July 2011 Monthly Meeting, Chamber, Duleek Civic Offices, 9.35 Tuesday 13 July 2011
Outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr. Sirena Campbell presided until duly elected Cllr. O’Neill took the chair
Other Councillors Present:
Jimmy Cudden, Anne Dillon-Gallagher, Wayne Harding, & Eoin Holmes
Officials Present:
Fiona Lawless, Director of Services, Slane Area; Jim Colwell, Area Engineer; Rebecca Mills C.O.; Paul Monahan, Area Administrator
Paul Monahan advised the Members / Officials of the provisions of Part 15 of the L.G. Act 2001 and the code of conduct for Members, Officials and non-elected Council committee Members regarding declarable interests of themselves and of any connected person. Each individual has a responsibility to comply and the Ethics Officer has a duty to ensure compliance with these statutory requirements.
1.0 Election of Cathaoirleach
Cllr. Dillon-Gallagher made a presentation to Cllr. Campbell the occasion of her forthcoming marriage. Outgoing chair Cllr. Campbell thanked the Members and officials for the presentation, and their assistance during her term as Cathaoirleach. She also congratulated Cllr. Holmes on his election as Cathaoirleach of the Full Council.
Cllr. Holmes thanked Cllr. Campbell for her kind words and the objective way she discharged her duties as Chairperson. The other Members reiterated these sentiments.
Cllr. Campbell then called for nominations to the chair. On the proposal of Cllr. Cudden, seconded by Cllr. Harding and unanimously agreed Cllr. O’Neill was elected to the chair for the forthcoming year.
Cllr. O’Neill then took the chair. He thanked the Members for their vote of confidence in him; congratulated Cllr. Holmes on his election as Cathaoirleach of the Full Council; and complimented Cllr. Campbell for the fair manner in which she discharged her duties as Cathaoirleach.
2.0 Confirmation of Minutes of the following meeting:
2.1 June 2011 monthly meeting held Wednesday 15 June 2011
On the proposal of Cllr. Dillon-Gallagher seconded by Cllr. Cudden the Members confirmed the minutes of the June meeting held Wednesday 15 June 2011.
3.0 Matters arising from the Minutes
Nothing raised
4.0 Matters raised with the permission of the Cathaoirleach
The Members raised the following issues:
- Cllr. Harding requested that Jim Colwell meet the Board of Management of Colaiste na hInse, Secondary School, Laytown to discuss traffic management issues at the school. Jim Colwell said he was agreeable to meeting the Board but stated there was very little the Council could do. Cllr. Harding agreed to arrange the meeting.
- Provision of a white line on the L-1601 from the roundabout on the M1 to Donore. Jim Colwell said there was no funding for this and in any event, he intended to overlay 50% of this road within the next two weeks.
- Gates at Crann Daire Brae playground, Collon Road, Slane were too easily opened by toddlers. Cllr. Holmes suggested a locking mechanism at the top of the gate rather than the side as a possible solution. Jim Colwell agreed to follow up on this.
- Provision of crash barriers at McGruders Cross and Murrays View, Donore opposite the Grange estate.
- Availability of car park at the Good Shepherd cemetery for motorists attending funerals in the adjacent parish cemetery. Paul Monahan advised that the car park at the Good Shepherd is available for funerals in both graveyards. Once the Council is advised of a forthcoming funeral in the parish cemetery, the caretaker at the Good Shepherd will make the carpark available. Paul Monahan said he would write to the parish priest advising him of this protocol.
- Scuffling of weeds badly needed on the School Road, Duleek footpath. The weeds are distracting from the excellent landscaping work carried out in the area by Duleek Tidy Towns Committee. Jim Colwell advised that the Council did not have the manpower resources at present to carry out this work but he would follow up at the earliest opportunity.
- Cllr. Cudden said he had received complaints from Duleek Heritage that the recent tree planting in the middle of the village green was carried out in the wrong place and they wanted the trees replanted closer to the edge of the green. Cllr. O’Neill said that the Heritage group was aware of the planting locations as a walk through of the site was carried out with them prior to planting. Jim Colwell said that the trees could not be planted too close to the edge of the green, as this would affect works he envisaged in this area next year and he had discussed this with the Heritage group. He advised that he intended next year to prepare a Part 8 traffic management proposal for Main Street, Duleek. Fiona Lawless said she would arrange to have a report for the next meeting on the tree planting.
- Flooding issue at the Sandholes, Navan Road, Duleek, at a cottage adjacent to the Indaver Plant, and at Garristown.
- Cllr. Harding submitted a letter on twinning.
- Possibility of using old dump site in Laytown as a park and ride facility. Paul Monahan said that Iarnrod Eireann had expressed interest in this but to date had not followed up on the matter.
- The zoning of the lands at Gormanston Train Station Park and Ride facility.
- Provision of signage on the bad bend on the R150 at Julianstown Church of Ireland.
- Provision of solar powered speed warning signs on the Golf Links Road, Bettystown, close to the pedestrian crossing at Laytown, and at Julianstown. Fiona Lawless said the Council would request Garda mobile speed units at these locations and would get an estimate on the cost of these signs for the next meeting. Enforcement of speed limits was a matter for the Gardai.
- Sewerage issue at Lynches Caravan Park, Bettystown. Fiona Lawless advised that Environment Section was dealing with this matter.
- Grass cutting at Moorechurch Cemetery, Julianstown. Jim Colwell said this graveyard was not in the Council’s ownership and due to limited resources and H. & S. obligations the Council would not be cutting the grass there in the future. There is an onus on Community groups to take over the running and maintenance of graveyards.
