Minutes of the November Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 2nd November 2009, at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cathaoirleach sa Cathair

• Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan

I Láthair

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

I Láthair

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

Minutes of the October monthly Meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 5th October 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee

Cllr. P. Collins asked the Town Clerk if he was able to get any information on the NPPR.

J. Corry indicated that on seeking clarification on same from Clare County Council that he had been informed that because of how busy they had been with accepting and processing applications that they had not had an opportunity to investigate how much of same related to Kilkee.  He added that he had asked the officials administering the scheme for Clare County Council that if possible that he would require details for the December meeting of Kilkee Town Council.

Cllr P. Collins indicated that someone had got on to the County Council in Ennis looking for an NPPR form and had been told that these forms were available in Kilkee.  He added that possibly these forms and any other forms that might be required by people living in Kilkee should be available in the Library in Kilkee.

Cllr. P. Collins also asked when the first Joint Policing Committee Meeting of Kilkee would be held. 

J. Corry indicated that it would be important that a meeting would be held before the end of 2009.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that the meeting should take place no later then the December Monthly meeting of Kilkee Town Council.

J. Corry indicated that he would try and arrange for same prior to the December meeting.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan indicated that regarding the Beach Bye Laws that she hadn’t spoken to anybody regarding same.

J. Corry indicated that it was included as a headed item on the agenda but if the Members wanted to deal with same now that they could.

It was agreed to deal with Item 5.  Beach Bye Laws at this time.

Cllr. P. Collins said he was anxious that same would be in place by the summer of 2010.

Cllr. C. Haugh suggested that a public meeting should be held. 

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that the key elements of what they wanted to propose would have to be picked out so that people could see what the implications were.

Cllr. P. Collins suggested that all organisations in Kilkee on the Eiri Corca Baiscinn list of organisations be sent out the Beach Bye Laws introduced by Clare County Council and then to get them to meet with the Town Council.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that the Bye Laws be e-mailed to the organisations initially before the Members would meet with them, and ask them to highlight what was pertinent to them and that you then had the basis of what you wanted to go to the public meeting with.

N. Kaye suggested that the Members tailor the Clare County Council Beach Bye Laws to have a draft set of Bye Laws for Kilkee before sending them out to the main organisations.  She suggested that the first step would be to discussing the first draft of the Bye Laws for Kilkee with the Members at the December meeting and if the Members where then happy with this draft that then they could proceed to discuss them with the various organisations in Kilkee and then with the wider public. 

This was agreed by the Members.

J. Corry indicated that he would try and get e-mail addresses for the various organisations in Kilkee.

The minutes were      Proposed by Cllr. P. Collins

                                    Seconded by Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes

Fix date for Budget meeting

The Budget meeting was set for 7.30 p.m. on the 7th of December 2009. 

J. Corry indicated that if the Members required to hold a further preliminary Budget meeting prior to 7th of December that he could arrange for same.

Boundary Extension

J. Corry indicated that he had put same on the agenda as he felt that same would now be a recurring item on the agenda.  He indicated that they had suggested at the last meeting that the Members would try and get a map of the parish of Kilkee in order to consider same in drafting the proposed area for expansion of the boundary, in conjunction with the map shown by Cllr. P Collins at the October meeting.

Cllr. P. Collins confirmed that this proposal to extend along the parish boundary would mean that the proposed town boundary area would be huge.

Cllr. C. Haugh asked if there was a limit to which the population of the town could be increased to with the proposed extension.

N. Kaye indicated that there wasn’t.  She suggested that under the Local Government Act 2001 that there was provision to change the status of a Town Council from a non rating authority to a rating authority, which was population based as far as she was aware.  She added that it was very unlikely with the proposed increase in the size of the town of Kilkee that it would qualify for a change of status from a non rating authority to a rating authority.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that looking at the map of the parish that it was unrealistic to expect that the town boundary would be expanded to correlate with same.  She suggested that it may be more realistic to look at the settlement areas and to allow for expansion.  She asked as to where the Members could get some guidance as to how to proceed.

N. Kaye indicated that she had been waiting to see if the Members had wanted to increase the boundary along the parish boundary. She asked if the Members wanted more time to consider same.  She suggested that if they felt that if the parish boundary was not realistic that she could talk to someone in Clare County Council about preparing a map showing the inclusion of the settlement areas, i.e. Moore Bay and Cluain na Mara.

Cllr. P. Collins suggested that they allow inclusion of the settlement areas currently outside the urban boundary together with the existing town boundary.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that they would also need to allow for slight expansion as well eg. the affordable housing on the Miltown Road if it ever materialised.

N. Kaye asked the Members if they wanted her to come back with a draft map.

The Members agreed.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan suggested that as a rule of thumb that the draft map should extend a mile at least beyond any 30 mile speed limit, which existed in the town at the moment.

This was agreed by the Members.

Allender’s Field

J. Corry informed the Members that the newly planted area was being inspected once a week by the head Gardner in Vandeleur Walled Garden.  He indicated that he was also arranging for the sign which currently existed there and was dilapidated looking to be removed.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan queried as to whether or not there was any progress regarding the boulders.

J. Corry indicated that he had discussed same with the Town Engineer and the Senior Executive Engineer and that they had both suggested that we should see how the recently planted area survived before investing and putting in boulders there now.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that she understood that the boulders would provide shelter.

