Minutes of the January Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 4th January 2010, at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cathaoirleach sa Cathair

• Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan

I Láthair

• Cllr. P. Collins
• Cllr. B. Keane
• Cllr. K. Reilly
• Cllr. M. Owens
• Cllr. M. McGrath
• Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes
• Cllr. C. Haugh

Apologies

• Cllr. PJ Lardner

I Láthair

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

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan commenced by wishing everyone a very happy new year.

Minutes of the December monthly Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 7th December 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cllr. P. Collins asked the Town Clerk if he had any news on the lighting in
St. Patrick's Terrace, as he said they were still in total darkness.

J. Corry indicated that he had spoken to the overseer on the matter and that he was arranging for same to be rectified.  He added that he would again follow up on same.

Cllr. P. Collins queried as to whether or not he could get to view the Clare County Council Public Lighting Programme for 2010 to see what was included for Kilkee.

N. Kaye indicated that she would be meeting with Airtricity early in the New Year and that she wanted to talk to them about a number of issues. 

Cllr. P. Collins queried as to who would be maintaining the lights.

N. Kaye indicated same would be maintained by Airtricity for 2010 as ESB are getting out of maintaining public lights and have assigned current contracts to Airtricity for 2010.  She added that during 2010 a public procurement process would be done with a view to sourcing a new supplier. 

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that there has been a major problem with public lighting in Kilkee over a long period of time.  She mentioned specifically that there were no lights in Chapel Street from the School to the Church.  She also mentioned St. Patrick's Terrace and the Miltown Road.  She added that if N. Kaye was meeting with Airtricity that it should be pointed out that in Kilkee the Town Council were unhappy with the service provided up to now by ESB.

Cllr. B. Keane advised that he contacted the office in Ennistymon over 6 weeks ago about lights out beyond the Church.  He advised that lights still were not fixed and that he was informed at the time that lights in Ennis had to be fixed first.

J. Corry suggested that the Members outline to him, which public lights were not working and that they would then contact Airtricity regarding same to ensure same was rectified.
 
Each of the Members wrote down the lights which they were aware of that were not working and gave this list to the Town Clerk.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that she hoped that these lights would be repaired for the February meeting.  She also asked that when the Town Manager was meeting with Airtricity that she would find out what the turnaround time was for repairing these lights.

The Minutes were proposed by Cllr. P. Collins and seconded by Cllr. K. Reilly

Minutes of the Budget Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 7th December 2009 at 7.30p.m. at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee.

The Minutes were proposed by Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan and seconded by Cllr. P. Collins

Kilkee Chamber of Commerce

It was suggested that a meeting would take place between Kilkee Town Council, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce and the Head of IT in Clare County Council at 7:00 p.m. in advance of the February meeting.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes agreed that this would be very beneficial as she added that Kilkee Chamber of Commerce were very anxious to post information etc. on the Kilkee.ie website.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that the meeting should be opened up to other organisations that would use this website.

The Members agreed to contact various others organisations regarding this meeting.

Boundary Extension

N. Kaye showed a map of the proposed boundary extension to the members.  She indicated that by extending a mile beyond each of the speed limits that it didn't form a natural boundary.

Cllr. P. Collins queried as to why this map didn't included the settlement areas as per the Development Plan.

It was agreed to include all Settlement areas in the map of the proposed boundary extension. 

N. Kaye indicated that this map had been discussed with both the Road's Department and the Planning Department and that it was felt that same would be more that adequate for Kilkee's needs over the coming years.
She added that she would prepare a draft report on the proposed boundary extension for the February meeting and that if that was agreed then that it could be sent to the Boundary Commission.

J. Corry clarified the query raised at the last meeting regarding the population required to change from a non-rating Town Council to a rating Town Council.  He indicated that the section of the Local Government Act 2001, which deals with this, had not yet been enacted.  He also advised that the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government had indicated that this would be looked at in the context of the White Paper.

Allender's Field

J. Corry indicated that the Head Gardner in Vandeleur Walled Garden was continuing to inspect same.  He added that materials had been purchased to erect wind shelters for the plants and that same would be put in place as quickly as possible.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that the pathways in Allender's Field were in very bad repair and needed to be looked at.  She added that these pathways had been identified last year as needing repair and that they had been repaired however they were now in need of repair once again.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said someone suggested to her about putting in a skateboard arena in Allender's Field.

