Minutes of Plenary Meeting 19^th December 2016

Minutes of Special Meeting on 6^th January 2017

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Creaton

                SECONDED by Councillor Cummins

It was AGREED to adopt the minutes of the Plenary Meeting held 19.12.2016.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Kilduff

                SECONDED by Councillor Shanagher

It was AGREED to adopt the minutes of the Special Meeting held 06.01.2017.

Quarter 4 2016 (circulated)

CONSIDERATION OF MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORT SUBJECT TO SECTION 51, SUB-SECTIONS (3) & (4) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM ACT, 2014

Members noted the Management Report for Quarter 4 2016.

Between Roscommon County Council and

·         Leitrim County Council for the Management of Invasive Alien Plant Species

·         Longford County Council for the Management of Invasive Alien Plant Species

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Leyden

                SECONDED by Councillor Keogh

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council enter into Section 85 agreements with Leitrim County Council and Longford County Council for the management of Invasive Alien Plant Species in accordance with the call-off contract.   

Between Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council to carry out the upgrading of the public lighting on the following bypasses to LED technology:

·         N4 Curlews Bypass

·         N6 Ballaghaderreen Bypass                                         (Circulated)

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Cummins

                SECONDED by Councillor Beirne

It was AGREED thatRoscommon County Council enter into a Section 85 agreement with Mayo County Council for the upgrading of public lighting on the N4 Curlews Bypass and the N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass whereby Mayo County Council will be enabled to undertake appropriate works in County Roscommon.

-   0.2981 ha at Beagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

-     2.998 ha (Plot 34) at Toberiheen and  Liberty, Ballydangan, Co. Roscommon

-     1.9 ha (Plot 35) at Liberty, Ballydangan, Co Roscommon.

-     0.172 ha (Plot 71) and 0.652 ha (Plot 72) at Mihanboy, Thomastown, Co. Roscommon(Circulated)

The Cathaoirleach advised members that this item is deferred to the February meeting

Circulated

Members noted the National Roads Grants for 2017 that was previously circulated

Circulated

Cllr.  Fallon, Chair of Environment SPC gave a presentation on the Draft Policy on Advertising Signs. The purpose of the policy is to regulate all signs erected on private and public property that are visible from a public place and not already covered by the Planning Act. The Policy will not apply to election posters unless they have been in position for 7 days or longer after polling day as this is covered under National Legislation.   A permit is required for temporary signs on public lands from Environment section and a bond of €150 is payable.  The policy also sets out clearly the position of Roscommon County Council in respect of the unauthorised sale of vehicles from the public road.  

The members welcomed the policy and highlighted the following:

• Will regulate and give clarity to the rules regarding temporary signage.
• Getting permanent directional signposting for clubs seems to be a difficulty.
•  Concern in relation to directional signs e.g. funeral
• Positive news for Tidy Towns Committees as there will be reduction in number of signs left up after events.
• Rural businesses will be restricted if they cannot use signs outside their business e.g. sandwich boards. 
• Auctioneering signs – if farm of land is for sale is it restricted to only one sign?
• Will there be public submissions or a consultation period with business people?
• Are there adequate resources of staff in Roscommon County Council to implement this policy?
• There should be a blanket ban on signs for any election.

Cllr. Fallon welcomed the comments and informed the meeting that this policy is about non-commercial activity, and is intended to strengthen the Council’s position with regard to unauthorised signs on public property.  This policy does not deal with permanent signs as they are subject to Planning.  

Majella Hunt, Director of Services advised the meeting that this policy is in relation to non-commercial signage and this policy is particularly concerned with exemptions under Class 9, 16, 16a, 17 & 18 of the Planning & Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended) and the Planning and Development (No.2) Regulations, 2002 (As Amended).  She noted that election signage is covered under national legislation and is not something that the Council can change.   Signs for a funeral are temporary and treated sympathetically.  Auctioneering signs on public lands are covered under Section 254 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 (As Amended) and are not the subject of this policy. 

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Fallon

SECONDED by Councillor Creaton

It was AGREED to adopt the Advertising Signs Policy. 

Circulated

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Keogh

SECONDED by Councillor Dineen

It was AGREED to appoint Ms. Lynn Keery as the Galway Roscommon Educational and Training Board’s (GRETB) representative on the Roscommon LCDC.

To nominate one member (from Athlone Municipal District) to be -

(a)    Voting delegate at the Annual Conference.

(b)   Permanent delegate to the Standing Policy Council of the Association for the remainder of the five year term.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Kilduff

SECONDED by Councillor Keogh

It was AGREED that Councillor Connaughton be the voting delegate at the annual conference and also be a permanent delegate to the Standing Policy Council of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) for the remainder of the five year term. 

·         Acknowledgement Letter from Minister Coveney RE: Withdrawal of the four year timeframe in the Report of the Athlone Boundary Committee.

·         Letter from Padraic Duffy, Ard Stiurthoir, GAA RE:  Free to Air live TV Coverage of GAA Games.

