LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
Comhairle Chontae Longfoirt
Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Longford County Council
held in the Council Chamber, Aras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford on Wednesday, 19th September 2007at 3.30 p.m.
PRESIDING: Councillor Peggy Nolan, Mayor.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councillors – Larry Bannon, Paddy Belton,
Gearoid O Bradaigh, Seamus Butler, Mick Cahill, James Coyle, Adrian Farrell, Martin Farrell,
Sean O Fearghaile, Frank Kilbride,
Donncha Mac Gleannáin, Victor Kiernan,
Maire Ni Giolla Bride Harcan, Luie McEntire,
Alan Mitchell, Martin Mulleady, Peadar O Murchu, Michéal MacCnáimhí and P.J Reilly.
APOLOGY: Councillor Barney Steele.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr. Tim Caffrey, County Manager.
Mr. Tommy McDonald, Head of Finance.
Mr. Frank Sheridan, Director of Services.
Mr. James Clarke, Director of Services.
Mr. Roger Timlin, Director of Services.
Mr. Jack Kilgallen, Director of Services. Mr. Tom Murtagh, Senior Engineer.
MEETINGS
ADMINISTRATOR: Ms. Anne Lee.
VOTES OF SYMPATHY:
Mayor P. Nolan proposed and Councillor P. Belton seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to the Coughlan family, McHugh Park, Kenagh and Longford on the tragic death of Sharon Coughlan.
Councillor S. Farrell proposed and Councillor P. Belton seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to Killian family, Newtowncashel on the death of Mary Killian.
Councillor F. Kilbride proposed and Councillor P. J. Reilly seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to Higgins family, Granard on the death of Pat “The Baker” Higgins.
Councillor M. Mulleady proposed and Councillor G. Brady seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to Collumb family, Drumlish on the death of Declan Collumb.
Councillor A. Farrell proposed and Mayor P. Nolan seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to Ross family, Lanesboro on the death of Gerard Ross.
Councillor A. Mitchell proposed and Councillor S. Butler seconded that a vote of sympathy be extended to Canning family, Longford on the death of Sonny Canning.
The County Manager, on his own behalf and on behalf of the staff of the Council, associated himself with the votes of sympathy.
A silent prayer was said for the deceased and their families.
VOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS
Councillor P. Belton congratulated Newtowncashel Tidy Towns Committee on their excellent success in achieving a gold medal in the National Tidy Towns Competition.
The members also congratulated the other Tidy Towns Committees in towns and villages throughout the County for their excellent results in the National Tidy Towns Competition.
The County Manager also associated himself with the votes of congratulations to the Tidy Towns Committees.
RECENT SEANAD ELECTIONS.
Councillor Frank Kilbride and Councillor Seamus Butler thanked the Mayor and members for their support and good wishes in the recent Seanad Elections.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
On the proposal of Councillor F. Kilbride seconded by Councillor M. Nevin,
the Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Longford County Council held on
18th July 2007 were confirmed and adopted.
The County Manager replied to Councillor A. Mitchell on the following issues:-
· Litter Fines.
· Operation of Bring Banks in the County.
· Communication with members of the Council regarding road closures etc.
· Cover during Annual Leave of senior members of staff.
· Planning Enforcement.
On the proposal of Councillor A. Mitchell seconded by Councillor P. Murphy it was agreed that a quarterly report be prepared outlining how decisions taken at Council meetings during the previous three months are being implemented.
MANAGER’S ORDERS
The County Manager’s Orders, which had been circulated, were noted.
REPORT ON SERVICE INDICATORS 2006.
The meeting was informed that the report setting out the details regarding the performance of each local authority in respect of the 42 National Service Indicators has now been published.
A report summarising the key points relating to the Longford Local Authorities was circulated with the Agenda. It was agreed that each Director will deal with the Service Indicators pertaining to his area.
Any member who wishes to receive the full report on Service Indicators 2006 should request same from Mr. Jack Kilgallen, Director of Services.
INFRASTRUCTURAL SERVICES.
N4 Mullingar to Longford (Rooskey) – Start of Constraints Study Process.
