that maybe the pupils attending school could emphasise the importance of tidying up after dogs when they were at home and that this may have a knock on effect in reducing instances of same.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan extended sympathies to Cllr. PJ Lardner on the recent death of his father R.I.P. and she added that their thoughts were with PJ at the moment.

Cllr. L Marrinan Sullivan also proposed a motion of sympathy to Bernadette Kinsella on the death of her mother.

Nora Kaye agreed with those motions of sympathy.

John Corry issued a reminder to the Members regarding returning the Donation Statements to him for those that had not already done so.

Cllr. P. Collins said that the Special Area of Conservation that was coming in within then next few months would possibly affect the beach in Kilkee.  He suggested that he would like to get the local wildlife ranger in to discuss same as they may affect the proposed beach bye laws.

Nora Kaye indicated that she would discuss same with the Planning Dept. to see what the implications would possibly be and would report to the members at the next meeting.

As there was no further business the meeting concluded.