1.  Confirmation of Minutes
To consider the confirmation and signing of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 15th February 2016.

Matters Arising:

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): The MDO said that he would seek further information on the taking in charge of Pembroke Wood. Wondering has that been done?
Is there any update on the sale of the convent in Passage West?
We spoke about the grasscutting in Pinecroft two meetings ago. Wondering when this will be done?
At the last meeting, the Area Office committed to sign cleaning. When will this be starting?
The one way system proposed for Fairy Hill/Chapel Hill in Monkstown – when will this be advertised and could we be notified when it is please?
Cllr Forde proposed in a motion that TII would come before our Municipal; District as they did before the City Councillors to give an update on the Demand Management Study for the N40. We agreed to write and request this update. Any response?
Finally, when will the public consultation on the casual trading bye-laws begin and could we please be notified of same?

Area Engineer: Is looking at the rotas for grasscutting now. Hopes to start it within the next month.
The sign cleaning has begun. It started with Carrigaline and is continuing on to Douglas this week. So it is underway. We are prioritising urban centres and will then catch up on the areas in between.
The recommendation for the advertising/public consultation on the proposed one-way system in Monkstown is currently being done.

South Cork Manager: The causal trading bye-laws have not been advertised yet but he will confirm when they are.

MDO: No response from the solicitors on the taking in charge of Pembroke Wood.
There have been preplanning discussions in relation to the content of a planning application for the convent but no planning application has been submitted yet.
We wrote to TII but got no response.

Chair: Suggests we write to TII again asking them to attend.

Cllr McGrath (FF) reminds that we want a report on the dog fouling bins. We need consistency on this. There should at least be consistency on dedicated walkways.

2.  Consideration of Reports and Recommendations

Municipal District Programme of Works 2016

Speed Limit Review
Programme of works report will be discussed at the April meeting.

Speed limit review:
Report – Speed Limit Changes Requests.xls

The report circulated is primarily for information purposes. If there are any other areas for inclusion, submit them as quickly as possible. The process is that the gardaí have to be consulted, then it will go to public consultation and then it reverts to the Council.

Everything that is passed forms part of the Road Traffic Bye Laws.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): The speed limit request for the R610 approaching Harbour Heights – could that be incorporated into traffic calming around the entrance to Roberts Bridge as I had requested some months ago?

AE: Yes, that would be the intention.

3.  General Municipal Allocation/Town Development Fund

2016 Allocations – Circulated.  (Published below on this website.)

4.  Chun na Ruin so leanas ón gComhairleoir a mheas:

To consider the following Notice of Motion in the name of:

 Cllr. D Forde:
1.  “Residents in West Avenue Parkgate request the engineer to reinstate the surface of the road and footpaths in the estate where there are large potholes. It is requested works carried out by a utility company where it is claimed reinstatements are very poor. Parking for wheelchair users was not reinstated also.”

 AE: West Avenue is on the roads programme. Most of the areas that are very badly damaged with potholes will be dealt with. The ESB were in there last year. Most of the works were on the green. They wouldn’t have been able to do full reinstatement because of the weather. We will be ensuring that they do it now. Wasn’t aware of the wheelchair place issue.

 

 Cllr. D O’Donnabhain:
1.  “That this Municipal District would carry out a review of parking arrangements at the western car park of the Regional Park. Such a review should examine the adequacy of parking for wheelchair accessible and those with disabled parking permits and also the adequacy of signage indicating additional parking at the Allotments car park.”

Chair (Cllr O’Donnabhain (FF)): Cars were parking in the disabled spaces or in such a way that easy access to them was prohibited. The car park in the allotments would be no more than one third fall but the other one is bursting at the seams.

MDO: The Regional Park is suffering from its own success. It is very difficult. People don’t listen to the staff there. There’s a central area that’s lined off and they can try to do more lining but people tend to park nilly willy.

Cllr Canty (FG): Understands this frustration. We relined the car park and did everything possible but it is still very difficult.

