MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of Proceedings of A
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of Proceedings of a Meeting of Magherafelt District Council held in the Council Chamber, 50 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt on Tuesday, 11 December 2007. The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm. Presiding P McLean Other Members Present P J Bateson J Campbell T J Catherwood J Crawford Mrs E A Forde Mrs A C Gribbon P E Groogan O T Hughes J F Kerr Miss K A Lagan Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea, MLA Mrs K A McEldowney J J McPeake I P Milne G C Shiels Officers Present J A McLaughlin, (Chief Executive) J J Tohill (Director of Finance and Administration) W J Glendinning (Director of Building Control) T J Johnston (Director of Operations) Mr M Young (Director of Environmental Health) Mrs A Junkin (Chief Executive’s Secretary) Representatives from Other Bodies in Attendance DRD Roads Service – Western Division: Mr Richard Hamilton – Principal Network Planning Manager Mr Des McFarlane – Local Section Engineer Mrs Maura Hackett – Senior Engineer for Network Development Ms Tracy Bratton – Assistant Engineer Forward Planning DoE Planning Service: Ms Sandra Adams, Planning Officer Mr Adrian Gribben, Planning Officer 2 1 MINUTES 1.1 It was PROPOSED by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor P E Groogan, and RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 (copy previously circulated to each Member) be taken as read and signed as correct. 2 MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES 2.1 Mr Tohill, Director of Finance and Administration advised of the following letters of correspondence which he wished to bring to the Members’ attention. 2.2 Submitted letter of reply from the Principal of St Pius X College, Magherafelt to the Council’s letter advising that the Council was unable to give financial support for their forthcoming musical production. The letter further advised that an article in the Mid- Ulster Observer dated Thursday, 22 November 2007 had been very misleading in that it concluded by stating that the Council had agreed to make a small contribution. Mrs White in her letter requested that the matter be raised at the next Council meeting. 2.2.1 Mr Tohill advised the Council that the newspaper had misreported the Council’s decision and as such there was nothing in the correspondence that indicated that the Council had taken an inappropriate decision. 2.2.2 The Chairman agreed and the matter was noted. 2.3 Submitted letters of reply from Mr Gordon Topping, Chief Executive, North Eastern Education and Library Board to the Council’s resolution on Maghera High School. Mr Topping pointed out that a school of 150 pupils such as Maghera High School was too small to be able to give young people the width of opportunity necessary. He said that the Board had consulted with the school earlier in the year and officers had emphasised that no decision had been made at that time. The Board was now consulting on specific options for the future of the school which was a totally different exercise. In conclusion Mr Topping asked for clarification as to what the “Education Review” was to which the Council referred. 2.3.1 Councillor Mrs E A Forde, who was the proposer of the original motion stated that, in referring to an Educational Review she was in fact referring to the Minister’s statement in a meeting some six months previous that she (the Minister) was reviewing the entire educational system and that no decision on the future of Maghera High School would be taken in advance of the outcome of that review. Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea said, by way of clarification, that the Minister had indicated that she would be reporting the outcome of this review to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was agreed that this clarification would be forwarded to Mr Topping, Noted. 3 2.4 Submitted letter for reply from the Private Secretary to Arlene Foster MLA, Minister of the Environment in connection with the Council’s motion in relation to the operation of the D’hondt system in the distribution of civic positions within Councils. She said that she and her Ministerial colleagues were committed to the development of a system of governance for Local Government with appropriate checks and balanced which would be placed on statute. The proposals for the scheme of governance in the new Councils would best be informed by the decisions on the number of Councils and the functions to be transferred to Local Government flowing from the current review. Noted. 3 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea requested that he be allowed to bring forward an Emergency Resolution regarding Dalriada Doctors on Call Service in Moneymore. On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor J F Kerr, and RESOLVED: that Standing Orders be set aside in order that the Council could consider an Emergency Resolution in relation to the future of Dalriada Doctor on Call service in Moneymore. 