Chomhairle Chontae Na Gaillimhe Minutes Of
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Minutes of December Monthly Meeting held on 19th December 2016 CHOMHAIRLE CHONTAE NA GAILLIMHE MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL HELD AT ÁRAS AN CHONTAE, ON MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER, 2016 AT 12.00 P.M. CATHAOIRLEACH: Cllr. M. Connolly, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway I LATHAIR FREISIN: Cllrs. T. Broderick, D. Burke, J. Byrne, N. Byrne, I. Canning, J. Charity, B. Connelly, D. Connolly, G. Cronnelly, Comh. S. Ó Cualáín, Cllrs. J. Cuddy, S. Cunniffe, Comh. T. Ó Curraoin, Cllrs. S. Donnellan, A. Donohue, M. Fahy, P. Feeney, M. Finnerty, T. Healy, M. Hoade, P. Hynes, D. Joyce, F. Kearney, P. Keaveney, D. Killilea, M. Kinane, E. Mannion, J. Mc Clearn, T. McHugh, M. Noone, Comh S. Ó Tuairisg, Cllrs. S. Walsh, T. Welby Oifigigh: Mr. K. Kelly, Chief Executive (Interim); Mr. J.Cullen, Director of Service; Ms. C. McConnell and Messrs. M. Owens and M. Timmins, Acting Directors of Service; Mr. G. Mullarkey, Head of Finance; Mr. Fintan O’Meara, Senior Executive Engineer; Mr. J. Molloy, Head of Galway City Council Transportation Unit; Mr. U. Finn, Senior Engineer, Galway City Council; Ms. E. McCarthy, Associate Director, ARUP Consulting Engineers; Ms. E. Dolan, Acting County Secretary & Meetings Administrator; Ms. R. O’Boyle, Ms. G. Healy, Staff Officers. Thosnaigh an Cruinniú leis an Paidir. RESOLULTIONS OF SYMPATHY 2893 A resolution of sympathy was also extended to the following: Dara Ó Maolchiaráin, Muighiris, Cárna, Co. na Gaillimhe. Richard Fahy, Lisanoran, Corrandulla, Co. Galway. Christy & John Burke, Gortroe, Corrandulla, Co. Galway. Betty Joyce, Carheenlea, Turloughmore, Athenry, Co. Galway. Brid Thompson, Knockdoe, Claregalway, Co. Galway. Tom Fallon, Monard, Turloughmore, Co. Galway. Thomas Caulfield, Kiltrogue, Claregalway, Co. Galway. 1 Minutes of December Monthly Meeting held on 19th December 2016 Tom Hession, Gortadooey, Claregalway, Co. Galway. Bridgie Conway, Baunmore, Claregalway, Co. Galway. Sean O’Connor, Bunnahour, Tubber, Gort, Co. Galway. Lisa Clarke, Turlough, Rosmuc, Co. Galway. Bríd Ní Chéidigh, Na-h-Aille, Indreabhán, Co. na Gaillimhe. Mr. Connie Goode, Crowsnest, Laurencetown, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Bernie Gohery, Ballyshrule, Portumna, Co. Galway. Michael Mannion, Cloughbrack, Clonbur, Co. Galway. Mary Kyne, Claremount, Oughterard, Co. Galway. Michael Greaney, Ballintleva, Belclare, Co. Galway. Michael Lardner, Caltra, Belclare, Co. Galway. Comh. Ó Tuairisg referred to the closing event of the 1916 Centenary Commemorations which was held on 14th December, 2016 in the Foyer of Áras an Chontae. He said the event was an excellent and fitting conclusion to the Centenary Year and he thanked Mr. Owens and the Staff involved in organising all of the commemoration events which took place during 2016. Cllr. Roche also thanked the Executive and Staff who co-ordinated all of the commemoration events across the County during 2016. He expressed the view that no other County had organised such an extensive range of events, which he said have left an indelible mark on County Galway going forward and he said he was proud to have been Cathaoirleach of the County during 2016. Cathaoirleach Connolly said that one of the most significant events which he had been associated with during 2016 was the visit to the location of Frongoch Internment Camp in Wales, where Irish prisoners were held in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. He also referred to his attendance at the wreath laying ceremony at the grave of Liam Mellows in Castletown, Co. Wexford, as being a memorable occasion. Cllr. D. Connolly also wished to be associated with the kind remarks of the previous Members and he made reference to Martin (Mattie) Reany who died during the 1916 Rising in Galway in defence of the Irish Republic. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MEETING HELD ON 28th NOVEMBER 2016. 2894 The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Council held on 28th November, 2016 were APPROVED by the Council and signed by the Cathaoirleach, on the PROPOSAL of Comh. Ó Tuairisg, SECONDED by Cllr. Killilea. ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: Cllr. Killilea referred to the Minutes stating that he welcomed the fact that the Council places a big emphasis on estate management. He then referred to an issue which has arisen 2 Minutes of December Monthly Meeting held on 19th December 2016 regarding an Approved Housing Body in Tuam and one of its Housing Schemes. He made reference to letters which had been issued by the Approved Housing Body to a number of its tenants which relate to a subsidy provided by the Council. He said that the letters have caused a lot of distress for the families involved, especially coming up to Christmas. He said he wished that the Council would reconsider its decision to cease paying the subsidy to these tenants while issues are outstanding with