Cllr Forde (FG): Can cars not abiding by the parking rules not be ticketed?

MDO: Thinks staff might have done this on some cars but that is not easy either. We are staff restricted. It is mostly gardening staff there. It’s just a pity people can’t behave decently. The car park is too small. People prefer to use this one and even though it was expanded by 30 – 40 places last year, it still cannot cope. Maybe when the toilets go into the Inishmore car park, it will become more popular.

Cllr O’Donnabhain (FF): The western car park is at its physical limits. You could only expand it further by spending lots of money and that would not be in its interest. Its overflowing is now causing problems on the public road. If we could use signage to encourage people to use the Inishmore car park, it might help.

Cllr Canty (FG): We have 3 car parks serving the Regional Park, not two. We just need to educate people. We’re tarmacking one strip of path through the woods.

2.  “That this Municipal District welcomes the announcement of a public toilet for the Regional Park at the Allotments car park. In welcoming the decision this Municipal District calls for during the months of May to September for the provision of temporary ‘portaloo’s’ at a secure location at or near the Western car park.”

MDO: Costs of doing this are outlined in the response to the motion. We just don’t have this sort of money.

Cllr. S McGrath:
1.  “To ask the Engineer to investigate possible measures to slow traffic in the vicinity of the Educate Together Primary Schools Carrigaline.”

 Cllr McGrath (FF): Put this motion on the agenda after receiving contact from the school. The school regularly gets complaints from parents. Knows there are roadworks around in the vicinity but also cars go very quickly there. Looking for some form of traffic calming – strips, signage, etc.

AE: We haven’t received a single complaint to the Area Office. We have in relation to the Ferney Road but not in relation to the Relief Road. There are footpaths on the Relief Road and there is a controlled crossing. It is not suitable for anything other than extra signs. There are signs indicating that there is a school there. What we can do is limited. Is genuinely surprised that we haven’t got any complaints.

Cllr McGrath (FF): Will ask the principal to send an email with more details directly to yourself.

2.  “To ask the Engineer to consider a yellow junction box at the entrance to Clifton, Grange.”

 AE: We will be looking at road markings in the vicinity of the Clifton junction. Every estate wants the yellow box at their junction. We all have this problem and it is not the overall solution. Grange Road is an extremely busy road. Understood the complaint was that the speed on the road was making it difficult to get out. A yellow box will do nothing for that. We want to see if we can assist from a visibility point of view.

3.  “To ask the Engineer to examine the problem of subsidence on the roads in Dunvale Estate, specifically Dunvale Lawn.”

Cllr McGrath (FF): The road is collapsing in places.

(I lost the thread of the conversation here!)

Cllr. M D’Alton:
1.  “That the Ballincollig-Carrigaline Municipal District deeply regrets the sale of the Royal Victoria Dockyard, Passage West by NAMA for a dock-related purpose. Equally, that the members of the Ballincollig-Carrigaline Municipal District deeply regret that Cork County Council did not pursue purchase of the Dockyard with a view to returning it to public use.”

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): I brought this motion to the Chamber to do just what it says. To try to express how devastated I am and the Passage West community is that the Passage West dockyard has been sold for what we believe is continued dock use. When it was put up for sale, I asked could I put a motion on the full Council agenda, requesting that Cork County Council would purchase it. I was advised not to, because if word got out that the Council was interested in purchasing something, the price would go up. That made sense, so I withdrew the motion. But I gave a presentation to the CE, a presentation of photographs showing what the dockyard was, what it is now and what it could become. It is an amazing site on the foreshore and it offers wonderful opportunities, for heritage, for recreation. As it stands currently, its impact on the town is devastating. It is makes the town centre dark, narrow, it completely cuts it off from the sea and the activities carried on there are noisy and dusty.   I even contacted the European Commission to see whether funding would be available for its rehabilitation and redevelopment. The CE was gracious but having had discussions with management, decided that the price was too high. They felt that development on the site could be controlled by conditions attached to a planning permission. I continued to make contact with the receiver, trying to ascertain whether interest in the sale was for development or for dock-related purposes. But I could never get a straight answer. Now I am told by the auctioneer that the site is sale agreed. The receiver will not even return my phone calls. We wrote to NAMA, didn’t we? We told them how important this dockyard is to the town of Passage West. And I just want to put on public record how absolutely and utterly devastated I am that this once in a lifetime opportunity for a sale of this dockyard from one public body to another public body – an opportunity that will never come again in my time or yours – has been completely and utterly missed. It is just devastating for the town of Passage West. I cannot adequately express how devastating it is.

