Minutes of the Meeting of the Ballinamore Municipal District Held on Monday 24Th October, 2018 at 11:00 Am in the Tourist Office, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim
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Minutes of the Meeting of the Ballinamore Municipal District held on Monday 24th October, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Tourist Office, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. Members present: Councillor Caillian Ellis (Chairperson) Councillor Brendan Barry Councillor Paddy O’Rourke Councillor Gerry Dolan Councillor John McCartin Councillor Caroline Mulvey Officials Present: Mr. Lar Power, Chief Executive Mr. Vincent Dwyer, Head of Finance, Water & Environmental Services Ms. Sinead Flynn, Administrative Officer, Finance Department Mr. Darragh O’Boyle, Area Engineer Ms. Mary Reynolds, Clerical Officer, Finance Department Ms. Sarah Malone, Heritage Officer BMD/18/110 Deimhniu Miontuairisci 24/10/2018 Proposed by Councillor Paddy O’Rourke, seconded by Councillor Brendan Barry AND UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: “That the Minutes of Ballinamore Municipal District meeting held in the Meeting Room, Ballinamore Library, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim on Monday 24th September, 2018 be adopted”. At the outset of the meeting, Councillor John McCartin requested consent from the Chairperson, Councillor Caillian Ellis to move his Notices of Motion as the first item on the agenda. This request was agreed by Councillor Ellis. BMD/18/111 24/10/2018 Overhead Electrical Power Lines in Newtowngore To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor John McCartin; "I propose that Leitrim County Council seek to have the overhead electrical power lines in Newtowngore undergrounded." Report by Senior Engineer, Roads "The undergrounding of the ESB cabling has been programmed by the ESB for many months. Following pressure from our office, they commenced these works 4 weeks ago. However, the crews were pulled away due to the previous storms. We have been assured that they will return within the week to continue these works. The Council can then finish the footpath works in the village." Councillor John McCartin welcomed the reply to his Notice of Motion. 1 BMD/18/112 24/10/2018 Ballinamore Court House To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor John McCartin; "I ask Leitrim County Council to update Ballinamore Municipal District on the current position with Court Services plans for Ballinamore Court House." Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation. "The Planning Authority has agreed a schedule of works with the Court Services with respect to the carrying out of essential repairs required to the roof of the former Court House which is a Protected Structure. The Court Service has been sanctioned for funding to carry out said works. The Office of Public Works have gone to tender to appoint a contractor to undertake the works and the Planning Authority await confirmation from the Courts Service in relation to the date when these works will commence. The Local Authority will inquire as to the intentions of the Court Service with regard the future use of the former Court House." Councillor John McCartin acknowledged the reply to his Notice of Motion. He requested clarification in relation to the schedule of the works to be carried out. Councillor Caillian Ellis requested confirmation that the contract for the works has been signed. Mr. Vincent Dwyer advised that that he did not have this information to hand. He agreed to review the matter with Mr. Joseph Gilhooly, Director of Services and to provide an update for the next meeting. BMD/18/113 24/10/2018 Budget 2019 & General Municipal Allocation (GMA) Mr. Lar Power, Chief Executive referred to the report on Budget 2019 and the General Municipal Allocation (GMA). The report as circulated to the Members appears as Appendix No. 1 to the Minutes of this meeting in the Minute Book. Mr. Power outlined that €8,956,315 has been provided to the Council from the Equalisation Fund, however, he outlined that significant budgetary constraints remain in place for Budget 2019. Mr. Power recommended that the GMA Allocation as proposed be approved by the Members. He requested Mr. Vincent Dwyer to provide an overview of the projects that will benefit from the GMA Allocation. Mr. Dwyer stated that then there is no additional income available to the Council for Budget 2019 given that the Equalisation Fund remains at the same level as 2018 and the Members did not approve any increase in the Local Property Tax at the September Council meeting. Mr. Dwyer outlined that the General Municipal Allocation for 2019 will remain at the same level as previous years at €75,000. He advised that the funding model is unsustainable in the long-term and that there is increased pressure from Central Government for Local Authorities to provide match funding for a range of funding schemes e.g. Clar and Town & Village Renewal. Mr. Dwyer stated that in future years, consideration will have to be given to increasing the Local Property Tax in order to