DÚN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes of Annual Meeting of the County Council held in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on Monday, 8 June 2015 at 5.00 pm PRESENT: Bailey, John F Madigan, Josepha Bailey, Maria Martin, Catherine Baker, Marie McCarthy, Lettie Boyhan, Victor McGovern, Lynsey Brennan, Shay Merrigan, Michael Cuffe, Jennifer Murphy, Brian Curran, Chris Murphy, Tom Daly, Kevin Nic Cormaic, Sorcha Devlin, Cormac O'Brien, Peter Dockery, Liam O'Brien, Shane Donnelly, Deirdre O'Callaghan, Denis Fayne, Mary O'Neill, Seamas Feeney, Kate Richmond, Neale Gill, Karl Saul, Barry Halpin, Melisa Smyth, Carrie Hanafin, Mary Smyth, Ossian Hand, Pat Stewart, Patricia Horkan, Gerry Tallon, Grace Kingston, Deirdre Ward, Barry Lewis, Hugh OFFICIALS PRESENT: Philomena Poole (Chief Executive), Frank Austin (Director of Transportation and Water Services), Helena Cunningham (Director of Finance and I.T.), Andrée Dargan (County Architect & Director of Culture), Kathleen Holohan (Deputy Chief Executive), Tom McHugh (Director of Housing and Community), Richard Shakespeare (Director of Environment), Mary Henchy (A/Director of Planning & Enterprise), Bernie Gilligan (Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services and Human Resources), Bob Hannan (Senior Architect Architecture & Culture), Pamela O'Connor (Senior Architect, Architecture & Culture), Ian Smalley (Administrative Officer, Corporate Services) and Pamela Graydon (Senior Staff Officer, Corporate Services) C/319/15 Presiding Chairperson It was AGREED that the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Baker, would preside until the election of An Cathaoirleach. C/320/15 Address of Outgoing Cathaoirleach An Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Baker thanked the Members, the Chief Executive, the Management team and the staff for their assistance and support during the past year. Outgoing Cathaoirleach’s Speech “Well it has been a very busy year for me as Cathaoirleach, I have to say that I enjoyed every moment of it. During the past week I took some time to reflect on the year. I attended over 1 190 events or meetings as Cathaoirleach. In addition I attended a further 85 other events or meetings as part of my role as a Blackrock ward councillor, tidy towns chairperson, Blackrock Business Network committee member or party political member to mention just a few. I feel very honoured to do this job for a second time. I can honestly say that I never thought that I would wear the chain again when I relinquished it 5 years ago. The experience of being Cathaoirleach before has stood to me. This has been a wonderful year, I don’t know of any other job that allows you to cut ribbons, present loads of awards and even accept a few, launch books, open libraries, community centres, sporting facilities, art exhibitions and conferences. This role also includes the important job of chairing the Council’s various meetings, I have tried to be as fair as I can to every councillor and treat each of you with respect. This year we commenced work on our County Development Plan. Despite the steep learning curve for new members we managed to complete the opening process in a timely manner. One of the greatest joys of being Cathaoirleach was meeting people from all over the County whilst visiting schools, community groups, festivals, business events, sports clubs, tea dances, award ceremonies etc but what was even better was inviting people from our County and elsewhere to come inside this wonderful building. My highlights of the year include the opening of the Lexicon and Blackrock Libraries. Planting a tree in Fernhill to mark the purchase of the lands by the Council. The re-launch of the People’s Park on a sunny day. Hosting a celebration for the Special Olympians from our County. But the event I enjoyed the most was probably the Volunteer Recognition Awards, where we commemorated the work of 97 County volunteers. These volunteers come from every strand of society and background, adding so much to the lives of others. I have a few thanks you to make, firstly to my Fine Gael colleagues, thank you for selecting me as your candidate for Cathaoirleach last year. Thank you to all the members of this chamber for your co-operation and courtesy. To the Chief Executive, Philomena Poole and all the management team and staff a big thank you. To Carla, in the Cathaoirleach’s office, a very big thank you. And finally to my husband and children a big thank you for all the support during the past year.” The Members and Ms. P. Poole, Chief Executive paid tribute to An Cathaoirleach for being a great ambassador for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council during her year in office. Ms. P. Poole, Chief Executive, presented An Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Baker, with a photo album as a memento of her year’s term in office. C/321/15 Election of An Cathaoirleach An Cathaoirleach, Councillor M. Baker invited nominations for the election of An Cathaoirleach. Councillor B. Saul was proposed by Councillor J. Bailey and seconded by Councillor G. Horkan. Councillor S. Nic Cormaic was proposed by Councillor H. Lewis and seconded by Councillor C. Curran. 