Cllr Murphy (SF): Supports what Cllr D’Alton has said. Thinks anything is good enough for Passage. No-one consults the residents.

Cllr McGrath (FF): Supports Cllr D’Alton’s sentiments in relation to the site. Very regrettable that the site was on the market and the opportunity is lost. The sale is not quite confirmed but almost. There was an opportunity there. Also raised the issue with the CE. The view was that the cost was prohibitive. But an opportunity like this doesn’t come along too often. There were various options in terms of the cultural history of Passage West, etc. It appears now that the opportunity is lost.

Cllr Harris (Ind): It is outrageous that NAMA and Cork County Council could not negotiate on the transfer of this asset. In reality, the state is going to lose a lot of money over it. There still might be time if it is not closed. With all the reps we have here, parties with Ministers in government, it is appalling that this could happen. Why couldn’t they have put pressure on NAMA?

Manager: The site was on the market. It was for sale by NAMA. The CE felt the sale was prohibitive and that would not have been the end of the expense. The zoning sets out what the Members of the previous Council felt would have been appropriate use for the site.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): Thanks everyone for the support and particularly thanks Cllr Harris for what he has said. The site was sold to Howard Holdings for €25 million ten years ago. Now the asking price is €2.75 million. Relatively, it was not expensive. That’s a massive loss that the taxpayer is now carrying.

Cllr Harris (Ind): NAMA has a special responsibility. They have sold land to the GAA because it was viewed as longer-term value to the State that way. This is being penny wise and pound foolish. We lose a prime asset; the purchaser might sell it on in 5 years time for €20 million. This has been a disaster from a financial point of view.

Manager: The Council’s position is as set out. The views of the Members will be communicated to the CE.

Cllr McGrath (FF): NAMA would have to shift its value for the site for the CE to become interested. NAMA’s community benefit aspects have not been really tested. Suggests we get in contact with NAMA.

Manager: Members can make any decision they wish. The CE considered this and it is not going to change.

Cllr Harris (Ind): NAMA has been remiss in not selling to Cork County Council. You could pay €2.5 m over 20 years if the will is there to do it. They just don’t give a damn – get it off the books. This is for the next 50/100 years. The return to the exchequer has been totally mishandled. We should contact NAMA and the Minister and see could we exert political pressure. We talk about strategic plans for the harbour, etc. There we have it staring us in the face. The most strategic property available.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): Cllr Harris is absolutely correct. Can we contact NAMA and ask that they do not sell this dockyard now? We would do better to have it in NAMA ownership so that it could at least be sold for development when the market lifts. It would give a better return to the exchequer too.

Manager: We don’t have a role in this. We would like to have a role but we don’t.

Cllr Harris (Ind): Can we take an injunction?

Manager: That isn’t open as an option. Acquisition of property is an executive function, not a reserved function. It supports strategic plans that the Members make.

Cllr McGrath (FF): Agrees with Cllr D’Alton wrt contacting NAMA. We can pass a resolution as a Municipal District. We also need to send our request to the Minister for Finance. Our only hope there is that it might make it accessible to the Council.

Cllr Murphy (SF): Thought we were writing to NAMA before about this site?

