Kildare County Council Minutes of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District Meeting held on Friday, 05 June 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Áras Chill Dara, Naas, Co Kildare Members Present: Councillor B Weld (Cathaoirleach), Councillors T Durkan, A Farrelly, A Feeney, D Fitzpatrick, P Hamilton, N Ó Cearúil, P Ward and B Wyse. Apologies: Councillor P McEvoy. Officials Present: Ms S Kavanagh (District Manager), Mr S Aylward (District Engineer), Mr G Halton, Mr K Kavanagh, Mr L Dunne, Ms M Hunt (Senior Executive Officers), Mr E Lynch (Senior Executive Planner), Ms B Loughlin (Heritage Officer), Ms A Gough (Meetings Administrator), Ms K O’Malley (Meetings Secretary). CM01/0620 Apologies The Cathaoirleach welcomed all members and staff to the meeting and offered apologies on behalf of Councillor McEvoy. He thanked Kildare County Council staff for their co-operation and help since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Cathaoirleach, Councillor Suzanne Doyle, for the ongoing information she provided to all the members following the business continuity meetings which regularly took place over the past number of months. CM02/0620 Minutes and Progress Report The members considered the minutes of the monthly Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting held on Friday, 06 March 2020 together with the progress report. Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Feeney seconded by Councillor Hamilton that the minutes of the monthly meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District held on Friday, 06 March 2020 be taken as read. The progress report was noted. ___________________________________________________________________ Minutes Clane-Maynooth Municipal District 05 June 2020 Page 1 of 22 Kildare County Council CM03/0620 Matters Arising CM03/0220, CM02/1219, CM02/1119, CM02/1019, CM15/0719 Part 8 for Cycle lane and Footpath, Celbridge Road, Maynooth. Councillor Durkan queried if a designated cycle design officer, which LPT funding had been allocated to, was in place yet. The District Engineer stated that the update was as outlined in the agenda report on the same matter confirming that a post had been offered. CM22/0220 Maynooth Orbital Route Councillor Durkan queried if there had been any progress on this matter since the March meeting. Councillor Ó’Cearúil noted that due to the pandemic the timeframe of the project would be extended and asked if the council were aware of how long it would be extended for. Mr Halton confirmed that he did not know how long it would be extended for. The District Manager stated that contracts were usually extended for the length of time of the closure. CM04/0620 Municipal District Road Works The District Engineer updated the members on the Municipal District Road Works referring to the written update provided in advance of the meeting. He stated that crash barrier repairs were carried out in Rathcoffey and confirmed that work would commence on contract 3 the following week. In relation to works on the L70042 Allenwood South – Nursery Road and L5026 Canal Bank Killina the District Engineer stated that they were awaiting surface dressing. ___________________________________________________________________ Minutes Clane-Maynooth Municipal District 05 June 2020 Page 2 of 22 Kildare County Council With regard to restoration maintenance, the District Engineer stated that the Restoration Maintenance programme was due to commence on 09 June, weather permitting. He made reference to the report previously circulated which outlined the status of the identified LPT funded projects. Councillor Weld criticised the Irish Water works due to the lack of appropriate signage directing drivers and asked the District Engineer to request the use of suitable signage when liaising with Irish Water. The District Engineer agreed that the signage was confusing and informed the members that a decision was made to have three crews working instead of one to speed up the works. Councillor Durkan queried a timeframe for the replacement of the speed ramps outside St Joseph’s Hall, Kilcock. The District Engineer stated these works would be included in Contract 6. Councillor Farrelly asked if works in Clane were continuing to operate 24 hours a day, the District Engineer confirmed that they were. The members thanked the District Engineer for his help and availability over the past number of months. CM05/0620 Corona Virus (COVID-19) The District Manager provided an update to the members in relation to Covid-19. She stated that the council had been maintaining essential services and had put staff working on rosters since the announcement was made to close schools, libraries and public buildings. She confirmed that it was at this point, meetings were postponed. The District Manager informed the members that the Cathaoirleach had been involved in the business continuity meetings and kept the members up to date with information. She stated that the Community Hub helpline was implemented and outlined its purpose and how it operated. The District Manager confirmed that the ___________________________________________________________________ Minutes Clane-Maynooth Municipal District 05 June 2020 Page 3 of 22 Kildare County Council library staff would be returning to the library the following Monday as it would be re- opening for a contact and collect service. She informed the members that other services were working towards a managed opening so members of the public and staff could be assured that re-opening would be carried out in a safe manner. In relation to meetings, she stated that the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting today was the first meeting to take place since they were postponed and confirmed that procedures were being put in place for the plenary council meeting for the use of Newbridge Town Hall. She concluded by advising the members that the council would continue to provide essential services in line with Government recommendations. The members expressed their dissatisfaction in relation to the increase in fly tipping in recent months. They thanked the Environment Department for their help and co- operation on this matter. The members also thanked the Community Response Groups, Crisis Management Team, the public and the Cathaoirleach for their work in the past few months. Mr Kavanagh stated that the council had been monitoring bottlebanks confirming that the bottlebanks had been very busy and noting that the contractor had been suffering with the same issue of staff resources as the council. He confirmed that the two civic amenity centres were increasing their opening times, stating that the Athy Civic Amenity Centre would re-open this Saturday and Silliot Hill would re-open next Saturday. CM06/0620 Clane-Maynooth Municipal District Annual Meeting The Meetings Administrator informed the members that the annual meeting would take place at 10.00 am on 03 July 2020 prior to the monthly meeting confirming that standing orders would be suspended until 10.30am. Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Weld, seconded by Councillor Durkan and agreed by all the members present that the annual meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District would take place at 10.00 am on 03 July 2020. ___________________________________________________________________ Minutes Clane-Maynooth Municipal District 05 June 2020 Page 4 of 22 Kildare County Council CM07/0620 Taking in Charge at Elizabeth’s Way, Cappagh, Kilcock The members considered the taking in charge of a public road at Elizabeth’s Way, Cappagh, Kilcock. Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Ward, seconded by Councillor Durkan and agreed by all the members present that the taking in charge of a public road at Elizabeth’s Way, Cappagh, Kilcock to proceed. CM08/0620 Royal Canal Greenway Mr Halton asked that this item be adjourned until the next Clane-Maynooth Municipal District Meeting. CM09/0620 Plans for the Hospitality Industry The committee agreed to consider items number 7 and 16 of the agenda together. Item number 7 – Question Councillor Durkan Can the council confirm what plans can or will be put in place for the hospitality industry to facilitate on street tables and chairs to comply with social distancing measures in preparation for businesses reopening once government restrictions are lifted? Item number 16 – Question Councillor Feeney Can the council confirm if it has considered supporting local cafés and restaurants by allowing them, as a temporary measure, to make appropriate use of public squares to accommodate customers within current restrictions and guidelines, given the ongoing challenges due to COVID-19? A report was received from the District Manager and the District Engineer informing the members that numerous queries and representations had been received from elected members and the public in relation to this matter. Essentially it was a ___________________________________________________________________ Minutes Clane-Maynooth Municipal District 05 June 2020 Page 5 of 22 Kildare County Council licencing matter and would have to be considered on a case by case basis by the Planning & Roads Departments. Businesses who were looking for permission to use the public footpath/public space should fill out a Section 254 licence application. Kildare County Council were prepared to waive the Section 254 fee considering the current Covid-19 context. The licence application would be lodged with the Planning Department and then sent to the Municipal Engineer who had confirmed he would consider each application on its own merits and as long as it was accompanied by the