On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Dineen

            SECONDED by Cllr. Cummins

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Plenary Meeting held on 26.03.2018

There were no matters arising.

·         Property at Unit 1, Monksland Civic Centre, Monksland, Athlone

·         Property at Unit 2, Monksland Civic Centre, Monksland, Athlone

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Naughten

SECONDED by Councillor Kilduff

It was AGREED that the Council consent to the lease of property pursuant to the provisions of Section 211 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001.  Particulars of the property which the County Council proposes to lease:-

The property: Unit 1, Monksland Civic centre, Monksland, Athlone, Co, Roscommon

The person to whom the property is to be leased to:  Jennifer Harte

Consideration:  €600 per month  (€7,200 per annum) plus VAT as applicable, plus service charges

Terms of Lease: Four years and nine months

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Fallon 

SECONDED by Councillor Naughten

It was AGREED that the Council consent to the lease of property pursuant to the provisions of Section 211 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001.  Particulars of the property which the County Council proposes to lease:-

The property: Unit 2, Monksland Civic centre, Monksland, Athlone, Co, Roscommon

The person to whom the property is to be leased to:  The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Consideration:  €600 per month (€7,200 per annum) plus VAT as applicable, plus service charges

Terms of Lease: Four years and nine months

Members noted the Management Report for Quarter 1 2018.

Mr. Martin Lydon, Head of Finance and A/Director of Services outlined key points regarding the accounts:

·         Overall surplus of €11,000 for 2017 bringing overall general reserves to €183,000

·         €73.7m spent in Revenue and Capital Accounts with no recourse to overdraft during the year

·         93% of all invoices paid within 30 days

·         Increase in Rates collection of €234,000 however reduction from 91% to 83% of rates collection (due to change of method for accounting of doubtful debts)

·         Total of €10.2m received in National Grants of which €7m received from Equalisation Fund

·         Approval sought for Divisional Over-expenditure in sum of €4,727,697 and the transfers from/to reserves of €2,769,351

·         Roscommon County Council is in good financial shape.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Connaughton

            SECONDED by Cllr. Connolly

It was AGREED to adopt the Unaudited Annual Financial Statement for Year ended 31^st December 2017.

·         Baylough, Athlone, Co. Roscommon

·         Taylorstown, Clonown, Athlone, Co. Roscommon

Mr. Pat Murtagh A/Director of Services reported as follows:

Applications were received to have roads located at Baylough, Athlone and Taylorstown, Clonown, Athlone declared public roads. The roads have been examined and the Council is satisfied that they are suitable for declaration as public roads.  There are no immediate financial implications for the Council in such a declaration.  The Council will be charged with their future maintenance.

The statutory notice proposing to declare the roads public was published and no objection or representation was received. 

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Naughten

             SECONDED by Councillor Kilduff

It was AGREED to declare the road at Baylough, Athlone, Co Roscommon in to be a public road. 

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Fallon

           SECONDED by Councillor Naughten

It was AGREED to declare the road at Taylorstown, Clonown, Athlone, Co. Roscommon to be a public road.  

Ms. Majella Hunt, Director of Services presented the 2018 Tidy Towns and Amenity grants for approval of the members as follows:

·         In accordance with the terms of the scheme, funding for Tidy Towns Associations is prioritised for those entering the National Tidy Towns Competition in 2018. Funding for Local Development Associations who are carrying out small scale enhancement works in their local areas are recommended.

·         An allocation to the County Roscommon Community Games and three sub aqua clubs that are active in search and rescue are also recommended.

·         The total budget for the scheme is €60,000 and a total of 83 eligible applications were received and are recommended for grant approval.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Byrne

                     SECONDED by Cllr. Cummins

It was AGREED  to adopt the Allocations under the Tidy Towns and Amenity Grants Scheme 2018.

·         Letter of acknowledgement from Department of Health regarding the Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs.

·         Letter from Sligo Municipal District RE: Resolution passed by Members in relation to Broadcasting of GAA Matches.

·         Letter from Donegal County Council RE: Resolution passed by Members in relation to Community Employment Schemes

·         Letter from An Taoiseach,  Leo Varadkar T.D, expressing thanks for work carried out by Roscommon County Council Staff during Storm Emma.

·         Letter of acknowledgement from Dept. of Housing, Planning and Local Government regarding the allocation of funding to local authorities for dealing with dangerous roadside trees.

·         Letter from Amnesty International in relation to Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs.

·         Letter from Dept. of Housing, Planning and Local Government in connection with the National Planning Framework.

·         Letter from Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government regarding Taking in Charge applications.

There were no items for discussion.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Cummins

SECONDED by Councillor Fallon

It was AGREED to adopt the list of payments for attendance at conferences as circulated to the members. 

·         Votes of congratulations were extended to the Roscommon Senior Football Team on Winning Division 2 of the National Football League.

·         Vote of Sympathy was proposed by Cllr. Liam Callaghan to the Duignan and Mulvey families on the recent passing of Mary Mulvey, husband of Council employee Paul and daughter Kitty and the late Charlie Duignan, both former Cathaoirligh of Roscommon County Council.

Sliabh Bawn Windfarm:

The Cathaoirleach thanked Mr. Martin Lydon for the information circulated regarding the Report on the Sliabh Bawn Windfarm. She is of the opinion that the current guidelines that informed the report on Sliabh Bawn are outdated as they don’t deal with low frequency noise and the current wind turbines are now twice the height. The families affected have referred this report to consultants they have engaged and are willing to make this available to the Council when completed. She asked Mr Lydon to confirm when will the Councils own report on the noise be carried out and completed.

Mr. Lydon confirmed that the equipment had been calibrated and returned last week. Work will start this week and expected to take 3-4 weeks to complete on 7or 8 sites. It is expected to have a report in 6 to 8 weeks.

In response to concerns raised by members at to the locations of testing and a desire that testing be done when south east winds are blowing, Mr. Lydon said that all concerns will be taken into consideration but locations will also depend on gaining access.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Leyden

              SECONDED by Cllr. Byrne

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council call on Mr. Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to bring in the new Guidelines for Wind Energy without further delay and cease the subsidisation of on-shore wind energy.

Vacant Site Levy

Cllr. Liam Callaghan spoke on the proposed Vacant Site Levy and queries he has received from people as a result of letters that issued to them from the Council -

·         Not aware their land was zoned for development

·         Not aware of next steps if using the lands for agricultural purposes

·         Need clarity on the current situation in Roscommon and what the next steps are for land owners affected by the levy.

·         Amazed that there is a levy on undeveloped land when there are so many unfinished estates and vacant houses in county and this levy should not be applicable in County Roscommon

Members made the following points in relation to the discussion:

·         If many of the sites were put up for sale for housing development, there would be no buyers for these sites

·         Acknowledged that the levy is applicable in large urban centres where there is land hoarding but not applicable in rural counties

·         Conditions are not right for development at the moment and with the cost of new building regulations there are no builders currently building as they cannot buy lands and build at a profit.

·         Is there an appeals process?

·         There is a need for houses in the county but it is now cheaper to buy rather than build.

·         When the levy to be introduced nationally.

·         This is a very significant issue and a worry to all those who received letters – how can they be removed from the register?

·         Is this levy being implemented uniformly by all local authorities?

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Cummins

              SECONDED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.18