Manager: The County Council cannot write to NAMA interfering with a property sale in this way. It is totally outside our remit.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): I understand that the CE and executive took a decision not to buy. I understand that NAMA has no remit to me, a public representative. But I as a public representative have a remit to my electorate. That is my job. And they are the people in Passage West who will have to live with this sale and have to pay for the cost being carried by the taxpayer.

Manager: If Members want to contact NAMA they will have to set out the wording carefully and be clear it does not reflect the opinion of the CE or the executive.

Agreed that Cllr D’Alton would word a letter to go to NAMA and circulate it to the other Members and to the executive for agreement.

Manager: Nothing will go without its being seen by the CE.

5.  Votes of Congratulations

 

6.  Any Other Business

 Cllr D’Alton (Ind): Car parking spaces in front of electric car charging points. Are these marked out by the County Council or by the ESB? There is need for one in front of the electric charging point in the Owenabue car park.
Also many of the locks on the litterbins in Passage West/Monkstown are broken so that the doors of the bins are swinging open onto the footpath. They have been broken for a long time and I have brought this up several times with the Area Office. I understand a simple replacement of the locks will not suffice; the bin itself must be replaced. Bringing it up here because there is no move on it.
When will we have the derelict sites report we were told in December would come to the MD meetings?
Where did the Litter Management Plan go? We were presented with a draft plan for this Municipal District in January 2015 but it still hasn’t gone to public consultation.
The old town signs at the entrance to Passage West, Rochestown and Raffeen have been stolen. It is very sad. The Passage West one was beautifully painted and we were very proud of it.

Manager: Hopes to have a derelict sites report at the April meeting.
The Litter Management Plan was to have been adopted at Municipal District level but it became clear that there was a need for a county-wide litter management plan with specific objectives at MD level. We’re going to look at it again. It will come to members at full Council level.

AE: Believes the marking of car parking spaces in front of the electric charging points is the responsibility of the ESB. Will speak to the ESB about the Owenabue car park.
Was not aware of the litterbins issue and will follow it up.
Is aware of the loss of the old town signs and the Area Office plans to replace them.

Cllr Desmond (FF): Would like an update please on public lighting in Lehenaghbeg?

AE: This is in the hands of the ESB. Spoke to them last week. They say they are still under pressure after the storms around Christmas time.

Cllr Harris (Ind): Bins in Douglas, especially outside Centra. Can we have more put in?

Cllr McGrath (FF): The N40 screening that was proposed was never done. Can we agree to write to the TII and enquire about it?
Work was recently completed at Cogan’s Corner. The drains in the vicinity haven’t been cleaned. If you could follow up? This work was done to a high standard and traffic management was quite good.
The community park was in a dreadful state on Saturday. Knows it isn’t easy but there is virtually no enforcement of the litter laws. If we don’t have boots on the ground we are going nowhere.
Footpath in part of Ringaskiddy. Priest’s Avenue – Ferryview side – there is no footpath on that side of the road. There is a pole standing there with no sign. Looks a little neglected. Has had a request for a footpath. Asks that AE the would look at it.

It was agreed that we would hold a special meeting on the last Friday in April (29th April) to talk about the Local Area Plan.

Suspension of standing orders proposed for 1pm by Cllr Hegarty (FG) on the flooding in Waterrock and by Cllr O’Flynn (FF) on the lack of a water supply in Fermoy over the weekend.

 

[a]            CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
1.  Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 11^th January, 2016.

Proposed and seconded.

 

[b]           VOTES OF SYMPATHY
2.  Votes of Sympathy (if any) to the relatives of:

• members or employees of the Council,
• dignitaries of Church or State, or
• members of old I.R.A. and Cumann na mBan.

Two votes of sympathy were offered.

 

[c]            STATUTORY BUSINESS
3.  Disposal of Property – Section 183 of the Local Government Act, 2001:

(a).          Disposal of 54 Belmont Avenue, Rochestown, Co. Cork.

