Cathaoirleach Tony Ward welcomed the Members and thanked them for their attendance at such short notice.   The purpose of the Special Meeting is to discuss the draft scoping report on the implementation of the Boundary Review Committee’s recommendations.  The draft report is in response to the letter of 30^th December 2016 from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.  This matter was previously discussed at the Plenary Meeting held on Monday 27^th March 2017.

The Cathaoirleach informed the meeting that, since the Plenary Meeting of 27^th March 2017, he made contact with some members of the Save Roscommon Group.  Their main concern is for the continued cooperation between Roscommon and Westmeath and also that this Special Meeting be held.  Following his consultations, the Cathaoirleach stated that he wrote to the Meetings Administrator requesting that a Notice of his proposal to call the Special Meeting be issued to the Elected Members.  The Cathaoirleach also stated that he informed the Chief Executive of his intention to write a separate covering letter to Minister Coveney to address the issues of the Save Roscommon Group. 

The Cathaoirleach stated that he met with the Fianna Fáil group before this meeting to discuss his letter. At this juncture, and to be fair to all the Members, the Cathaoirleach proposed an adjournment for ten minutes to allow Members time to read and consider his letter.  At this point Cllr. Keogh informed the meeting that all members of Fianna Fáil were satisfied with the letter and were satisfied that all issues were satisfactorily dealt with and they had no concern with the Report issuing to the Department.

When the meeting reconvened the Cathaoirleach addressed the Members and asked if they were satisfied with the letter.  All Members agreed. Cllr. Ward then called on the Chief Executive to endorse the letter. The Chief Executive confirmed that he endorsed the letter to the Minister in its entirety; this is a most urgent matter and he wished to convey his thanks to the Cathaoirleach for the energy, passion and leadership he has shown this week.  The Chief Executive further stated that he wished to commend all the Members for their agreement and he was looking forward to working with all the Members to progress this matter. The letter will also be circulated to Mr. Paul Lemass, Oireachtas Members and the Save Roscommon Group.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Keogh

                      SECONDED by Councillor Leyden

It was AGREED that the letter as presented to the meeting should issue to Minister Simon Coveney, T.D. Copy of the letter to be circulated to Mr. Paul Lemass, Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Oireachtas Members and the Save Roscommon Group.

Members made the following comments:

• The Cathaoirleach’s letter as presented to the meeting is welcomed in its entirety
• There is a united approach on this, the Members are not divided and will work with Athlone to achieve city status
• Strengthens Monksland’s position, it is important to see Monksland grow and develop
• This had been a good resolution and the work of Councillor Keogh is acknowledged
• All views have been taken into account
• The second paragraph of the Cathaoirleach’s letter is most important and very strong
• Is there a time frame on having the “sentence” removed from the Report of the Athlone Boundary Committee?
• We need to hear from Minister Naughten on this issue as we do not know who the Ministers will be in four years time
• This issue is a concern for all Councillors, not just the Councillors representing South Roscommon
• This is an opportunity to copper fasten the cooperation between Roscommon and Westmeath
• The draft report presented on Monday last was not strong enough without the Cathaoirleach’s letter to the Minister
• The penultimate paragraph in the letter is most important
• We need to remain vigilant against any threat to our boundary
• The efforts of the Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Keogh, the Chief Executive, Elected Members, Majella Hunt, Director of Services, Council staff, Save Roscommon Group and all the people of Roscommon must be commended on the efforts so far on this issue, the work starts now.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Kilduff

                      SECONDED by Councillor Keogh

It was AGREED that the jointly prepared scoping report on the implementation of the boundary review committee’s recommendations signed by Eugene Cummins, Chief Executive, and Pat Gallagher, Chief Executive Westmeath County Council be issued to Mr. Paul Lemass, Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in response to his letter of the 30^th December 2016.