Minutes of the June Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Tuesday 8th June 2010, at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cathaoirleach sa Cathair:

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan

I Láthair:

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

I Láthair:       

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

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

With reference to the minutes of the May meeting, the Town Manager indicated that there was a concern around the health and safety of the diving boards in Kilkee and she indicated that she had given the instruction that they be removed. She added that there was a renewed health and safety focus right throughout the organisation.  She indicated that the fact that Clare County Council put in place and removed the boards that they were being associated with the action of diving from those boards.  She added that there was also the difficulty of ensuring that these diving boards would be included under the council's insurance policy because of this safety concern. She added that she would be having a meeting with an insurance representative from IPBMI the following day and that she would be raising this matter with him.
There was a general discussion on this matter and some Members expressed their concerns and reservations regarding the removal of the boards and the fact that it was being suggested now during the busy tourist season.

N. Kaye said she had a responsibility as an official of Clare County Council to ensure that Health and Safety was prioritised.
Cllr. P. Collins clarified re the Bandstand project, that he had not said that all works would not now be necessary.  He added that the point he had made was that works needed to be done but perhaps not for cost envisaged of €128,000.
Cllr. P. Collins mentioned that re Courthouse upgrade, FÁS didn't have any plans to carry out such works.  
J. Corry indicated that from his communication with FÁS this too was the impression that he had received from them but that he would continue to try and see if a FAS scheme could be secured for Kilkee. 
Cllr. P. Collins asked if there was a chequered box going in front of the garage on Circular Road. 
J. Corry indicated that he had discussed same with Derek Troy and that an application would have to be made by the proprietor of the garage for same.
The Minutes were proposed by Cllr. P. Collins and seconded by Cllr. P.J. Lardner.

Presentation from Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh, Irish Officer, Clare County Council.
Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh gave a presentation on Sceim Teanga, 2010-2013 and the responsibilities of Local Authorities under the Official Languages Act, 2003. She added that the Irish Language was very strong in the West Clare area.
The members thanked her for the presentation

Homeless Action Plan

J. Corry referred the members to the fact that a Draft Homelessness Action Plan had now been prepared for the Mid West Region and Kilkee Town Council, as a Housing Authority would be kept briefed on the implementation blueprint with regard to same.

Annual Financial Statement for 2009

J. Corry reported to the Members that the balance on the Revenue Account as at December 31st, 2009 was €12,029.53 Cr and when compared to a credit balance of €15,681.77 Cr as at December 31st, 2008 a deficit of €3,652.24 had been achieved. Actual Expenditure for the year in the sum of €89,232.44 was greater than the estimated expenditure of €82,298.72 in the sum of €6,933.72. He added that a total of €85,580.20 was received compared to estimated income of €82,298.72, which shows that a total of €3,281.48 was over realised in receipts.
N. Kaye indicated that overall it was a very positive result.
Cllr. P. Collins queried as to what the fire insurance related to.
J. Corry indicated that same related to Local Authority Housing
The AFS was then Proposed by Cllr. P.J. Lardner and Seconded by Cllr. C Haugh
J. Corry then went on to indicate that the Council’s approval for the following items of over expenditure was required:
Contingencies in the amount of €2,710.80, which related to Phone allowance for Members paid in 2009 not provided for
AMAI in the amount of €6.66 due to the location of Conferences being further than anticipated
Collectors Poundage in the amount of €51.24 due to Rents greater than budgeted for being collected.

Over-expenditure was Proposed by Cllr. K. Reilly and Seconded by Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes.

Overdraft Approval

J. Corry indicated to the members that approval was sought for the temporary borrowing in the sum of €10,000 by way of overdraft accommodation on the Kilkee Town Councils bank account for the period 1st July 2010 to 31st December 2010. He added that it was prudent to make overdraft facilities available even if only required for short periods and that having the overdraft facility available did not create a cost unless it was utilised.
The overdraft approval was proposed by Cllr. M Owens and seconded by Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan

Allender’s Field

J. Corry said that the other flowerbed would be sprayed and cleared out for planting and that is what would be done this year.
A number of the members felt that the field looked very well and that there was a lot of growth up there.
Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that stepping over the fencing was an issue as well as providing access to water up there.  She said grass being cut made a huge difference up there.
The question was raised regarding why the lighting was not working up there and J. Corry said he was following up same with the Town Engineer.
It was agreed that no further investment should take place until it was seen that the works carried out to date in the gardens were successful.

Public Lighting at Strandline

N. Kaye mentioned that a proposal should be agreed and presented to the County Manager regarding works Kilkee Town Council wanted done in Kilkee in lieu of NPPR monies collected in Kilkee.  She indicated that Derek Tory had given an estimation of €800 per light to upgrade them and that there were 16 poles from the Waterfront on the Strandline to Waterworld. It was estimated that upgrading lights with a maritime trend would cost twice the normal cost. 
It was strongly suggested by the Members that the area around the bandstand be lit up.
Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that over the June Bank Holiday weekend there was no public lighting working in the West End and she wanted a letter to issue to the ESB regarding this. 
J. Corry suggested that it was suggested by the Gardaí that lighting needed to be improved in Kilkee.
N. Kaye suggested that she would discuss a possible design with someone in planning to advance same and prepare a plan. She also suggested that a costing should be prepared by the town engineer.

Set date for Kilkee JPC meeting

It was suggested by the Members that same would take place at 6pm on 28th June before the AGM

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. B. Keane.

"That Clare County Council replace the Paving Stones next to the band stand on the Promenade in Kilkee, that were removed over a year ago by the Council".

Response from Derek Troy, Town Engineer

Clare County Council will replace the concrete paving slabs at this location in the coming weeks.