·         Acknowledgement Letter from Minister Naughten’s Office RE: Gaelic Games Broadcasting.

·         Letter from Waterford City and County Council RE: Resolution passed on Community Banking for Post Offices.

·         Letter from Donegal County Council RE: Resolution passed by Letterkenny MD to revert the HSE to the old Health Board model.

·         Letter from Monaghan County Council RE: Resolution passed on coroners Bill/Act.

·         Letter from Monaghan County Council RE: Resolution passed supporting the campaign of ‘Donegal Families for Justice’. 

·         Letter from Monaghan County Council RE: Resolution passed to address public hospital waiting lists.

·         Letter from Monaghan County Council RE: Resolution passed on Post Office Network.

·         Letter from Tipperary County Council RE: Resolution passed to address domestic housing mortgage arrears accounts.

·         Letter from Tipperary County Council RE: Resolution passed on increased awareness and funding for services in the areas of Dyspraxia and Dyslexia.

·         Letter from Tipperary County Council RE: Resolution passed requesting Councillors are represented on the All Island Civic Forum on Brexit.

·         Letter from Sligo County Council RE: Resolution passed on coroner’s Bill

·         Letter from Sligo County Council RE: Resolution passed for the control of over grown trees in Housing Estates and Built up areas.

·         On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Kilduff

·         SECONDED by Cllr. Beirne

·         It was agreed that the members support the motion recently passed by Longford County Council to write to the Minister of Health requesting that the Orkambi Drug be made available to Cystic Fibrosis suffers in Ireland.

·          

·         Members were reminded by the Meetings Administrator to return LAMA Deduction forms and Political Donations Return.

List Circulated

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Keogh

                SECONDED by Councillor Murphy

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

Votes of Sympathy were extended to:

• The Griffin family, St. Joseph’s Avenue, Boyle on the death of Tim Griffin.
• The Costello family, Rathtermon, Boyle on the death of Denis Costello.
• The Duggan family, Willsbrough, Ballinlough, Castlerea on the death of Aisling Duggan.
• The Finnerty family, Tullintupeen, Ballinagare on the death of Phyllis Finnerty.
• The Reynolds family, Clooncullane, Strokestown on the death of Sadie Reynolds.
• The Jordon family, Convent Road, Elphin on the death of Brigid Jordan.
• The Gavin family, Curramore, Kiltoom, Athlone on the death of John Gavin.
• The O’Brien family, Milltown, Kiltoom, Athlone on the death of Kathleen O’Brien.

Fr. Flanagan Commemorative Centre

Cllr. Dineen outlined to members that it is 100 years this year since Fr. Flanagan founded Boys Town in Nebraska, USA where his work with underprivileged boys held no boundaries and is under consideration for canonisation in Rome. Fr. Flanagan was from Leabeg in Roscommon and Roscommon could benefit if Fr. Flanagan was canonised, through a future commemoration building/interpretive centre in the county especially given our close proximity to Knock where 1.2 million tourists visit each year.  Cllr Dineen would like to establish a county wide campaign and proposed that Roscommon County Council setup a steering group committee to establish what the people of Roscommon want to do to celebrate this great Roscommon man. 

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Dineen

                SECONDED by Councillor Ward

 It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council setup a Steering Group Committee to honour the memory of Fr. Flanagan.

Castlerea Fire Station

Cllr. Fitzmaurice inquired about the temporary closure of Castlerea Fire Station since Friday 20^th January.  The Chief Executive advised members that this was due to no supervising Officer on duty as a result of unprecedented sick leave absences in the station and this is not an attempt to downgrade services at Castlerea Fire Station.        

Award for Roscommon Town in Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Anti-Litter League

Cllr. Leyden congratulated Roscommon Town on achieving second place in the 2016 IBAL Litter League. 

National Rates Revaluation Programme

Derek Caldbeck, A/Head of Finance made a presentation to the members on the up to date position regarding the ongoing National Revaluation of Commercial Premises.

He informed members that the purpose of revaluation is to redistribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers.  Commercial rates liability for individual rate payers may increase, decrease or remain unchanged following the revaluation and it is important to note that Roscommon County Council will not be gaining anything from this exercise except any increase due to inflation.   The new valuations will become effective for rates purposes for 2018.  A Valuation is an estimate of the Net Annual Value (NAV) of a property and is the basis on which local authorities calculate and levy rates on your property.  Commercial rates liability for 2018 is the valuation multiplied by the relevant multiplier (i.e.) the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) which is estimated at 0.25 for County Roscommon.

On the 12th January 2017 the new Proposed Valuation Certificates were issued to ratepayers in County Roscommon.  Mr Caldbeck felt that it was not clear enough as to what the potential rates liability would be from the certificates that were issued and so he asked the Valuation Office if the indicative ARV could be included in the correspondence prior to the certificates being circulated but the Valuation Office stated that the letters were already printed. This has led to some confusion with ratepayers as they were unaware that the valuation on the letters should be multiplied by .25 (without having to access Roscommon County Council’s website).  Owners of rateable properties with no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.17