MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of Proceedings of a Meeting of Magherafelt District Council held in the Council Chamber, 50 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt on Tuesday, 8 December 2009. The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm. Presiding: P McLean Other Members Present: P McLean P J Bateson J Campbell T J Catherwood J Crawford Mrs E A Forde P E Groogan O T Hughes Miss K A Lagan Mrs K A McEldowney I P Milne Apologies: Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea J J McPeake 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) A Cassells (Director of Operations) M Young (Director of Environmental Health) Mrs Anne-Marie Campbell (Head of Policy/Implementation) Mrs Audrey Junkin (Chief Executive’s Secretary) Representatives from Other Bodies in Attendance: DRD Roads Service – Western Division Des McFarlane – Network Development Manager Gerry Hackett – Section Engineer - Forward Planning Gary Quinn – Local Section Engineer DoE Planning Service: Mrs Sandra Adams – Planning Officer 1 Co-option of Councillor to Fill Vacancy The Chief Executive advised that the first item for consideration was co- opting a member to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Councillor Mrs Anne C Gribbon. He said that in accordance with a previous resolution of the Council that in the event of a vacancy occurring for a Councillor, the Party to which that Councillor belonged had the right to co-opt unopposed an individual to fill that vacancy. 1.1 It was Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor I P Milne, and Resolved: That the vacancy be filled by the co-option of Miss Bronagh A Scullion. As Miss Scullion was present at the meeting, she was invited to join the meeting and on signing the Declaration Against Terrorism (Form LE28) she took her seat. 1.2 Councillor J F Kerr said that Mrs Gribbon resigned as a Councillor for health reasons and felt that as a result she could not give the time or commitment required to continue as an elected representative. He asked that her thanks to Councillors and staff be recorded. 1.3 Councillor Miss K A Lagan said that it was with regretted the resignation of Councillor Mrs Gribbon. She welcomed Miss Scullion on board as a new female Councillor. 2 Minutes 2.1 Councillor Miss K A Lagan referred to “In Committee” Minutes which had been deferred at the previous meeting. The Chief Executive advised that as this item had been taken “In Committee” it would be considered later on in the meeting when the Council was “In Committee”. 2.2 It was therefore Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor T J Catherwood, and Resolved: that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 10 November 2009, (excluding the items taken “In Committee), be taken as read and signed as correct (copy previously circulated to each Member). 3 Matters Arising Out of the Minutes 3.1 Item 9.2 and 9.3 – Community Safety and Economic Development The Chief Executive advised that the following Members’ names had been nominated to serve on – 3.1.1 The Community Safety Partnership: Councillor Mrs E A Forde Councillor G C Shiels Councillor J F Kerr Councillor J Campbell It was Proposed by Councillor T J Catherwood Seconded by Councillor P J Bateson, and Resolved: that the Members listed above be appointed to serve on the Community Safety Partnership. 3.1.2 The Town Centre Forum: Councillor P McLean Councillor G C Shiels Councillor J J McPeake Councillor J Campbell It was Proposed by Councillor T J Catherwood Seconded by Councillor P J Bateson, and Resolved: that the Members listed above be appointed to serve on the Town Centre Forum. 3.2 Castle Tower School, Ballymena: Submitted a letter dated 9 November 2009 from the Chief Executive of Ballymena Borough Council inviting the Council to join Ballymena Borough Council along with other Councils in the North Eastern Education Board in a lobby campaign to the Minister of Education for the new Castle Tower School to be built; and seeking immediate action in respect of bringing the condition of the present three campuses up to a reasonable standard, until a new building is complete (copy circulated to each Member). 3.2.1 Members discussed issues surrounding the request regarding the future provision for these special needs children. 3.2.2 It was Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor Miss K A Lagan, and Resolved: that the Chief Executive seek clarity on the following issues and report back to Council at a forthcoming meeting: • How did this problem arise in the first place? • Where are the three sites located? • How far are they apart? • Do teachers and/or pupils move between sites? • What are the disadvantages of the present situation and the advantages to which the Principal is aspiring to? 4 Presentation – Roads Service 4.1 The Chairperson, Councillor J J McPeake welcomed Des McFarlane, Gerry Hackett and Gary Quinn from Roads Service to the meeting and asked that they present the Roads Service Local Transport and Safety Measures Draft Programme for 2010-2012 for the Magherafelt District Council area (copy previously circulated to each Member). 