Mayor P. Nolan welcomed Mr. Ambrose Clarke and Mr. Francis Musasa from the National Roads Authority.
Mr. Clarke, Project Engineer, stated that Westmeath County Council, in partnership with Longford County Council and in association with the National Roads Authority, are promoting a scheme to upgrade approximately 50km of the N4 National Primary Road between Mullingar and Tomiskey, Co. Longford. This proposed road will link the N4 Mullingar Bypass to the N4 Dromod-Roosky Scheme which is under construction.
To assist in the project, Westmeath County Council, has appointed Hyder Tobin Consultants as consultant engineers to the project. The project is currently at the preliminary stage, with work focussing on the Constraints Studies and initial public consultations. The purpose of the Constraints Study is to gather all available data on major engineering and environmental constraints within the broad study area. Data collection for the Constraints Study has begun. Traffic surveys within the study area will be commissioned shortly. It is anticipated that the Constraints Study Report will be available in Spring/Summer 2008.
To assist in this phase the first public consultations are planned to both inform the public of the scheme and afford the public the opportunity of highlighting aspects of concern or special interest to be taken into account in advancing the planning and design of the scheme. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to mark up particular features or locations of interest on the study area mapping should they so wish.
The public consultation is planned for the offices of Longford County Council on the 26th September 2007 from 2.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. and this will be advertised in the local press and radio.
Once the Constraints Study is complete, the Route Selection Study can commence. Possible route corridors within the study area will be identified and brought forward for public comment at a second public consultation in late 2008. Following input from the public, government bodies, environmental specialists and key stakeholders, an emerging preferred route corridor will be selected. The emerging preferred route will be placed on display in late 2008/early 2009.
The Preliminary Design will then be developed and an Environmental Impact Statement will assess the likely significant impacts of the preferred route on the environment. It is intended that the Environmental Impact Statement and Compulsory Purchase Order documentation will be complete by late 2009/early 2010.
The members of the Council welcomed this proposed scheme but also expressed concern regarding the width of the proposed constraint area. Much of the concern expressed related to the impact of the constraint area on private planning applications. The members requested that the constraint area be defined and narrowed in at an early stage to allow planning to open up again in these areas.
Councillor A. Mitchell requested the National Roads Authority to notify all Planning Consultants in County Longford that this constraint area is currently in place and a map outlining the constraint area be placed in all public buildings in the County.
Mr. Clarke informed the meeting that there is no blanket ban on planning in the Constraints area and that each planning application will be assessed individually.
Mayor Nolan thanked Mr. Clarke and Mr. Musasa for their very informative presentation.
Report on Streets in Longford Town.
Mr. Timlin informed the meeting that a programme of upgrading works on the main traffic routes in Longford Town Streets has been undertaken on a phased basis.
He outlined, in detail, the proposed works on the following:-
· Ballymahon Street/Killashee Street.
· N5 Richmond Street.
· N5 Cathedral Junction.
He also referred to the street enhancement works carried out on Dublin Street in 2006.
The meeting was informed that the Post Office junction traffic signals, which will be synchronised with the new Longford Arms Junction traffic signals, will be commissioned during the coming week.
It was agreed that the Council should place a notice in the local papers advising the public when the Pedestrian Lights are operational at the Post Office junction in Longford Town.
Public Lighting in Legga and Moyne.
Councillor L. McEntire proposed and Councillor M. Mulleady seconded that a report be prepared for the October meeting of the council regarding public lighting in Legga and Moyne.
Report on Health & Safety Issues and Letter dated 8th August 2007 received
from Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Transport, regarding additional
funding for the Roads Programme for 2007.
Mr. Tom Murtagh, Senior Engineer, stated that Longford County Council’s most recent draft Improvement Plan was submitted to the Health and Safety Authority on the 9th August 2007.
The members of the Council agreed that the Longford Local Authorities should adhere to the Health & Safety legislation in relation to management at road works but that additional funding should be allocated to the Council to implement the legislation.
The members expressed concern regarding using minor roads for detours and overgrown hedges on diverted traffic routes.