Cobh Municipal District, 10^th December, 2015:

(b).          Disposal of Substation Site at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork to ESB Networks.

Proposed and seconded.

4.  Statutory Consultation on Draft Flood Maps – South Western CFRAM Study.

OPW consultation

Noted.

 

 

[d]           FINANCIAL BUSINESS
5.  Capital Programme 2016 – 2018 prepared in accordance with S.135 of the Local Government Act, 2001.

The Capital Programme was distributed: Capital Programme 2016

CE:

• This is a three-year capital programme.
• We have done one-year capital programmes previously. The one-year process was benficial because it allowed us to be accurate in our predictions.
• We have this year tried to be as accurate as possible but we are aware that we don’t know what grant aid we will get in 2017 and 2018.
• We are presenting a programme which captures the works and the value of those that we deem to be already underway and those contractually committed to over the next three years.
• €402.48m = total programme of works over the three years.
• Housing work is largely funded through housing capital programme
• Roads work is largely funded through national roads programme
• Flooding is largely funded from the Department of the Environment and the OPW
• The €34m to be spent on flooding includes the Skibbereen scheme which the County Council is running but not the Bandon scheme because that is being progressed directly by the OPW
• Of the money to be spent on Environment, €49m of this related to Haulbowline remedial works.
• There are €120m of works in this table that are not funded.
• The programme is presented for information. It does not have to be approved by Council. Proposes that it should be presented in more detail in divisional meetings.

Cllr Hegarty (FG): Fleet replacement – thought we were leasing a lot of our fleet, not purchasing?

Cllr O’Laoghaire (SF): Public lighting commitment – how long are we contracted for this and who is the contract with?

Cllr MCGrath (FF): €442m over three years is a significant sum of money. Is concerned that so much of it is already committed. It doesn’t leave much wriggle room and other projects will arise over that time. The footpath programme is welcome. The public lighting is also welcome.

Cllr Creed (FG): Welcomes the listing of the Ballyvourney bypass.

Cllr O’Grady (SF): Welcomes this and the 3 year programme. Can‘t understand how we have managed to produce a 3 year programme when we could only produce an annual progamme before. Concerned about roads and housing strategy. On housing, is worried that our figures do not correlate with the Department’s planned figures for Cork. The Department’s target is 401 over 3 years. But we have only 43. How will the €80m from the Department be spent over this time? It is meant to be spent over 2015 – 2018. Voids are in limited supply. There are 229 voids listed here and that is nearly 50% of houses that were acquired during the year.

Cllr Murphy (FG): Extraordinary sum of money provided for.

Cllr Coleman (FF): Compare this to previous years please? What proprotion is coming from the Department?

Councillors expressed lots of worries expressed about lack of funding for roads in West Cork.

Cllr Carroll (FF): The Town Council in Skibbereen was taken over 2 years ago and at that time the refurbishment of the Town Hall was with the architects. It has not advanced since then. Irish Water says that the County Council has not yet handed over its assets to them.

Cllr Forde (FG): Compliments the executive. Difficult to divide up and to be fair. Wants more clarity on the €89.5 which may be progressed based on business need.

CE:

• €1.2 m of the public lighting is our own programme. The remaining is a projected expenditure subject to matters being dealt with at national level. Ogoing work is being done at national level between the CCMA and various partners to see how we could replace light heads with LED. At the moemnt that programme is not funded. This projection is a guesstimate based on how much money we might be granted if the programme goes ahead.
• Social housing: We have achieved our 2015 targets.
• Coastal protection funding is subject to our getting funding from DAFM. That funding is shown as being noncommitted because the funding is not in place.
• Irish Water – all assets of Cork County Council have been transferred legally to Irish Water. That is the case for all local authorities across the country. There is an ongoing process which will take time across every local authority to conclude that process on the ground. We held development contributions and debtors for water services on the transfer overdate and finalising this balancing statement has been going on for the last 15 months. Is expected to be complete within the next month. We had the biggest book of customers of any local authority.
• An indicative figure has been included for the Carrigaline Relief Road. Again, there is no funding.

