·         Minutes of Plenary Meeting 25^th June, 2018

·         Minutes of Annual General Meeting 25^th June, 2018

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Ward

            SECONDED by Councillor Fallon

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Plenary Meeting held on 25.06.2018

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Cummins

            SECONDED by Councillor Mulligan

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 25.06.2018

There were no matters arising.

·         Quarter 2 2018

Members noted the Management Report for Quarter 2 2018

·         Site No 24, Ardsallaghmore Td, Barony of Ballintober Sth, Co. Roscommon

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Leyden

SECONDED by Councillor Shanagher

It was AGREED that the Council consent to the disposal of lands 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 land which the County Council proposes to dispose of:-

The land:  0.046 Ha. at Site No. 24 Ardsallaghmore, Td, Barony of Ballintober South, County Roscommon.

The persons from whom the land was acquired: Martin & P Kelly.

The person to whom the land is to be disposed:  Gary Hoare, Ardsallagh, Athlone Road, Roscommon.

Consideration:  €25,000

·         Units 3,4 & 5 Monksland Civic Centre

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Ward

SECONDED by Councillor Kilduff

It was AGREED that the Council consent to the lease of property pursuant to the provisions of Article 206 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, Section 211 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001.  Particulars of the property which the County Council proposes to lease:-

The Property:  Units 3, 4 and 5 Monksland Civic Centre, Monksland, Athlone, County Roscommon.

The person(s) to whom the property is to be leased to: Monksland Community Company, Limited by Guarantee

Consideration:  €300 per annum

Term of Lease: 10 years

·         Keadew West Td to Keadue Development Association

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Cummins

SECONDED by Councillor Byrne

It was AGREED that the Council consent to the lease of property pursuant to the provisions of Article 206 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, Section 211 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001.  Particulars of the property which the County Council proposes to lease for the purposes of facilitating the continued use of the lands as a Community facility in the Keadue area:-

The Property:  0.31 hA (0.766 acres) at Keadew West Td, Keadew (Keadue), Co. Roscommon.

The person(s) to whom the property is to be leased to: Keadue Development Association.

Consideration:  €100 per annum

Term of Lease: 10 years

Mr. John O’Rourke, Senior Engineer in Water Services gave a presentation to the Members on the current and recent projects in Water Services Unit under the Service Level Agreement with Irish Water:

The main points of the presentations were as follows:

·         Roscommon County Council act as agents of Irish Water under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that commenced on 1^st Jan 2014 for period of 12 years.

·         An Annual Service Plan (ASP) with set and measurable Key Performance Indicators for the operation of water services. A total of 82 KPIs in 2018 that are monitored monthly and reported quarterly. In 2017 achieved a 97% compliance with KPI’s and every year IW ask to reduce headcount and budget for same work.

·         Measures under ASP grouped into Learning & Growth, Customer, Internal process/compliance and Financial. Meet Bi Monthly with regional office in Castlebar.

·         Budget 2018 – 82 FTE staff; €8.4m cost to be recouped for Staff €4.4m, Goods & Services €2.4m, Energy €1m, overheads and capital office payroll. This represents 14% of Councils overall budget.

·         Capital Expenditure on Water schemes since 2014:

o   €25m on Boyle Ardcarne RWSS, South Roscommon RWSS (Killeglen and Lisbrock) North East RWSS, Castlerea Urban and Regional, Ballyfarnon RWSS, Ballinlough Lough Glynn RWSS Roscommon Central RWSS.  These works removed 20,000 and the EPA Remedial Action List from Boil Water Notices

o   Current upgrade on North Roscommon RWSS at cost of €5m and Grangemore WSS are only remailing schemes on Remedial Action List.

o   Water Conservation Programme is ongoing at cost of €5m

·         Monksland Sewerage Treatment plant has undergone process upgrades recently and tender documents have issued for upgrade of inlet work and construction of storm overflow tank.

·         Ongoing Capital Scheme upgrade works include:

o   Roscommon Town Main Drainage Scheme

o   Roscommon Town Serwer and Manhole Rehabilitation Contract

o   Boyle WSS extension to Grangemore

o   Castlerea WSS Phase 2 – extension from Williamstown (Lough Mask supply)

o   Ballaghaderreen WWTP upgrade

o   Monksland and Boyle Drainage Plans

·         Capital portfolio works include satellite dewatering, flow monitoring and sampling programme, small mains rehabilitation programme, District Metering and reservoir cleaning programmes.

·         Other works ongoing on the water network include planned watermains rehabilitation; lead pipe replacement, find and fix programme, first fix programme and non-domestic water replacement.

·         Asset Transfer to Irish Water involve a total of 226 assets of which 79 have been transferred by end of 2017

·         There is a considerable onerous process involves in the Take in Charge of group water schemes i.e. semi private schemes connected to the public network – there are a total of 96 schemes.

·         The Rural Water Programme funds water conservation upgrades to Private group water schemes – schemes with their own supply. Roscommon is now part of a pilot scheme for developing source protection plans to improve the safety and security of drinking water.

Members thanked Mr. O’Rourke for his very informative presentation and discussed the following:

·         How soon will the water supply from Lough Mask come to Castlerea?

