Minutes of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District Meeting Held at 10.00 A.M
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Kildare County Council Minutes of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District Meeting held at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 17 May 2017 in the Council Chamber, Aras Chill Dara Members Present : Councillors M Stafford (Mayor), M Aspell, M McCabe, M Aspell, P Kennedy, J Pender, S Doyle, M Lynch, F McLoughlin Healy, S Power Present : Mr T McDonnell (District Manager), Mr N Morrissey (Director of Services), Ms B Rea (District Engineer), Mr D Hughes (Senior Executive Engineer), Mr L Dunne, (Senior Executive Officer), Ms M Higgins, (Senior Executive Librarian), Mr B Martin, Ms V Cooke (Administrative Officers) Ms D Daly, (Community Worker) Mr S Wallace (Senior Parks Superintendent), Ms B Loughlin (Heritage Officer), Mr C O’Toole, (Assistant Staff Officer) Ms M McIvor (Meetings Administrator) and Ms E Price (Meetings Secretary). On the commencement of the meeting the District Manager informed the members that the supplementary agenda item in relation to Dunmurray Rise would not be considered at this time because the planning report is not yet available and it was agreed that a special meeting will be held in advance of the full council meeting at 11.00 on Monday 29 May 2017 to consider the Part 8 report for Dunmurray Rise. Councillor Doyle asked that the report, when ready, be circulated to the members at least 3 days in advance of the meeting, or earlier if possible. The District Manager also informed the members of a number of staff changes occurring in various departments of the council and advised that Mr Darren Hughes will take up the position of municipal district engineer for the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District from June 2017. Page 1 of 26 Kildare County Council KN01/0517 Minutes and Progress Report The members considered the minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12 April 2017 together with the progress report. Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Stafford and seconded by Councillor Lynch that the minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12 April 2017, of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting be confirmed and the progress report be noted. KN02/0517 Matters Arising Walkway at Moore Avenue (KN02/1603), (KN04/1604) & (KN03/1701) Councillor Doyle asked that it be noted that at a recent meeting in relation to the closure of the walkway at Moore Avenue that the Roads department undertook to contact the landowner of the property adjacent to the houses and if unsuccessful in their attempts to make contact after 6 – 8 weeks they will go ahead and install a barrier. Councillor Lynch also noted a wall was to be built up to the laneway at this location and that it had been agreed that this would happen whilst waiting for a response from the owners of the adjacent property. The District Manager undertook to speak with Mr Coppinger from the Roads department in relation to issues raised by the members on the closure of the walkway at Moore Avenue. Funding to Riverbank KN30/0417 The report from the County Libriarian, Ms M Higgns stated: 'I would like to confirm that Riverbank Arts Centre Ltd (RCN 20074982) has successfully submitted annual reports to the Charities Regulator for the years 2014 and 2015 and that the next annual reporting deadline for the charity, for the year ending 31st December 2016, is 31st October 2017. Due to a technical issue with our website, Riverbank Arts Centre's reporting details are not showing in the public register. Our IT department have been made aware of the issue and are actively working to resolve it, my apologies for any confusion or inconvenience.' Councillor McLoughlin Healy noted that when she spoke on this issue previously, the relevant information had not been reported to the Charities Office at that time. She also referred to the number of directors required to be appointed under the Companies Page 2 of 26 Kildare County Council Registration Office (CRO) Memo and Articles of Association and stated that she was trying to establish if or how long the Arts Centre may have been operating with less than the required number of directors. Councillor McLoughlin Healy voiced concerns that no-one appeared to have checked to see what minimum requirements are needed by both the CRO and the Charities Office. The District Manager suggested an in-committee meeting be arranged to give clarification and discuss the matters, this was agreed by the members. Tankardsgarden, Newbridge (KN05/0417) In response to a query from Councillor Pender regarding an update on the tender process for Tankardsgarden, the District Manager confirmed that the new tender which had gone out to the national framework is the same as the one that issued to the Kildare framework, however, no tenders had been received back at this time, although he expected these were imminent. Recording of all Questions and Motions (KN06/1703) Councillor Lynch welcomed the fact that further discussions on improving the system of recording all motions and questions will take place. KN03/0517 Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 2 May 2017 The members considered the minutes of the special meeting held on 2 May 2017 in relation to the Schedule of Municipal District Works. A revised copy of the Schedule of Municipal District Works was also circulated to the members. Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Pender and seconded by Councillor McLoughlin Healy that the minutes of the special meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District held on 2 May 2017, be confirmed as taken and read and the revised Schedule of Municipal District Works be noted. KN04/0517 Presentation from Local Authorities Waters and Communities Office (LAWCO) The Mayor welcomed Ms Aoife McGrath, from the Local Authorities Waters and Communities Office (LAWCO) to give a presentation on LAWCO and an update on the preparation of the 2 nd Cycle Draft River Basin Management plan. Ms McGrath outlined the Page 3 of 26 Kildare County Council two key objectives in connection with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland which are to co-ordinate the activities of all the local authorities in areas connected with the Water Framework Directive and to promote public participation in the Water Framework Directive process by engaging the public and communities in the management of their own local water environment. Ms McGrath informed the members that LAWCO are working to create awareness and education and that a number of public meetings were being held throughout the county with LAWCO trying to encourage participation with local businesses, farmers and anglers associations. Ms McGrath said one of the initiatives to encourage community participation is a Tidy Towns Award and informed the members that the closing date for nominations for this is 25 May 2017. Ms McGrath also informed the members that a river walk will take place in Newbridge to coincide with June Fest and she encouraged participation in this event. The Mayor thanked Ms McGrath for her presentation and invited questions from the members. In response to a query from Councillor Power in relation to groups that LAWCO are working with from the agriculture sector, Ms McGrath informed the members that they are working with individual farmers, the IFA and Teagasc to establish good communications, to educate and to create awareness in relation to issues such as spreading slurry or fencing off areas near rivers or streams to prevent access by cattle and noted this approach had worked well with seven landowners along the Lyreen River. In response to a query from Councillor McLoughlin Healy regarding submissions that had been made at a previous public meeting in Newbridge, Ms McGrath confirmed that these do not need to be resubmitted as this information will be collated when all the relevant submissions from other public meetings had been received and that responses would issue toward the end of the summer. Responding to queries from Councillors Lynch and Stafford, Ms McGrath informed the members that there can be confusion over who is responsible for streams and rivers and who is responsible for enforcement when it comes to pollution of these. Ms McGrath advised that local groups or local authorities usually end up taking on the task of cleaning up these areas but that a joined up approach is what is needed. Page 4 of 26 Kildare County Council Ms McGrath informed the members that LAWCO welcomes any suggestions or submissions the members wished to make at any time. KN05/0517 Schedule of Municipal District Road Works The District Engineer informed the members that the contract for road improvements in Kildare Town has commenced and these works will extend from Lidl to Pigeon Land and from Market Square along Nugent Street to Railway Stores and that some night works will be necessary in order to minimise disruption to businesses and traffic. Ms Rea also informed the members that two green machines are now operating in Newbridge and Kildare Town and they will operate from Monday to Friday, further noting that Rathangan will also be included when necessary. Councillor Doyle said there has already been a noticeable difference on the streets due to the use of these green machines and requested that they also be put to use in Dara Park, Kildare and so asked if something can be put in place at The Plains, Kildare similar to the measures which were put in place at Loughminane Green pending the taking in charge of the estate. Responding to a query from Councillor Pender in relation to Chapel Hill, Kildare the District Engineer informed the members that the municipal district office is working with Irish Water with a view to road works at this location. In response to a request from Councillor McLoughlin Healy to have the granite and glass cleaned on the artwork at Georges’ Street, the District Engineer undertook to ask the contractors to do this.