 

 

[e]           REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEES

6.  Corporate Policy Group:
(a).          Approval of attendance by Council members at Conferences on the Conference List for January, 2016, approved by the Corporate Policy Group at their meeting on the 12^th January, 2016.

Proposed and seconded.

(b).          Approval of the following contributions:-
Muintir na Tire – €10,000
Cork Camogie Club – €50,000
Cork Opera House – €25,000 per annum for next 5 years

We are not taking the Cork Opera House contribution today.

Contributions to Muintir na Tire and the Cork Camogie Club were approved and seconded.

 

7.  Ballincollig Carrigaline Municipal District:
“This Committee recommends that the Council would develop a policy concerning the safety of trees along public roads in each Municipal District.”

Cllr Canty (FG): This has come up at a lot of the Municipal Districgts over the last number of years. Many landowners do cut their hedges and hanging trees. But there are many who don’t. Bus Eireann have had to revert to single decker buses along certain roads. Artic trucks are going into rural areas and the hedges are tearing canvas sides. We’re asking that something positive is done. Not writing to people year in year out and expecting something to be done. Need a policy to make sure that landowners take care of their hedges.

Cllr McGrath (FF): This was my motion. Trees on public roads as an issue is raised with us regularly. We don’t have an adequate policy on this issue. Hopes to forward it to SPC. There is a responsibility on landowners obviously. Asks that the Council would take a more proactive approach in advising landowners of their responsibility. If that responsibility is not taken seriously, that the Council would then act again. Perhaps undertake a survey to inform on the health of trees, etc.

Cllr M Collins (Ind): Supports.

Cllr Forde (FG): The Department published a report on this and thinks this Departmental policy goes a long way to resolving the problems but it needs to be enforced at local level. If we are going to send it on to SPC, the Department should have an input into this policy. There is plenty of room for us to input into it at local authority level. The planning department has responsibility in relation to planning applications which allow certain species of trees not suitable for urban areas.

Cllr Conway (Ind): Agrees and points out that enforcement is too slow. We have to come up with a better system than the enforcement system that is there at the moment.

Cllr O’Keeffe (FF): It is time the CE took control of this issue. We need to have one policy document for maintenance of our roads. One document for the verge up to the tree. Is the SPC fit for purpose if it cannot do this? Knows the Area Engineer writes to landowners about their trees and generally gets a good response. We seem to have one policy in West Cork, one in North Cork, etc.

Cllr Keohane (SF): Speaks of overgrwoth at a junction. Overgrowth prohibits street lights from working.

Cllr Hayes (SF): This was discussed at the Roads and Transport SPC.   There were over 20 applications to the pilot hedgecutting scheme in West Cork. Legislation is there already to deal with overhanging limbs. Enforcement of the legislation is the issue. The Council is obliged to contact landowners and if they are not forthcoming in doing the work, the Council can cut down the limbs and charge the landowner. Give the landowners a chance to do what they are supposed to do.

Cllr Murphy (FG): Repeats what Cllr Hayes says. Maybe we could get a report from the Municipal District Area Offices as to whether there is a decision made to write to the landowners involved. Wants to know how many have been prosecuted who did not follow through.

Cllr N O’Donovan (FG): Cllr Hayes is right. Wonders if internally we could put an extra member of staff on enforcement. If we write to the landowner to cut the trees, the impetus is on us to prove that tree is a danger. Area Engineers have enough to be doing. Is a serious issue alright.

Cllr Canty (FG): Is the embargo in relation to the chainsaw still in place? Does a subcontractor have to work for the Area Office? Any way we can alleviate that problem?