2 Councillor P. O’Brien was proposed by Councillor G. Tallon and seconded by Councillor D. O’Callaghan. As there were three nominations for the position of An Cathaoirleach a roll call vote was requested, the result was as follows: COUNCILLORS: CLLR. B. SAUL CLLR. S. NIC CORMAIC CLLR. P. O’BRIEN Bailey, John F. √ Bailey, Maria √ Baker, Marie √ Boyhan, Victor √ Brennan, Shay √ Cuffe, Jennifer √ Curran, Chris √ Daly, Kevin √ Devlin, Cormac √ Dockery, Liam √ Donnelly, Deirdre √ Fayne, Mary √ Feeney, Kate √ Gill, Karl √ Halpin, Melisa √ Hanafin, Mary √ Hand, Pat √ Horkan, Gerry √ Kingston, Deirdre √ Lewis, Hugh √ Madigan, Josepha √ Martin, Catherine √ McCarthy, Lettie √ McGovern, Lynsey √ Merrigan, Michael √ Murphy, Brian √ Murphy, Tom √ Nic Cormaic, Sorcha √ O’Brien, Peter √ O’Brien, Shane √ O’Callaghan, Denis √ 3 O’Neill, Seamas √ Richmond, Neale √ Saul, Barry √ Smyth, Carrie √ Smyth, Ossian √ Stewart, Patricia √ Tallon, Grace √ Ward, Barry √ TOTAL: 26 7 6 FOLLOWING THE ROLL CALL VOTE COUNCILLOR BARRY SAUL WAS DECLARED ELECTED AS CATHAOIRLEACH TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE ELECTION OF HIS SUCCESSOR. COUNCILLOR BARRY SAUL WAS INVESTED BY THE OUTGOING CATHAOIRLEACH WITH THE CHAIN OF OFFICE. The new Cathaoirleach then took the Chair. Cathaoirleach’s Acceptance Speech “I would like to start by thanking my fellow councillors for the honour of electing me as Cathaoirleach for the coming year. It is an honour to serve in public office as the first citizen of the county and an opportunity not afforded to many. In particular I would especially like to thank my colleagues in the Fine Gael group for selecting me as their candidate for this position and to Fianna Fail and the Green Party for their support. I would like to pay tribute to my immediate predecessor in this position, Cllr Marie Baker. She chaired our meetings fairly and efficiently as well as being a great ambassador for our county. As a first time Cathaoirleach, I would ask for the member’s patience while I acclimatise myself to the new position. One of my aims is to continue to conduct our council business in a business-like manner and that we respect and show courtesy to our fellow councillors. I will try to be fair and accommodating to everyone and ensure people’s opinions are heard and respected. We have a busy year ahead of us with a number of important tasks to complete, our County Development plan, our first Local Economic and Community Plan, our council budget, our social housing construction programme, an Age Friendly Strategy and a number of part 8 projects. There are a number of themes I would like to focus on during my year as Cathaoirleach. Tourism Promotion I will work with National and local agencies to assist in the promotion of our county as a tourist destination. 4 Business Support and promotion I will work to promote our county as a destination for business from sole traders to MNC’s. Sports and leisure facilities. Our sports and leisure facilities in the county have improved radically over the last 10 years. With the improvement in the economy and a projected increase in future development levy receipts, we can improve and enhance our sport and leisure facilities throughout the county. Working with the council’s sports office I intend to have a number of workshops with sports clubs in order to identify deficiencies in both sports and leisure facilities throughout the county. During the year I look forward to opening the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre. I will also work with the parks and sports office in order to progress Master plans for Fernhill and Marlay Park. I look forward to a successful conclusion of the work being carried out by the Stillorgan Leisure working group on the provision of a new pool in Stillorgan. I would like to extend a special welcome to my family this evening. Without them, my wife Deirdre in particular, my role in public life would not be possible. Finally the people of the Stillorgan area who have voted for me in 2004 and 2009 and 2014. I would not be here without their support. Thank you.” The Members and Ms. P. Poole, Chief Executive congratulated Councillor B. Saul on his election as An Cathaoirleach and wished him well in his term of office. C/322/15 Presentation of Replica of the medallion of Office to former Cathaoirleach An Cathaoirleach, Councillor B. Saul presented the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Councillor Marie Baker, with a replica of the medallion of office to commemorate her year as Cathaoirleach. C/323/15 Election of An Leas Chathaoirleach An Cathaoirleach, Councillor B. Saul invited nominations for the office of Leas Chathaoirleach. Councillor M.