MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL MINUTES OF Proceedings of a Meeting of Magherafelt District Council held in the Council Offices, 50 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt on Tuesday, 11 October 2005. The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm. Presiding: J F Kerr Other Members Present: P McLean P J Bateson J Campbell T J Catherwood J Crawford Mrs E A Forde P E Groogan O T Hughes Miss K A Lagan Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea, MP, MLA (joined the meeting at 7.45 pm) Mrs K A McEldowney J J McPeake I P Milne J P O’Neill G C Shiels Officers Present: J A McLaughlin (Chief Executive) C W Burrows (Director of Environmental Health) W J Glendinning (Director of Building Control) B Kissick (Head of Technical Services) Mr C McCarney (Magherafelt Area Partnership) – Item 15 Mrs A Junkin (Chief Executive’s Secretary) Representatives from Other The Planning Service: Bodies in Attendance : Mrs H O’Toole – Divisional Planning Manager Ms D Dickson – Planning Officer 1. MINUTES 1.1 It was PROPOSED by Councillor J P O’Neill Seconded by Councillor I P Milne, and RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 13 September 2005 (copy circulated to each Member) be taken as read and signed as correct. 2 2. MATTERS ARISING The Chief Executive advised that there were no OUT OF THE MINUTES matters arising as such, but that there were some letters to thanks and other correspondence which he wished to draw to Members’ attention. 2.1 Submitted letters of thanks for contributions made by the Council, from Action Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern Ireland, Mr Patrick Quigley towards the purchase of plants at Marriott House and Brennan Court, Magherafelt, and the Irish Indoor Bowling Association towards the promotion of bowling in the IIBA Year Book. Noted. 2.2 Submitted letter from Local Government Division advising that the Councillors’ Remuneration Working Group required to know what Councils wished to make presentations to them before 31 October 2005 (copy circulated to each Member). 2.2.1 It was agreed that the Council would leave this matter to NILGA and the National Association of Councillors and would comply with their decision but it was left open for any individual Member to comment. 3. SYMPATHY The Chairman, Councillor J F Kerr expressed sympathy with Mrs Margaret Barnes, the Council’s 260/10/2005 Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, on the recent death of her father, Mr Samuel Hutchinson Coagh and proposed that a message of sympathy be sent to her at this sad time. 3.1 Members agreed. 4. CONGRATULATIONS Councillor O T Hughes requested that a message of congratulations be sent to Wolfe Tones 260/10/2005 GAA, Bellaghy on winning for the 21 st time the County Derry Senior Football Championship. 4.1 Members agreed. 3 4.2 It was PROPOSED by Councillor Miss K A Lagan Seconded by Councillor P E Groogan, and RESOLVED: That a civic reception be given to Mr Eugene Donnelly, Maghera on winning the All Ireland Rally Driver of the year. 5. BEST WISHES The Chairman, Councillor J F Kerr proposed that a Get Well card be sent to Mr T J Johnston, 260/10/2005 Director of Operations wishing him a speedy recovery after surgery. 5.1 Members agreed. 6. BUILDING CONTROL The Director of Building Control presented the DEPARTMENT Department’s report for the period 7 September to 4 October 2005 (copy circulated to each 210/10/2005 Member). 6.1 Mr Glendinning stated that during the period of the report fifty-seven applications had been recommended for approval. A total of sixty-nine applications required amending by architects and agents before granting approval. During this period seventy-seven Notices mainly in connection with Northern Ireland Housing Executive oil heating conversions and three Regularisations were issued. A total of sixty-nine applications required amendments by architects and agents before granting approval. 6.1.1 There were no extensions of time and no cancellations. 6.1.2 Eighty-one applications had commenced on site and forty-nine applications were found to be complete in accordance with Building Regulations. 6.2 The Chief Executive drew Members’ attention to the number of applications returned to architects and agents. He said that in the previous month there had also been sixty-nine applications returned and suggested a charge for corrections having to be made to plans. 4 6.2.1 Councillor P McLean stated that there was a need for North Eastern Group Building Control Committee to revisit this matter. He enquired as to what happened in other Building Control Departments? 6.2.2 In reply, Mr Glendinning stated that currently they were not charging. He further stated that the department also wrote a letter to the applicant advising them that they had written to the agent or architect and returned their plans for the necessary corrections. 