Mr. Murtagh stated that every effort is being made to coordinate and amalgamate schemes where possible to make best use of road closures.
Roads Programme.
Councillor A. Mitchell expressed annoyance regarding the postponement of Area Roads Meetings and requested to know why the Roads Programme was not on the Agenda for the meeting.
Mr. Timlin stated that the Council had received very short notice from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Also, the Department has introduced extra technical requirements which need to be carried out.
In reply to a request from Councillor Mitchell that the members be furnished with a report indicating the responsibilities of each of the engineering staff of the Council,
Mr. Caffrey informed the meeting that staffing matters is an executive function of the County Manager
Quarterly Report on Water Monitoring.
The quarterly report on Water Monitoring was noted.
Notice of Motion.
Water from the Shannon/Lough Ree.
The following Notice of Motion was proposed by Councillor M. Cahill and seconded by Councillor S. Butler:-
“I request that the executive of Longford County Council explain the process to be undertaken before any water can be extracted from the Shannon/Lough Ree to serve the greater Dublin Area, and to explain the roles and responsibilities of the elected representatives in this process.”
Mr. Timlin stated that representatives from RPS Consulting Engineers and Dublin City Council gave a presentation to the Council on this subject in Sept 2006.
The presentation described the options being considered by Dublin City Council to meet an estimated shortfall in potable water supply for the Greater Dublin Area of 300Ml/d in 2031.The shortfalls are anticipated to commence in 2015/2016.
Following on from an earlier Feasibility Study in 2005, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the technically feasible options commenced in January 2006. The SEA process involved extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the general public between June and October 2006. The presentation to the Council was part of this stakeholder consultation process.
In light of the extensive feedback received during consultations Dublin City Council extended the scope of the follow-on phase of their studies (Preliminary Report) to ensure that all issues raised by stakeholders during consultations were fully considered.
The Preliminary Report Studies commenced in January 2007 and a first draft of the Preliminary Report is expected to be presented by the consultants to Dublin City Council in mid 2008. The studies involve the preparation of a hydrological model of the Shannon to enable the assessment of impacts of abstraction. The studies also involve environmental assessments, stakeholder consultations and full consideration of all options for meeting demand shortfalls. An interim SEA Statement and Newsletter were made available by Dublin City Council to the public and key stakeholders in July 2007, which outlined the status of the studies.
Following consideration of the draft Preliminary Report by Dublin City Council, the report’s findings will again be tabled for further public consultation under the SEA process described earlier. Following consideration of feedback from consultations and amendments to the report (if required) it is anticipated that Dublin City Council (approx. mid 2009) will adopt the preferred scheme to be brought forward into the formal planning approval process.
The first stage in the statutory process will involve discussions with An Bord Pleanala (2009) and the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the preferred scheme (2009-2010).The EIA process will involve public consultation. Further discussions will then be held with An Bord Pleanala (2010) to agree on the legal options available for securing the necessary consents. An abstraction of water from the Shannon will require an abstraction order to be prepared under the 1946 Water Supplies Act. Construction of pumping stations, pipelines and water treatment plants will require planning permission. Wayleaves and sites will be required from landowners. Formal agreements with all statutory stakeholders will also be required. When planning consents have been received (anticipated mid 2011) approval to proceed will be sought from the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government.
It is planned to procure and construct the project between 2012 and 2016. The Lough Ree option, which is one of the options under consideration contains a provision for making treated water supplies available to the Ballymahon area of Longford.
The Director of Services stated that the Elected Representatives of Longford County Council are important stakeholders and must be consulted as part of the process, however they do not have a role in approving the proposal.
Dangerous Junction at Melkagh.
Councillor G. Brady referred to the junction at Melkagh Cross. He stated that sight distance needs to be improved at this cross as serious problems are being experienced by the driver of the local school bus. Mr. Timlin agreed to prepare a report for the October meeting of the Council.
Report on Service Indicators 2006.
Mr. Timlin outlined the details of the report on Services Indicators 2006 in relation to Infrastructure.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY AND ENTERPRISE, CULTURAL SERVICES AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
Ballymahon Library/Courthouse Project.