Minutes Of Mayo County Council Adjourned Budget Meeting Held On Monday, 20th January, 2003, At 2.00 P.M.
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The Cathaoirleach, Cllr. T. Quinn, was in the Chair.
The other Councillors present were:-
Cllrs. E. Caffrey, B. Golden, S. Molloy, A.M. Reape, E. Staunton, S. Weir, M. Burke, J. Mannion, D. Ryan, G. Coyle, P. Kilbane, F. Leneghan, S. Bourke, B. Cooper-Flynn, T.D., H. Kenny, A. McDonnell, J. Mee, J. Carty, T.D., J. Cribbin, R. Finn, P. McHugh, J. Flannery, J. Maloney, J. Mellett, G. Murray, M. Adams, F. Chambers, M. Ring, T.D., P. Sweeney.
The Officers in attendance were:-
Mr. D. Mahon, Co. Manager, Mr. J. Beirne, Dir. of Services / Co. Engineer, Mr. J. Loftus, Dir. of Services, Mr. J. Condon, Meetings Administrator, Mr. T. Mullen, Head of Finance, Mr. P. Hynes, Dir. of Services, Mr. S. Granahan,
Dir. of Services, Mr. R. Norton, Dir. of Services, Mr. S. Murphy, Chief Fire Officer, Ms. E. McCormack, Financial Accountant, Mr. P. Duggan, Manage-
ment Accountant, Mr. I. Douglas, Sen. Planner, Mr. B. O’Reilly, Sen. Engineer, Mr. P. Commons, Sen. Ex. Officer, Mr. M. Keating, Sen. Ex. Officer, Mr. P. Flanagan, Sen. Ex. Officer, Mr. J. Moran, Sen. Staff Officer, Ms. A. McCarthy, Arts Officer, Ms. C. Kenny, A/Staff Officer.
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ITEM NO. 1.
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- TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET OF MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 2003, AND
- TO ADOPT THE SAID BUDGET WITH OR WITHOUT AMENDMENT;
- TO DETERMINE BY RESOLUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAID
BUDGET AS ADOPTED THE ANNUAL RATE TO BE LEVIED FOR THE
PURPOSES SET OUT IN TABLE B OF THE SAID BUDGET FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 2003, AND
- TO DETERMINE BY RESOLUTION THE CHARGES TO BE MADE FOR
SERVICES PROVIDED IN RESPECT OF DOMESTIC PREMISES FOR
REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE AND FIRE BRIGADE SERVICE.
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The County Manager outlined details of the Budget of Mayo County Council for the Financial Year ending 31st December, 2003. He made reference to the following matters:-
- An estimate of €106.9m. Revenue Expenditure was envisaged
for the year;
- Rates on Commercial and Industrial property is estimated at
€9,225,601 whilst the Council’s Demands on Town Councils is
estimated at €1,654,460.
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The County Manager stated that the Budget 2003 is prepared against a changing background:-
(a) The global economy and the Irish economy have slowed down since
2001;
(b) The National Spatial Strategy has been launched as Government
Policy and will impact on our forward planning programmes;
(c) The National Development Plan 2002 – 2007 has provided and will
continue to provide capital investment in our services;
(d) The need for County Mayo to be competitive in attracting invest-
ment is ever more important.
He also pointed out that there are challenges facing County Mayo,
challenges that require our attention within our available resources:-
(a) The need for an expanded sustainable employment base
particularly in manufacturing;
(b) The need for good quality essential services that sustain the
existing population and allow for necessary growth;
(c) The need for strategic investment to prime “knock on” benefits
and encourage private investment and growth;
(d) The need to create greater economic, social and cultural
wealth in our County;
(e) The need to work closely with State Agencies i.e. I.D.A., Health
Board, Enterprise Ireland, etc., to achieve continuing progress;
(f) To take account of the Council’s policies on Waste Management,
Retail Strategy, etc., as guidelines for better planning and
opportunity;
(g) The need to be conscious of the needs of the less well off in
society and ensure the Council has a pro active social inclusion
policy and implementation programme.
He further stated that the County Rate on commercial and industrial property is proposed at €58.08 in the €, an increase of 7% over the current rate of €54.28.
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PROGRAMME GROUP 1 - HOUSING AND BUILDING.