·         Good news that we have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.18

·         Rural Regeneration

·         Urban Regeneration

Ms. Majella Hunt, Director of Services, outlined the details of the new Regeneration Funds and application process recently announced:

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF):

·         The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has the responsibility for implementing the URDF and nationally has an allocation of €2bn to 2027. The fund is being established to promote more compact and sustained development through regeneration and rejuvenation of cities and towns in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework.

·         The Scheme is aimed at the main cities and larger urban towns with greater than10,000 pop or less than 10,000 pop but with more than 2,500 jobs.

·         The fund is based on a competitive bid based programme and from the public sector and ideally local authority led but may include community and/or private sector partners

·         The proposed project should be of a value of more than €2m and matching funding of 25% will be required.

·         The project should be a catalyst for development that would not otherwise occur and likely to leverage significant further public and private sector investment.

·         Roscommon Town is the only eligible town for consideration for this fund and an application can be submitted as a Ready to Go project (Category A) or have some design done (Category B)

·         Closing date for bids is 28^th September.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF):

·         This scheme is similar to the Urban Scheme but on a smaller scale and will be delivered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

·         Fund of €1bn available to 2027 and is available to towns and villages not eligible under the Urban Scheme.

·         The first call for proposals are for Category 1 – Ready to go Projects and Category 2 – proposals that have clear potential and quantifiable objectives but require further development to be potentially submitted under category 1.

·         Matching funding as above of 25% including 10% cash.

·         The Minimum cost of the project must be €500,000 with no upper limit.

·         Schemes should involve collaboration across Local Authority boundaries and well as inside and the key criteria includes relevance to National Strategic Outcomes of Project Ireland 2040, a collaborative approach with other state agencies, a strategic vision, additionality and value for money, leverage of funding from partners and have a sustainable impact on the social or economic development of rural communities.

·         Closing date for bids is 27^th September.

The members discussed the schemes as follows:

In response to concerns about community groups ability to put forward schemes, given the short lead-in time, Majella Hunt clarified that there are a number of other funding streams for these groups but these are much larger projects whereby the Local Authority or other state body will be the lead. She also informed the members that details of the schemes were received on 3^rd and 4^th July.

Members welcomed the funding opportunities but had a number of queries as follows:

Not sure of the collaborative process – towns and villages are feeling very left out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.18

The Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Connaughton said that a number of councillors have been contacted about the process whereby the councillors can choose to exercise their right with regard to someone seeking a nomination from Roscommon County Council for the forthcoming Presidential Election. It is envisaged that there will be an election by the end of October but the Presidential Order is not expected until the end of August. Any prospective candidates can contact any Councillor or the Meetings Administrator in writing and they will be facilitated with a special meeting early in September or as appropriate.

Cllr. Ward stated that as we live in a democracy, we enjoy the right to vote and the right to run as a candidate. He would like to see that Roscommon County Council propose and endorse an independent candidate. Cllr. Kilduff also spoke in favour of a special meeting as did Cllrs. Shanagher, Callaghan and Fallon

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Ward

              SECONDED by Cllr. Byrne

It was AGREED to hold a Special meeting, at a date to be decided to hear representations those anyone interested in seeking the nomination for the Presidential Election from Roscommon County Council.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Ward

                SECONDED by Councillor Shanagher

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

·         Email from Longford County Council dated 16^th July, 2018 regarding a Notice of Motion calling on the Minister for Health to pay an interim payment of €50,000 be made to the women and families affected by the cervical cancer misdiagnosis.

·         Letter from Wexford County Council dated 26^th June, 2018, regarding the Notice of Motion calling on the Department of Local Government to undermine Local Authorities and the increased centralisation of power in Ireland, to establish an independent convention on the future of local government, that will examine powers, autonomy and funding.

Flexi Dispute: Cllr. Leyden asked the Chief Executive for confirmation that following recent agreement reached at the WRC, the staff are being treated in the same manner as other public service workers and allowed to generate flexi-leave. The Chief Executive said that he would not be commenting as this as it is an executive matter. Cllr. Leyden replied that it was disappointing that the members could not be given confirmation of what has been agreed and that it is being put into operation.

Roderic O’Connor Exhibition: Cllr. Callaghan asked the Council to support world renowned, Castlerea born artist Roderic O’Connor’s Art Exhibition of paintings that are currently on exhibition in the National Gallery in Dublin. The Cathaoirleach confirmed that he will ensure a presence from Roscommon at the Exhibition.

EROC in Ballaghaderreen: Cllr. Callaghan said that news has broken today that the contract for the running of the Emergency Response Orientation Centre in the former Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen was not being renewed by the Department of Justice and asked if the Council had received any information about this. The Chief Executive replied that he is in constant contact with the Department and represents the City and County Managers Association (CCMA) in relation to EROC. He will give an update at the September meeting.

Castlerea Festival and Somers Park: Cllr. Fitzmaurice spoke about the Castlerea Festival that is commencing next Saturday. On Sunday, there will be an official opening of Somers Parkat 2.00pm in The Demesne. The park is dedicated to the Somers family as a recognition of the great community work done by Mr. John Somers, President of Harmac Inc.