MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of Proceedings of a Meeting of Magherafelt District Council held in the Council Chamber, 50 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt on Tuesday, 12 May 2009. The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm. Presiding: Mrs K A McEldowney Other Members Present: Mrs E A Forde J Campbell T J Catherwood J Crawford P E Groogan O T Hughes J F Kerr Miss K A Lagan Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea, MP, MLA P McLean J J McPeake I P Milne G C Shiels Apology: Mrs A C Gribbon 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: P Doherty - Divisional Roads Manager G Quinn – Section Engineer DoE Planning Service: Mrs Sandra Adams – Planning Officer 1 Minutes 1.1 Councillor F J Kerr referred to Page 17, item 11 – Peace III Programme and pointed out that he had declared an interest and had left the Chamber during the discussion but it had not been recorded in the Minutes and requested that the Minutes be amended. 2 1.2 It was Proposed by Councillor P McLean Seconded by Councillor Mrs E A Forde, and Resolved: that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 7 April 2009 (copy previously circulated to each Member), subject to the above amendment, be taken as read and signed as correct. 2 Matters Arising Out of the Minutes The Chief Executive submitted the following: 2.1 Letter of thanks from Magherafelt Macmillan Cancer Support Fundraising Committee for the Council’s donation towards their Charity Golf Day on 14 August 2009 fundraising for the palliative care unit at Antrim Area Hospital. Noted. 2.2 Letter of thanks The Fort Riding for the Disabled (Maghera) for the Council’s support and donation towards the work being carried out at the Centre. Noted. 2.3 Letter of acknowledgement from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and thanking the Council for making comments on the Trust’s Proposed Service Changes. A detailed consultation feedback report was available on their website www.northerntrust.hscni.net . Noted. 2.4 Invitation for Councillors to attend a free regional one day conference and wind farm visit organised by BWEA, the UK’s leading renewable energy association, on Tuesday, 16 June 2009 from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. at Slieve Divena wind farm, near Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone. Any Member wishing to attend should contact the Chief Executive’s Department. Noted. 2.5 Presentation: The Chief Executive submitted a letter from Mr Sean Dorrity, Branch Secretary, North Eastern Education Branch of Unison seeking speaking rights on behalf of UNISON at the next Council Meeting. 3 UNISON wished to address the issue of 0.5% pay offer to Local Government Staff and would be seeking the Council’s support to obtain a reasonable pay offer. 2.5.1 The Chief Executive advised that the Council employed a negotiating mechanism for such issues and he felt that such a presentation was unnecessary. 2.5.2 Some Members felt that as UNISON had requested speaking rights, they had a right to be heard by the Council and it was up to the Council to give support or otherwise. 2.5.3 Following some discussion it was Proposed by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor Mrs E A Forde, and Resolved: that the Chief Executive explain the situation to UNISON and advise them that in his opinion there would be no productive outcome to any such presentation. In the event that UNISON insisted with their request the Chief Executive would endeavour to arrange a presentation to be made at a future date. 2.6 Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea said that he wished to recognise and thank the Council for sending him a basket of fruit when he was recovering from his operation recently. Noted. 3 Receptions 3.1 Councillor J F Kerr referred to the achievement of ‘Happy Days Nursery’, Magherafelt on receiving a Centre of Excellence Award, and recommended that this achievement be recognised by the Council hosting a reception. 3.2 Councillor P McLean requested a reception for McGlaughlin’s Pharmacy, Magherafelt on winning the Pharmacy in Focus Awards Customer Service Award and also Eilish Cunningham on winning the Pharmacist of the Year Award 3.3 After discussion, it was agreed that Receptions be given to ‘Happy Days Nursery’ and McGlaughlin’s Pharmacy to mark their achievements. 4 Presentation - Divisional Roads Manager’s Report The Chairperson welcomed representatives from Roads Service – Western Division to the meeting Mr Pat Doherty, Divisional Roads Manager and Mr Gary Quinn, Local Section Engineer for the Magherafelt District. 