J. Corry confirmed that he would discuss same further with the head Gardner in Vandeleur Walled Garden and with the architect who had drawn up the plan

6. Fix date for an information session and tour of Aras Contae an Chlair

N. Kaye suggested Friday the 20th of November at approximately 3pm as being a possible date for this information session and tour. She also suggested that lunch would be available for the Members at 2pm in Aras Contae an Chlair if they were interested.

The Members agreed.

It was agreed to deal with Items 7 and 8 together

7. Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Reilly

 "Call on Clare Co. Council to remark the road at the stop sign on Jimmy’s Hill out side the Stella Maris Hotel."

Response submitted by Derek Troy, Town Engineer

The road markings at this location were re-marked in 2008 and are currently in an adequate condition. Clare County Staff is assessing the condition of the road markings at this location after the winter period and will undertake works if required.

Response Ends

8. Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Reilly

"Call on Clare Co. Council to urgently give their attention to the junction at bottom of Grattan Street meeting strandline, East End by Waterworld, Miltown Road and Circular Road".

Response submitted by Derek Troy, Town Engineer

A request will be forwarded to the Road Design Section of Clare County Council to seek a number of options for the realignment of this junction. Draft designs were completed a number of years ago, however as this junction forms part of the N67, funding from the National Roads Authority has not been made available. The road markings at this location were re-marked in 2008 following re-surfacing works.

Response Ends

On discussing items 7 and 8 the replies of the Town Engineer were noted.

Cllr. K Reilly said the Notices of Motions were submitted as she felt that it was extremely important that these areas were looked at.

N. Kaye suggested that maybe these items could be looked at in the context of the Traffic Management Plan for Kilkee.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that perhaps they could revisit the Traffic Management Plan in the context of these two areas but she indicated that she didn’t want to get in to a situation where there would be uproar again regarding a Traffic Management Plan.

Cllr. P.J. Lardner said that policing was an issue as well as bad drivers do not pay heed to any signs erected.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that road markings need to be done as they were not done in 2009 or 2008.

9. Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Reilly

"Call on Clare Co. Council to clarify for Kilkee Town Council the status with the road leading up to where the old football field is?  Is it a public or private road?"

Response submitted by Derek Troy, Town Engineer

Please find attached map with public roads highlighted for clarification. The road leading up to where the old football field was is not a public road.

Response Ends

Cllr. K. Reilly queried if the road was not a public road as to who owned it.  She said she was querying same as "Private Road" was marked/painted on this road about two thirds of the way up the road across from Dr. Nolans.  She added that it was always assumed that this was a public road.

N. Kaye said that the road may still be in the ownership of a developer as it may not be taken in charge.  She added that there were a number of ways in which a road remained in private ownership.

There was a general discussion on same by the Members.

Cllr. P. Collins suggested that it should be examined if there was a right of way here.

J. Corry said he would check with the Land Registry as to who actually owned the road and to see if there were any rights of way applicable to this road.

10. Correspondence

The Town Council as a body supported the motion submitted by Clonmel Borough Council calling on the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to reverse the decision not to pay the Christmas bonus to Social Welfare recipients.

There was unanimous support for the Motion submitted by South Tipperary County Council calling on the government to waive VAT on specialised items of medical equipment where the purchase is being funded through voluntary fundraising.

There was unanimous support for the Motion submitted by Listowel Town Council calling on the government to support the Family Resource Centre Programme and the three campaign principles of the Family Resource Centre National Forum.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said that the Fatima Mansions which was being opened in Dublin the following day by President McAleese was a perfect example of what happens when people take ownership of their own community with supports like the Family Resource Centres.

(a) There was unanimous support for the Motion submitted by Monaghan Town Council calling on the ESB to resume the previous practice of Meter Readers leaving cards for absent householders to enter their meter reading and post same to the ESB.

(b) There was unanimous support for the Motion submitted by Monaghan Town Council Opposing the threat to the existence of Town Councils as proposed by An Bord Snip Nua ( McCarthy Report).

11. A.O.B

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes asked if there were any public toilets open in Kilkee now at weekends.  She indicated that she had heard that the superloo was deliberately shut down each weekend to avoid congregation of individuals there at the weekend.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said there was a problem with the other public toilets being opened at the weekend as workers were not on duty over the weekend.

Cllr. E. Haugh Hayes said it was a problem that there was no public toilets open in Kilkee at weekends as a seaside resort operates at weekends.

Cllr. P. Collins said there was an issue regarding the superloo that traders had a way of accessing same without paying and maybe that this was why the superloo was shutdown at the weekend.

N. Kaye said that we could ask the Town Engineer about the various options including one of a time in lieu option for workers over the period May to October.

Cllr. L. Marrinan Sullivan said she wanted it noted that it was noting to do with the existing workers who she felt were doing an excellent job.

Cllr. P. Collins said that there was an issue as to what was the "season" in Kilkee.  He added that he felt that Clare County Council regarded the "season" in Kilkee from 1st of June to 31st of August.   He added that the ladders were removed at Burns Cove in September when conditions were perfect for swimming. He said ladders were instrumental in getting in and out of the water safely.  He also indicated that the diving boards were also removed.  He suggested that they should all be in place from Easter to October. 

Cllr. B. Keane queried as to whether the Carrigahold road would be resurfaced when works were completed there.

Cllr. K. Reilly indicated that she had spoken with the Town Engineer and that he had indicated that it would be resurfaced and tarmaced in the next week.  She indicated that they were reconnecting the watermain pipe into the older pipe system. 

As there was no further business the meeting concluded.