Response Ends

It was suggested that this work needed to be done as a matter of urgency as someone had fallen and got hurt at this location earlier that day.

J. Corry indicated that he would follow up same with the Town Engineer

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes.

“Rubbish has become a serious issue and i would urge the council that they     would add a few more bins to the East End Car Park and area.”

Response from Derek Troy, Town Engineer

There are no plans currently to provide additional bins at this location. As part of the requirements of the Blue Flag beach, recycling bring banks will be put in place, as has been done for the last number of years, for the duration of the bathing season. It has been found in the past the placing of additional bins at certain locations can be subject to vandalism and have been filled with domestic refuse.

Response Ends

A number of councillors said that there used to be bins at the back of the shelters at the East End.  Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said it was not a good enough answer to not have bins in place because of a fear of domestic rubbish being put in there.
There was a general discussion around the street cleaning in Kilkee stating that more than 2 hours was required.
N. Kaye said there was also a requirement for businesses to keep area outside their own premises clean.
Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said she looked at town centre and not one business had a bin outside their premises.
J. Corry said he would see if there was possibility of putting in bins on the East End.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes.

 “As the East End Car Park is a Charging Facility for parking surely the upkeep of the Car Park would be a priority, I would ask the council to tarmacadam the car park from the proceeds of the parking metres.”

Response from Derek Troy, Town Engineer

There is no funding available in the Clare County Council 2010 Roadwork’s programme for resurfacing works at this location. I will submit this proposal to be included in the 2011 Surface Dressing programme.
Response Ends

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said car park was in a dangerous condition and needed to be looked at.  She said this would not occur in Lahinch or Spanish Point.
 
N. Kaye suggested that if there was any saving on any scheme in 2010 that it could possibly be looked at in 2010.

J. Corry confirmed that parking meters were being used and that it would be possible to monitor the income collected from these meters.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes.

 “As the Summer is approaching i have been asked by some of the youth if we could put in some floating pontoons to dive off out in the bay.”

Response from   Liam Griffin, Clare Civil Defence and Water Safety Officer

It has been the policy of Irish Water Safety for many years to identify safe areas of water, and then recommend these areas of water to the public as being safe to swim at. In the case of Kilkee the area identified is the area in front of the lifeguard hut. When it is safe to swim, two red over yellow flags are placed on the beach by the lifeguards and the public are advised to swim only between these flags. Irish Water Safety does not issue any guidelines regarding diving etc and in that regard I would not recommend the placing of floating pontoons in the bay.

Response Ends

At this point, it was noted that motions submitted by Cllr P. Collins had been inadvertently omitted from the agenda. The members agreed to deal with these motions.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. P. Collins.

 “That Clare County Council remove the "no parking " signs in the market square in the parking areas marked "not for trading " on the map for the "Casual Trading Bye-Laws"

Cllr. P. Collins said that these spaces needed to be allocated for parking as they were not included in the map for casual trading and the signage indicating no parking needed to be removed

J. Corry said he would investigate same and see what could be done

Cllr. B. Keane asked as to how the policing of traders in Square area was being done.

J. Corry indicated that same was the responsibility of the Gardai, Community Warden and Traffic Warden for Kilkee.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said there was an issue regarding a trader chaining his vehicle to a pole in the square, which needed to be monitored.

Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. P. Collins.

“That Clare County Council immediately replace or repair the ladders at Edmunds Point and Byrne’s Cove to maintain the safe swimming record at these vantage swimming locations.”

Cllr. P. Collins said ladder at Edmunds Point should be replaced and ladders at Byrne’s Cove needed to be repaired now that we were entering the busy tourist season.

N. Kaye said that to be consistent that she would need to discuss same with the Water Safety Officer.

 There was once again a general discussion on same and the members felt that same would in fact be assisting Health and Safety if someone happened to get into difficulty.

Correspondence

The correspondence as circulated was noted

A.O.B.

1)         N. Kaye asked the members if they wanted to consider bringing meetings back to within the working day so that Town Engineer could attend because of the work to rule issues.
It was agreed by the Members that the time of the meetings should remain the same as the majority of the members could not attend at an earlier time due to work.

2) There was a discussion re Hell of the West event and the possibility of there being a Pig on a Spit as happened last year. There was a unanimous decision that the Pig on a Spit would not be welcome in Kilkee. 
 J. Corry said he would follow up with C. Murphy re same.

3) Cllr. E. Haugh mentioned that she would be applying to Clare County Council for a permit to close road for festival in Kilkee from 16th to 18th July.

4) Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that when the old bridge at George’s Head was replaced the rubble from the old bridge was left in the river. She asked could this be looked at.

5) J. Corry mentioned that the proposed presentation for W. Keane would not now be taking place after this meeting as W. Keane could not attend and he suggested that same take place after the AGM on 28th June.
This was agreed.

6) Cllr. M. Owens said that the Farmers’ Market were looking for a bigger area in the town as it was expanding.  A number of members suggested G. Haugh be approached.

7) J. Corry wished to congratulate Eden on their tremendous award from Bord Failte.
This was echoed by the Town Manager and the other members.
8) Cllr. B. Keane mentioned that underage drinking continued to be a problem in Kilkee. 
J. Corry said same should be raised at the next JPC meeting.
9) There was a general discussion following a proposal made by Cllr. B. Keane to have a seat erected by Kilkee Town Council as a memorial to someone who had died. It was agreed by the members that this would be setting a precedent and should not be done.
10) Cllr. K Reilly asked as to when the wall would be painted in McSweeney Tce and when the grass would be cut

As there was no further business the meeting concluded.

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Cathaoirleach

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A/Town Clerk