- Lack of litterbins at the nursing home entrance to Laytown Beach, Golf Links Road, and Eastham Road, Bettystown. Fiona Lawless advised that resources were going to become even more stretched over the coming years and the Council would have to further restrict its activities. However if there are long stretches of footpaths without litterbins then the Council would consider providing extra bins.
- Request that the Area Engineer update the Members at the September meeting on progress on the Roadworks programme and his work proposals for the final quarter of the year. Fiona Lawless agreed and said the only way forward was to work closely with the Members, Community Groups, and the public.
- Rat infestation at Fairway Lawns, and Brabazon, Bettystown following the OPW flood alleviation works.
- Response on presentation given by Stamullen Community Alert.
- Potholes in Blackhill Crescent, Donacarney, Starinagh, Broomfield & District, Collon, Manleys, Navan Road, Duleek, L-16015-0 from the Highlands to Sheephouse
- The local community in Clonalvy appreciates the Council’s efforts in trying to remedy the situation at Clonalvy cemetery.
- Work needed to road frontage at Francis Ledwidge cottage Drogheda Road, Slane
- Strimming required at Bathe Abbey playground
- Dangerous boundary wall in the Northlands, Bettystown
- Maintenance of stream flowing through Northlands.
- Requested that high priority be given to Meades Road when the Roadworks Programme commences. Jim Colwell said he would request the contractor to give it priority.
- Whether the Council can follow the organisers of road rallies for any damage to roads used in the rally. Paul Monahan said that the Council could pursue them for damages.
- Lobinstown cowplot.
- Taking in charge of Ledwidge Hall, Slane. This estate is not ready to be taken in charge as there are a number of outstanding issues to be resolved.
- Complimented Co-Operation Ireland on the Mara Cycle event which passed through Duleek on 28 June 2011
- Wall at back of Mornington Tower.
- Provision of lights at the junction of the Piltown Road and the R132. Jim Colwell advised there were no funds for this work.
- Provision of speed ramps in Ryan Park, and Abbeylands Duleek. Jim Colwell advised there were no funds for this work.
- Provision of footpath from Donore to the Interpretative Centre. The Area will ascertain whether Failte Ireland and / or OPW would provide funding for this project.
5.0 Report on the 2011 Roadworks Programme
The Members received, noted a report on the above, and raised the following queries:
- Completion date for the Roadworks Programme. Jim Colwell said it should be finished by the end of August. He advised that the footpath from Gormanston College to Stamullen village should be done by the end of August. There would be no Public Lighting included in this work but the ducting and sleeving would be installed to facilitate lighting in the future. Fiona Lawless advised that the Council spent €2m per annum on public lighting.
- Timeframe for the installation of flashing lights at Ardcath and Donore Schools. This would be done before the schools reopen in September.
6.0 Report on Matters raised at the June 2011 meeting
The Members received, noted a report on the above, and raised the following queries:
- Cllr. Holmes was unhappy with the reply on Denhamstown Quarry and asked for the definition of “abandonment” and clarification on works needed to make this quarry safe.
- Provision of public lighting at the new footpath at Carranstown, Duleek. Fiona Lawless said there may be scope within the Carranstown Grant Scheme to fund this over a number of years.
- Cllr. Harding expressed reservation about the ability of a local group to run the Cavan Row Cottages, Slane project. Fiona Lawless advised that the Council needed a third party to source any funding not available to the Council but that the Council would still play a major role in developing the project.
- The Members stated that the residents of Gracemeadow did not want a footpath linking Kilbreck and Gracemeadow estates and that the unofficial walkthrough was a source of anti social behaviour. The Members disagreed with the proposed footpath route and queried whether there was an alternative less acrimonious route. They also requested that the matter be discussed with Planning in the context of the East Meath LAP. Cllr. Cudden requested that the wall between the two estates be reinstated rather than provide a footpath at this location. Fiona Lawless said that the Area would discuss the matter with Planning and in the interim would put up fencing.
7.0 Report on Planning Enforcement
The Members received and noted a report on the above.
8.0 Correspondence / Items raised
8.1 Part 8 Planning Notice Alverno Heights & Court, Laytown., Laytown.
Paul Monahan circulated a Part 8 Planning Notice for Alverno Court & Alverno Heights, Laytown. The Members noted this.
8.2 M1 signage for Slane
Paul Monahan circulated a letter from the NRA on this issue. The Members were not satisfied with the response. Fiona Lawless said that the Dunshaughlin Area also had similar issues with motorway signage and she would refer the matter to Infrastructure to deal with on a countywide basis.
8.3 Designation of Rivers Boyne and Blackwater as a Special Protection Area.
Paul Monahan circulated a letter from the Dept. of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht on this issue. The Members noted the letter and requested a copy of the map showing the catchment areas of the two rivers.
8.4 Draft Lease on Duleek Courthouse
Paul Monahan circulated a draft lease on Duleek Courthouse. He advised on a few minor changes to the lease previously circulated. The Council’s solicitors would forward a copy of the lease to Duleek Development Association’s legal advisers. The Members noted this.
8.5 Draft Lease on the Wheatfield Lands, Slane
Paul Monahan circulated a draft lease on the Wheatfield Lands, Slane. He said that based on discussions with the Council’s legal advisers the draft presented offered a good long-term solution to the use of the Wheatfield Lands. The Council’s solicitors would forward a copy of the lease to Slane Wanderers’ solicitors and he would write to all the clubs / organisations that made a submission expressing an interest in availing of the lands. The Members noted this.
9.0 To discuss Matters in accordance with the recommendations of the Protocol Committee
Nothing raised.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 12.10
Minutes July 2011 meeting 120711 Page 3 of 5
Meath County Council, Duleek One Stop Shop, Main Street, Duleek, County Meath