4 EMERGENCY RESOLUTION – DALRIADA DOCTOR ON CALL Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea proposed: “That the Chief Executive convene as a matter of urgency a Joint meeting of Magherafelt and Cookstown District Councils to discuss the proposed withdrawal after 1.00 am of the nightly Dalriada Doctors on Call Service from its base at Station Road, Moneymore.” The motion was seconded by Councillor T J Catherwood. On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor J F Kerr, and RESOLVED: that the Chief Executive convene, as a matter of urgency, a Joint meeting of Magherafelt and Cookstown District Councils to discuss the proposed withdrawal after 1.00 am of the nightly Dalriada Doctors on Call Service from its base at Station Road, Moneymore 4 5 RESUMPTION UNDER STANDING ORDERS It was PROPOSED by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor Miss K A Lagan, and RESOLVED: that the meeting resume under Standing Orders. 6 ROADS SERVICE – PRESENTATION 279/12/2007 The Chairman, Councillor P McLean welcomed representatives from the DRD Roads Service – Western Division to the meeting. In presenting the Divisional Roads Manager’s Report for the Magherafelt District (copy previously circulated to each Member), Mr Richard Hamilton said that the document contained the draft Local Transport and Safety Measures Programme for 2008-2010. He outlined the road improvement schemes which the Division proposed to take forward and implement over the next two financial years, provided that funding became available. Mr Hamilton also gave scheme details regarding the proposed start and commencement dates. He commented that one of the most expensive schemes currently to be undertaken by the department in the District was the realignment of the A54 Ballymacombs Road at Smithtown Cross, Portglenone. This scheme involved the realignment of the carriageway over a distance of 500 metres and the construction of new verges. Mr Hamilton explained that the land involved was of a poor quality but the scheme was progressing. This scheme would cost somewhere between £500,000 and £600,000. Mr Hamilton also reported that it had hoped to bring the sightline improvement and associated widening of the A29, south of Tobermore to Killynumber a major scheme on to the programme but stated that this would not happen within the next two years. It was also hoped that the Moneymore Road, Desertmartin/Curr Road junction on the A29 would be widened when resurfacing took place. Members Comments: Members raised various questions about schemes which were answered. Mr Hamilton and his staff took note of the following main matters and promised to come back to Members with answers:- Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea - the timing for the sightline improvement at Rocktown Lane Junction/Hillhead Road, Knockloughrim. Councillor P E Groogan – scheme for Cullion/Iniscarn/Longfield Road footway and the need for widening of the Whitewater Bridge. Councillor G C Shiels – insufficient sightlines at Rocktown Lane Councillor T J Catherwood – who has the right of way at Crew Road/Ballymacilcurr Road, Culnady junction, suggested that the priority be changed and that the hedge be removed or set back in order that the verge on the corner could be widened. Councillor J J McPeake – right turning lane on Glenshane Road/Brough Road end at Regan Tiles, missing from schedule. 5 Councillor Mrs E A Forde – Glenshane Road – the overtaking lane at Carricknakielt Road had become a third lane and a race track. There were difficulties with two right turning lanes so close together at Carricknakielt Road. Councillor P J Bateson – request for a footpath at Ballyronan Road/Shore Road/Barrack Road and that a local farmer would make land available; request for traffic calming at Blackpark Road/Aughrim Road/Annahorish where there were speed problems and suggested a 30 mph speed limit; and a dangerous junction where there was no signage on the Castledawson side of Bells Hill/Gracefield Road junction. Mr Hamilton updated Members on the strategic roads improvements, network maintenance and local transport and safety measures in the current year’s programme. In conclusion Members were thanked for their work and support with improvement schemes for the District. Further Members’ Comments: Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea raised the importance of the Inquiry in connection with the Castledawson Roundabout to Toomebridge dualling scheme and said that many local residents had genuine concerns. He also enquired why there was a need for consultants to be employed for the Magherafelt Bypass, or if it was a delaying technique when there had been a route decided on some years ago. He suggested that the Department wake-up.