the Housing Body. Mr. Owens replied that the Council could not comment on matters between the Approved Housing Body and its tenants and he assured the Members that the Council did not wish to add to any distress experienced by the tenants involved. In relation to ceasing to pay the subsidy to a number of the tenants, Mr. Owens said that payment of the subsidy is only suspended by the Council in exceptional cases and as a last resort. He said that the Council has a duty and obligation to safeguard public funds and must ensure that conditions associated with the payment of public funds are met. He stated that the Council had not received any communication from the Housing Body in question indicating that they had written to their tenants as outlined by Cllr. Killilea. He said that the Housing Unit had invited the Housing Body to meet on a number of occasions and he said he is confident that if active engagement takes place, the situation can be resolved. Cllr. Cunniffe expressed the view that the issue in question could be solved once the Approved Housing Body engages with the Council. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE BUDGET MEETING HELD ON 23RD NOVEMBER AND 1st DECEMBER, 2016. 2895 The Minutes of the Budget Meetings of the Council held on 23rd November and 1st December, 2016 were APPROVED by the Council and signed by the Cathaoirleach, on the PROPOSAL of Cllr. T. McHugh, SECONDED by Cllr. Feeney. ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: Cllr. D. Connolly referred to the agreed amendment to the Draft Budget 2017 that the increase in the Ballinasloe Rate from €58 to €61, in line with the County Rate, not go ahead, and the required reduction in spending as a result, including a reduction in the spending on local roads of €25,000. He asked if this €25,000 would be taken out of the Ballinasloe Municipal District allocation. Mr. Mullarkey replied that the reduction of €25,000 available for spending on local roads would affect spending in the Ballinasloe Municipal District. Cllrs. D. Connolly and T. Broderick expressed their dissatisfaction in this regard, stating that they did not agree this at the Budget Meeting of Ballinasloe Municipal District Council. 3 Minutes of December Monthly Meeting held on 19th December 2016 The Chief Executive said that the full Council decides on the Budget for the County and is not restricted by a decision made at Municipal District level. He confirmed that there is a reduced amount of €25,000 to feed into the roads programme, when being adopted at Municipal District level, because of the decision not to raise the Ballinasloe Rate. Cathaoirleach M. Connolly and Cllr. Donohue said that they were not in favour of increasing the Ballinasloe Municipal District Rate to €61 in the interests of businesses in Ballinasloe and they had agreed this at the Ballinasloe Municipal District Budget Meeting. Cllr. Welby said that a Finance Committee of the Council should be set up to examine the funding situation of Galway County Council. He said that even though Galway County Council has the biggest population along the western seaboard, it gets less funding from central government and has less staff than smaller counties such as Mayo and Clare. He said the County area has a population of 170,000 compared with 130,000 in Mayo, there are 740 staff employed by Galway County Council while Mayo County Council employs 200 more and has a budget of €21m in excess of this Council. He also said that budgetary matters should be considered all through the year by the Members, and not just at the time of setting the budget at the end of each year. Cllr. Hoade strongly supported the setting up of a Finance Committee early in 2017 and she also expressed concern regarding the disparity in funding and staffing between Galway County Council and other smaller neighbouring Counties. Cllrs. B. Connelly and Cunniffe also supported the proposal, stating that it is important that ongoing analysis of expenditure takes place and that the Members are made aware of the mechanics of the budgetary process. Cllr. Killilea expressed the view that the Council’s Audit Committee was set up to oversee expenditure of the Council. Cllr. J. Byrne agreed that the Members need to understand the funding and budgetary process of the Council and he made reference to two training seminars which had been arranged for the Members in September and November 2016 dealing with funding the Revenue and Capital Account, the Budgets, Financial Reporting and Audit. He said these were excellent and very informative training events and may have been more beneficial to Members than the setting up of a Finance Committee. Comh. Ó Tuairisg proposed that the Members meet with Oireachtas Members for their areas in the New Year to seek increased and adequate funding for the Council. Comh. Ó Curraoin and the Cathaoirleach also expressed the view that Galway County Council is starved of funding and that pressure should be maintained at government level in order to ensure that adequate funding is restored.