Cllr. C. Haugh agreed with Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes and said that she would like to see it utilised more.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that some of the residents may not be in favour of same.  She said she would like to see an indoor arena being available for the youth in Kilkee as she felt that this would be utilised more. 

N. Kaye indicated that what was in Allender's Field today was what was decided upon after public consultation.  She said that maybe people's minds have changed, as there were a number of years now since the public consultation had taken place.

Cllr. C. Haugh said that the facility was not utilised.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said it was far better now than it was before enhancement took place when it was rat infested.

Beach Bye Laws

It was agreed that there was no need to discuss same further as a meeting had taken place prior to this meeting regarding same and the members knew where they wanted to go with same.

Fix date for an information session and tour of Aras Chontae an Chlair

It was agreed that a date for this information session would be fixed in March.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. M. Owens.

"Calling on Kilkee Town Council to support the service in West Clare under the Local Development Plan. Enterprise service is gone, there is a threat to other services including the carers group and autism"

Cllr. M. Owens said that the services once carried out by Eiri Corca Baiscinn and now taken over by CLDC, were being removed from the Community Centre in Kilkee.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said it was a tragedy that these jobs were being moved from Kilkee to Ennis.  She added that they provided a large number of courses in Kilkee and also the rent from these courses sustained the community centre. 

Cllr. C. Haugh also agreed with Cllr. Owens motion.

N. Kaye indicated that this was a national problem.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that a letter supporting this motion be sent to be the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment regarding this decision to pull out these services from Kilkee.

Cllr. P. Collins indicated that the letter should explain the remoteness of West Clare.

Cllr E. Haugh Hayes suggested a meeting be held with the committee of the community centre regarding the possible job losses and the potential income loss.

It was suggested that a letter be sent to the committee of the community centre expressing the interest of the council in meeting with the community centre committee to discuss this issue and how it may impact on the community centre.  It was suggested that the letter be sent to Cllr. Pat Keane.

Correspondence

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that the budget of the Resource Centre in Kilrush had been cut by 10% but they would continue to provide their services in 2010 and she felt that this was very good news.  She said that this does show the power of a letter. 

Cllr. P. Collins asked if any indication had been given as to why the Tourist Office was being closed.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that Shannon Development were evaluating all of their facilities and the money that they have available.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said that Kilkee could not afford to close the Tourist office.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said Tourism in Kilkee was crucial to the economy of West Clare. She added that there was a meeting scheduled for the 7th of January at 2.30 pm in the Stella Maris with Shannon Development to discuss this matter. She added that Deputy Pat Breen had organised this meeting and she wished to thank him for this.

A.O.B.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes queried further to her motion at the December meeting if she could see the plan that had been previously prepared for Kilkee.
 
Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said she would get a copy of same for Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes that week.

N. Kaye added that whilst Kilkee does not have a Town Plan that it is part of the West Clare Area Plan.  She added that the Draft County Development Plan was due to go to on display later this month and she had asked the Senior Planner to pencil in a consultation with Kilkee Town Council in relation to policies generally.  She said that this may take place at the March meeting.

Cllr. M. Owens mentioned that she had spoken with the supervisor of the Rural Social Scheme and that there were 3 people on the Rural Social Scheme that had no work now for the winter and that they could carry out work in the town for older people e.g. Painting, fixing locks etc. She said that she could pass on the supervisors contact number to anyone that had such jobs.

N. Kaye mentioned that renovation works were planned for the library in Kilkee and that the planned works could be shown to the members.  

Cllr. P. Collins asked if the plans would go on display in the library.

N. Kaye mentioned that as part of the Part 8 process that the detail would be available in the libraries.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan enquired if as part of the plans that they would bring the old drama part back.

N. Kaye indicated that they were.

Cllr. P. Collins confirmed that he had heard nothing from Clare County Council regarding his membership of an SPC .

J. Corry indicated that he would follow up on same.

As there was no further business the meeting concluded.