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Mr. P. Hynes, Dir. of Services, outlined details of Programme Group 1 –
Housing and Building.
A detailed discussion took place on this Programme during which reference was made to the following:-
- The decentralisation of Housing to the Area Offices;
- Disabled Persons Grants;
- Refurbishment of Houses at Claremorris and Ballyhaunis;
- The even spread of funding now available for Housing in the
County:
- Essential Repairs Grants;
- Housing accommodation for Asylum seekers;
- Structural Repairs Scheme;
- The provision of Pre-School accommodation in Charlestown;
- The provision of one and two bedroomed apartments for single
parent families, etc., in Ballinrobe;
- Derelict Sites in Ballinrobe;
- That Housing Aid for the Elderly should be administered by the
Local Authority;
- Tooraree Housing Estate, Ballyhaunis;
- The abolition of the first time house buyers Grant:
- The lack of suitable County Council Houses for single tenants
or one parent families;
- The re-allocation of County Council Houses.
Proposed by Cllr. J. Flannery
Seconded by Cllr. G. Murray
Resolved:-
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“That the Minister for the Environment be requested to include any house built in the 1950’s and up to 1963 for qualification under the Essential Repairs Grant Scheme”.
Mr. P. Hynes, Dir. of Services, Mr. M. Keating, Sen. Ex. Officer and Mr. T. Mullen, Head of Finance, replied to queries raised by the Members under this Programme Group.
PROGRAMME GROUP 2 - ROAD TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY.
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Mr. J. Beirne, Dir. of Services / Co. Engineer, outlined details of Programme Group 2 – Road Transportation and Safety.
A detailed discussion ensued under this Programme Group during which reference was made to the following:-
- The opening of the Knock/Claremorris By-Pass;
- Clar Programmes;
- The important work carried out under the Surface Dressing
Programme;
- That priority be given to the upgrading of the Charlestown to
Ballaghaderreen Road; the Carrentreila Road, Ballina; the
Castlebar to Westport Road and the Ballina/Bohola Road;
- That more emphasis be placed on Road Safety by Schools;
- The success of the day time lighting campaign in cars;
- Continued road improvements in Newport, Mulranny, etc.;
- The necessity for additional funding for Low Cost Safety
Improvement Grants;
- The rise in the cost of Motor Taxation;
- Tree Felling;
- The decentralisation of Motor Taxation to the Area Offices;
- Junior Warden Schemes;
- The issue of funding for the upgrading of the Castlebar to
Newport Road;
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- The lack of Car Parking spaces in Claremorris Town;
- Review of Speed Limits in Towns and Villages in the County;
The time being 5.00 p.m., it was -
Proposed by Cllr. P. McHugh
Seconded by Cllr. P. Kilbane
Resolved:-
“That “Standing Orders” be suspended in order to allow the Budget
Meeting to continue and that the adjourned Meeting scheduled for
5.00 p.m., be adjourned until 5.30 p.m.”.
- The inadequate road signage around the County;
- The upgrading of the Claremorris to Castlebar Road.
Proposed by Cllr. J. Maloney
Seconded by Cllr. F. Chambers
Resolved
“That the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be requested to include the D.E.D. of Toomore, Foxford and the D.E.D. of Shraheen, Foxford, in the Clar Programme”.
Proposed by Cllr. M. Ring
Seconded by Cllr. G. Murray
Resolved:-
“That the Council give consideration to the purchase of small type machines which could be attached to the Council’s existing vehicles and used for hedge cutting”.
The time being 5.15 p.m., it was -
Proposed by Cllr. M. Burke
Seconded by Cllr. A. McDonnell
Resolved:-
“That “Standing Orders” be suspended in order to allow the Budget Meeting to continue and that the adjourned Meeting scheduled for
5.00 p.m., be adjourned until 6.00 p.m.”.
Mr. J. Beirne, Dir. of Services / Co. Engineer, replied to queries raised
by the Members under the Road Transportation and Safety Programme
Group.
Proposed by Cllr. P. McHugh
Seconded by Cllr. P. Kilbane
Resolved:-
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“That the next Budget Meeting be held on Monday, 27th January, 2003, at
3.30 p.m.”.
The Meeting adjourned at 5.50 p.m.