6.2.3 Councillor McLean said that some eight years ago the Group held a half-day seminar for agents in order that they might understand how the system worked and what was required by Building Control. Applications improved for a short time and then deteriorated again. 6.2.4 Mr Glendinning further suggested that the alternative was to reject applications and allow the applicants to reapply without charging a fee. 6.2.5 Councillor McLean suggested that any changes should be implemented through the North- Eastern Group. 6.2.6 It was further PROPOSED by Councillor P McLean Seconded by Councillor T J Catherwood, and RESOLVED: that the report as submitted be adopted. 7. NAMING AND Consideration was given to the naming and NUMBERING OF numbering of four private houses on the Disert STREETS Road, Draperstown for Francis McNally. The name suggested by the developer was ‘Macnall PN.131/10/2005 Lane’. 7.1 On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor Miss K A Lagan Seconded by Councillor P E Groogan, and RESOLVED: that the four private houses at Disert Road, Draperstown be named ‘Macnall Lane’. 5 8. PETROLEUM The following application was submitted for LICENCES a Petroleum Licence which was in order and recommended for renewal: P.74 Diamond Service Station 14 The Square, Draperstown – Mr E McAuley 8.1 On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor Miss K A Lagan Seconded by Councillor J J McPeake, and RESOLVED: that the application as submitted for a Petroleum Licence be renewed. 9. STREET TRADING Submitted the following applications: LICENCES 9.1 Renewal of a Street Trading Licence which was in order and recommended: ST 10 Andrea McKay 14 Meetinghouse Avenue, Maghera Lay-by at Glenshane Pass, Maghera 9.1.1 On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor J Campbell Seconded by Councillor J P O’Neill, and RESOLVED: that the application as submitted for a Street Trading Licence be renewed. 9.2 Temporary Street Trading Licences which were in order and recommended for approval: T.2 Mrs Estelle Iris Cochrane Armour Balloons 63 Blackisland Road Saturday, 26 November 2005 –Maghera T.3 Mrs Estelle Iris Cochrane Armour Balloons 63 Blackisland Road Friday, 25 November 2005 – Broad Street/Market Square, Magherafelt 6 9.2.1 On consideration it was PROPOSED by Councillor Miss K A Lagan Seconded by Councillor Mrs K A McEldowney, and RESOLVED: that the applications as submitted for temporary Street Trading Licences be approved. 10. BOOKMAKER’S Submitted for information, an application for the LICENCE renewal of a Bookmaker’s Licence: 10.1 The Chief Executive reported that the premises had been inspected and found to be satisfactory and that sufficient sanitary accommodation was provided: John D Rainey 21 New Row, Castledawson Noted. Councillor Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea joined the meeting at 7.45 pm. 11. PLANNING SERVICE The Chief Executive submitted a letter from Lord Rooker’s office dated 21 September 2005 in reply 185/10/2005 to Mr David Ferguson’s letter of 27 July 2005 on workload pressures (copy circulated to each Member), together with a reply from Mr Ferguson, Chief Executive of the Planning Service to the Council’s response dated 16 September 2005 (copy handed out to each Member). 11.1 The Chairman, Councillor J F Kerr invited Mrs O’Toole, Divisional Planning Manager to explain the new procedures within the Planning Service. 11.1.1 Mrs O’Toole said that the guidance given on the operation of the Management Board referrals and the deferral procedures were really nothing new. This guidance was in accordance with the Modernisation of Planning Processes. The Planning Service was improving its efficiency with the help of a new computer system. 7 Consultation was of major priority. Mrs O’Toole said that with people coming to Northern Ireland and investing in Northern Ireland, there had to be consistency, clarity and transparency in planning within the twenty-six Councils and for all the parties concerned. 11.1.3 Mrs O’Toole outlined how the operation of the Management Board referral process would operate, the criteria for MBR’s, the interim arrangements for applications already in the system and the need for the Council to be strongly of the opinion that a decision contrary to that proposed by the Divisional Planning Office must be made, and represented the corporate view of the Council. If this was not the case the SPTO would not be able to agree to it. She also said that the MBR process was unique to Northern Ireland but that the procedure delayed decision-making. Mrs O’Toole emphasised that submissions to the Management Board must be made within three weeks of the meeting at which the referral was made.