4.2 Mr McFarlane referred to the Department’s £3.1 million investment in the Magherafelt Council area this year. He said that one of Road Service’s key schemes was the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme. Statements had been published by Roads Service setting out its decision on the Inspector’s reports on the public inquiries held in November 2007 to examine the Environmental Statements, etc prepared for the scheme. Exhibitions had been held in Toome and Castledawson explaining the revised junction proposals associated with the decision and it was expected that the revised junction improvements would be completed in late 2010. However, it depended on the availability of finance as to when the scheme would be built. 4.3 Mr McFarlane said that the development of the proposed A31 Magherafelt Bypass continued to progress. Roads Service had received the Inspector’s Report from the Public Inquiry held in April/May 2009 and his recommendations were currently being considered. It was anticipated that the Department’s decision would be published in April/May 2010. He said that the Inspector’s Report could not be released into the public domain in advance of this publication. 4.4 Mr McFarlane also spoke of the commencement of the park and share site at Castledawson Roundabout. He said that this scheme involved the expansion of the existing facility and the relocation of the bus stops from the A6 Glenshane Road to within the car-park. It was hoped that this scheme would be completed early in 2010. 4.5 Reference was also made to the commencement of resurfacing schemes at Main Street, Bellaghy; Desertmartin Road, Magherafelt; sections of the A29 Moneymore Road, Desertmartin; A31 Moneymore Road, Magherafelt; Mayogall Road, Clady; Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt; Mulderg Road, Loup; Lurganagoose Road, Curran; Quarry Road, Gulladuff and Ballyheifer Road, Magherafelt. 4.6 Mr Hackett listed schemes which had been completed including the footway at Craigadick Road, Maghera; and the footway at Coolshinney Road, Magherafelt; a pelican crossing at Main Street, Castledawson; and a collision remedial scheme at Aughrim Road/Creagh Road. He said that sight-line improvements had commenced at Ballyscullion/Ballynease Road junction and the sight-line improvements at Crew/Ballymacilcurr Road was scheduled to be completed by the end of the financial year. The safer routes to school measures had been completed around St John Bosco School, Ballynease, Portglenone. 4.7 In conclusion, Mr Hackett said that the finances available to Roads Service depended on the decisions taken by the Northern Ireland Executive, however improvement schemes were still being planned and he referred to the new cycle path at Castledawson Road, Magherafelt, a right-turn lane at Ballyronan/Ballymulligan Road crossroads and sight- line improvements at Aughrim Road/Gracefield Road junction. 4.8 The Chairperson then requested Members to bring forward any comments or questions they wished to make on the report. 4.9 Individual Members thanked Roads Service for the completion of schemes and raised many questions on schemes scheduled for the future. Mr McFarlane gave replies where possible and in instances when he could not, he promised to follow the issues up and reply to the Councillor/s in writing. 4.10 The Chairperson thanked the representatives from Roads Service for attending and answering Members questions. Representatives from Roads Service retired from the meeting at 8.45 pm. 5 Building Control Department 210/12/2009 The Director of Building Control presented the Department’s reports for the period 1 November to 30 November 2009 (copy previously circulated to each Member). 5.1 During this period thirty-eight applications had been recommended for approval and one hundred and seventy-five applications required amending by Architects and Agents before granting approval. 5.2 During this period there had been five extensions of time. There had been four cancellations which had gone beyond the four years expiry date and had not commenced on site. 5.3 Application for Notices and Regularisations During the period from 1 November 2009 to 30 November 2009 there were two Regularisations issued. During the period from 1 October 2009 to 31 October 2009 forty-seven applications had commenced on site and thirty applications were found to be complete in accordance with Building Regulations. During the period from 1 October 2009 to 31 October 2009 twenty-four new Postal Numbers and Postcodes were issued for private dwellings.