The Cathaoirleach welcomed everyone to the Boyle Municipal District Budget Meeting for 2021.

PART 8 STROKESTOWN PUBLIC REALM ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.

The meeting opened with a presentation to the elected members on the Part 8 Strokestown Public Realm Enhancement Project by Ms Majella Hunt, Director of Services, Brian Farragher, Executive Planner and Nollaig Whyte, Administrative Officer.  The project was published on 13^th June, 2020 and an EIA was carried out.  The Managers report was prepared and 7 submissions were received.  Project proposal was prepared in collaboration with the Strokestown Town Team.  The project has the capacity to deliver social and economic benefits which will make the town of Strokestown more sustainable.

Concerns were highlighted by the elected members regarding the impact of the development on traffic movement, access to properties, access to the bottle bank and medical centre and the availability of parking spaces.  Ms. Majella Hunt, Director of Services stated that these concerns would be examined when the project reaches the more detailed design phase.  The Part 8 approval has to be in place by the 1^st December, 2020 if the project is to progress.

All the members welcomed this potential investment in Strokestown and agreed that it could not be lost.

Cllr Crosby raised concern about consideration of the public submission lodged and queried whether off street parking could be looked at as a solution to the parking issue.

Cllr Murphy stated that the plan should be adopted with the provision that every opportunity would be taken to address the concerns of the publi .  Cllr Cummins expressed his support for the plan stating that the town needs a focal point.  Cllr Mulligan stated he would like to see pedestrian crossings included in the project.

Cllr Byrne stated that the long awaited investment would be very welcome in Strokestown and emphasized the concerns of the local businesses and people in respect of parking spaces and access to premises.

Cllr Callaghan stated that the plan has the ability to bring business and tourism to Strokestown.  Cllr Callagahan added that it is important to remember the people most impacted by the changes.  Cllr Callaghan expressed his support for off street parking.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Murphy

SECONDED by Cllr Crosby

That the Elected Members of Boyle Municipal District in accordance with Part XI of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended and Part 8 (Article 81) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), having considered the Chief Executive’s Report and Recommendation, proceed with the Strokestown Public Realm Enhancement Project.

Mr.Martin Lydon, Head of Finance presented the Chief Executive Report regarding the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) and the Draft Budgetary Plans for Boyle Municipal District 2021.  Mr Lydon, Head of Finance outlined that the total proposed General Municipal Allocation (GMA) for 2021 for the Boyle Municipal District Area was €846,600.

The decision taken at the last Plenary meeting on the 28^th September to vary the LPT basic rate upwards by 15% allowed for the following items to be included in the GMA for 2021

·         €150,000 for street cleaning

·         €120,000 of funding has been allocated to the general roads maintenance budget

·         €34,000 in funding has been granted to assist Tidy Towns programmes and combat illegal dumping.  These services are no longer funded from grant allocations.

·         Town Team funding has been increased from €8000 to €10,000 for each of the six town teams.

It should be noted that €255,000 in match funding has been provided in the draft budgetary plan for capital expenditure projects.

Mr. Lydon, Head of Finance,  outlined the rationale for allocating funds.  The model used in 2020 for apportioning roads expenditure (33.3% Population, 33.3% km Roads, 33.3% Condition) has again been applied in 2021.

Funding of €35,000 in Voluntary Graveyard Grants has been split equally between the three municipal districts and is included in this year’s allocation.

The purpose of the draft budgetary plan meeting is to provide each municipal district an opportunity to allocate its proportion of the General Municipal Allocation to its priorities.

All of the elected members thanked Mr. Lydon, Head of Finance and welcomed the budget as presented. 

Cllr Crosby queried if any resources could be used to extend the greenway along the Royal Canal near Clondra to link on to Tarmonbarry giving the potential for Roscommon Greenways to connect to this important piece of national infrastructure.  Cllr Crosby also stressed the need for traffic management in the village of Tarmonbarry.

Cllr Cummins stated that a lot of good work had been completed in the Boyle Municipal District and emphasized the importance of continuing this work.

Cllr Murphy stated he had received queries in relation to the maintenance of land drainage areas and asked whether funding could be used to carry out work in the vicinity of smaller rivers.

Cllr Mulligan queried whether extra funding could be allocated towards illegal dumping.  He stressed the importance of persuing offenders and having successful prosecutions.  Cllr Mulligan believed this was not happening.

Cllr Byrne noted that the work carried out by voluntary groups in cemeteries and by the Tidy Towns Committee represented a phenomenal return for money invested.

Cllr Liam Callaghan stated that we are grateful for the monies available and that it should be spent wisely.

Mr. Martin Lydon Head of Finance responded to the queries and the rationale on how funding was allocated including the needs and the resources available to the Council and the resource needs of each Municipal District including where appropriate condition survey, population, location of facilities etc.  He stated that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.20