generate 2 additional income to provide match-funding for projects. He provided an over-view of the projects that will benefit from the GMA allocation of €75,000 and he recommended that they adopt the proposal as presented. This update was noted by the Members and the following items were raised: Councillor Paddy O’Rourke requested clarification with regard to the relationship between the amount of income collected in Leitrim from the Local Property Tax and the level of funding received by the Council under the Equalisation Fund. Mr. Dwyer outlined that Leitrim is a ‘net beneficiary’ of the fund, in that approximately €2 million is collected annually in Local Property Tax income in Leitrim and the Council receive €8,956,315 under the Equalisation Fund. Mr. Power stated that the decision to increase the Local Property Tax will have to be reviewed in 2019 to generate income to provide match funding for new projects which will benefit the county. Mr. Dwyer referred to a recent meeting with Department Officials where it was noted by the Department, that the Council have the ability to increase their own income streams by varying the LPT, increasing charges for services or increasing the Annual Rate on Valuation for Commercial Rates. Councillor Brendan Barry stated that Leitrim needs to be marketed as an attractive location for business to locate and that any increase in costs and charges for business may have a negative impact in this regard. Mr. Power acknowledged the concern of the Members, however, he stated that Leitrim needs to be competitive and will be required to generate additional income to match fund projects that will receive up to 75% funding from Central Government. Proposed by Councillor Paddy O’Rourke, seconded by Councillor Gerry Dolan AND RESOLVED: “That the Ballinamore Municipal District approve the General Municipal Allocation for Ballinamore Municipal District for 2019, in accordance with Section 102(4A)(a) of the Local Government Act, 2001 as inserted by Section 58 of the Local Government Reform Act, 2014.” BMD/18/115 24/10/2018 Leitrim Heritage Forum Ms. Sarah Malone, Heritage Officer attended the meeting to give a presentation on the Leitrim Heritage Forum. The presentation appears as Appendix No. 2 to the Minutes in the Minute Book. Ms. Malone outlined that a Leitrim Heritage Forum will be established and will be tasked with the preparation of a new Heritage Plan for the county. Ms. Malone gave an over-view of the heritage priorities for Leitrim over the next five years and outlined the shared vision for the forum and all stakeholders. Ms. Malone provided and overview of the proposed representation on the Heritage Forum. She advised that nominations are invited for two Elected Members per Municipal District. Ms. Malone advised that once established, the Heritage Forum will have three Working Groups with a focus on Natural Heritage, Built Heritage & Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. She also provided 3 an outline of the draft schedule for the preparation and adoption of the Heritage Plan. Ms. Malone concluded her presentation by thanking the members for the opportunity to meet with them. The Chairperson, Councillor Caillian Ellis thanked Ms. Malone for her presentation. He welcomed the update provided on Heritage in Leitrim and he stated that access to heritage sites on privately owned land can be problematic. Ms. Malone acknowledged Councillor Ellis’s concern and she also noted that insurance can also be an issue for landowners, with regard to potential claims arising, if persons sustain an injury on privately owned lands. Councillor Ellis invited any questions from the Members and the following items were raised: Councillor Paddy O’Rourke thanked Ms. Malone for her presentation and wished her well in her role as Heritage Officer for Leitrim County Council. Councillor O’Rourke requested that Ms. Malone review the situation with regard to a fort at Killahurk, Carrigallen where the Council own the fort but do not own the access rights to the site. Ms. Malone agreed to review the file and to revert to Councillor O’Rourke with an update. Councillor Brendan Barry queried if Local Community Groups can access funding to improve access to Heritage Sites. Ms. Sarah Malone advised that Community Groups can apply for Leader Funding to provide pathways/walkways to these sites. Proposed by Councillor Brendan Barry, seconded by Councillor Caillian Ellis AND RESOLVED: “That Councillors Caroline Mulvey and Councillor Paddy O’Rourke from the Ballinamore Municipal District are nominated to the Leitrim Heritage Forum Committee.” BMD/18/116 24/10/2018 Nominee to the Centenary Commerative Committee Ms. Sinead Flynn referred to a report from Ms. Mary Quinn, Director of Services circulated to the Members with regard to the Centenary Commerative Committee. She advised that nominations are invited for one Elected Member per Municipal District to the Committee. The report as circulated appears as Appendix 3 to the Minutes of this meeting in the Minute Book. Councillor Caillian Ellis proposed Councillor Paddy O’Rourke as the nominee to the Centenary Commerative Committee.