4 4.1 Mr Doherty in his report (copy previously circulated to each Member) referred to the continued investment of £3.1 for the Magherafelt Council area announced by the Regional Development Minister. He referred to work on the A6 dualling between Toomebridge (A22) to Castledawson Roundabout which continued to make significant progress and given the completion of statutory orders and funding construction on this project would commence in 2011. 4.2 Progress on the A31 Magherafelt By-pass was advancing. A Public Inquiry into the proposed By-pass had been held in the Council Offices, Magherafelt in April 2009 and Mr Doherty said that it was expected that the Inspector would issue his report within the next four months. 4.3 Mr Doherty also mentioned other schemes carried out in the past year and in particular the A29 Moneymore Road, Desertmartin, the A42 Mayogall Road, Clady, A31 Moneymore Road, Magherafelt, all of which had all be resurfaced; and the car-park extension at Castledawson Roundabout which would provide room for buses to pick-up and set down passengers. He also referred to the realignment of the A54 Ballymacombs Road at Smithtown Cross and vertical realignment and footway at Hall Lane, Gulladuff; the extension of the park and share parking at the A6 Craigadick, Maghera; and traffic calming at Leckagh and Killowen Drive Magherafelt. 4.4 The Divisional Roads Manager outlined the programmes to be undertaken as set out in his report, which included sight line improvements at Ballysullion Lane, Bellaghy, Ballynease Road, Bellaghy, Crew Road, Maghera, and Ballymacilcurr Road, Culnady. He also mentioned the completion of the footpath between Milltown Bridge at Craigadick Road, Maghera and traffic calming at Queen’s Avenue, Kirk Avenue and Princess Avenue in Magherafelt. 4.5 Finally, Mr Doherty referred to the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and said that Roads Service had consulted with local government regarding functions to be transferred in 2011 to local government and the arrangements to allow the next new Councils to influence roads programmes. 4.6 The Chairperson then requested Members to bring forward any comments or questions they wished to make on the report. 4.7 Members raised many questions and Mr Doherty 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. 4.8 The Chairperson thanked the representatives from Roads Service for attending and answering Members questions. Representatives from Roads Service retired from the meeting at 8.50 pm. 5 5 Building Control Department 210/5/2009 The Director of Building Control presented the Department’s report for the period 28 March 2009 to 30 April 2009 (copy previously circulated to each Member). 5.1 During this period twenty-seven applications had been recommended for approval and one hundred and sixty-seven applications required amending by Architects and Agents before granting approval. 5.2 During this period there were no extensions and no cancellations. 5.3 Application for Notices and Regularisations During the period from 28 March to 30 April 2009 there was one Notice issued and no Regularisations issued. During this period one hundred and twenty-eight applications have commenced on site and one hundred and five applications were found to be complete in accordance with Building Regulations. 5.4 Property Certificates There were twenty-four Property Certificates issued for this period. 5.5 It was Proposed by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor P McLean, and Resolved: to adopt the report as submitted. 6 Naming and Numbering of Streets Consideration was given to the naming of a new housing development at Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt for JFM Construction Ltd. The names suggested were: • Piney Ways • Piney Mews • Piney Avenue. 6 6.1 Following discussion it was Proposed by Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea Seconded by Councillor Miss K A Lagan, and Resolved: that the new housing development at Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt be named ‘Piney Mews’ 7 Licenses and Registrations 7.1 Approved Place of Marriages – Marriage (NI) Order 2003 Submitted a place approval application from Ardtara Country House, 8 Gorteade Road, Upperlands BT46 5SA to be approved as a venue for Civil Marriage Ceremonies. The Chief Executive stated that the appropriate documentation and fee had been received and the premises were considered to be satisfactory. 7.1.1 Following discussion it was Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor O T Hughes, and Resolved: that Ardtara County House be approved as a place used for the solemnisation of Marriages under the Provision of Marriage (NI) Order 2003 for the period of one year. 7.2 Entertainment Licences : Submitted the following applications for Entertainment Licences which were in order and recommended for renewal: E.