CE: The intention of the motion was to have it referred to the Transport SPC. Landowners know what their responsibilities are. Area Engineers have been active in writing to landowners. Clearly follow up takes time. The issue is resourcing enforcement. We will do what we can with existing resources. Will ask each Area Engineer to brief the Municipal District Committees on their activity in this area.

 

 

[f]            REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF OFFICERS

8.  Consideration of the Chief Executive’s Report on Submissions Received to the Proposed Amendment No. 4 to Carrigaline E.A. Local Area Plan 2011 – Shannonpark Framework Masterplan.

It was agreed at the Development Committee on 15^th January, 2016 that the following recommendation to make minor amendments to the Proposed Amendment would be made to the meeting of the full Council to be held on 25^th January.

• Remove the indicative connectivity arrows between the proposed new development and Herons Wood housing estate on the map. (N.B.: This would not affect the red arrow across the R611 and the proposed greenway at U-13.)

• In paragraph 1.4.38, delete the second sentence of the bullet point as follows:- “It is critical that the layout and design of this area allows for connectivity with the existing Herons Wood housing estate to the south”

• The proposals made in the Chief Executive’s Report to insert an additional bullet point in 1.4.26 will not be pursued.

• Insert additional text in paragraph 1.3.4: “The masterplan proposals have been included in this Electoral Area Local Area Plan by amendment in order to accelerate the delivery of much needed new housing. The review of the EALAP’s and the preparation of the new plan for the Municipal District presents an opportunity, in consultation with the public, for the County Council to refine the detail of the proposed development.”

Cllr McGrath (FF): This is a major proposal for Carrigaline. The discussions already held are welcome. The town is facing major challenges in terms of infrastructure, etc. It is a very important masterplan and something we should get right. Outlines the two main issues (connectivity and linking to the N28 upgrade). The executive has listened carefully to our concerns about connectivity and has moved successfully to allay fears. Is also concerned about the lack of a link between the N28 upgrade and the development. The executive and himself don’t agree on this. I don’t say the development shouldn’t start, but do believe say that linking must happen at some stage. As of this morning, was still undecided on this issue. Wants to be able to send out a positive message that Carrigaline is a positive town in terms of development. Knows we are in a housing crisis. Wants to weigh it up against the fact that Carrigaline has been left down. We have no certainty on the N28. Appreciates the executive has moved on the public’s concerns in relation to the Masterplan. Welcomes the new wording to include a reference to the Local Area Plan. Sent an email on Thursday to the executive suggesting additional 3 words on the end of that: “including infrastructural requirements”. Thinks that would send the message that we are prepared to look at the infrastructural issue in the LAP.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): Appreciate also the litany of discussions we have had in relation to this issue. Not just those in front of the full Chamber but also at Municipal District meeting every step of the way. My particular concern is not the linking of the development with the N28 but its linking with Carrigaline. Carrigaline is a great town. It has grown massively in size, particularly in the last 15 years. It is a lovely place to live with some super community facilities. But Carrigaline now has a population of over 15,000 people. The town is so congested with traffic. This is nothing new. The problem was recognised back in 2007 when the Carrigaline Area Transportation Study was drawn up to try to resolve the problem. Some of its recommendations were that there would be an inner Western relief road, an outer Western relief road, a town centre strategy incorporating a pedestrian-friendly main street, horizontal traffic calming measures and gateways from side streets to the main street. There would be three table top ramps across pedestrian crossings on the Main Street delivering a total of seven pedestrian crossings on the main street. A comprehensive Cycle Network Plan was to be drawn up for the town. Off street parking was to be developed to encourage park and walk. The first hint of the recommended Park and Ride facility would in the new Shannonpark development. And there was to be a feasibility study done on a figure of eight town bus service which surveys showed would be popular. Virtually none of these recommendations has been delivered. To be fair, it is not in the County Council’s gift to deliver many of these. Dedicated funding from government is needed. But that hasn’t come. Of course we need houses. We are in the middle of a national housing emergency. But the County Council is expected to pick up the tab for that. Just as the residents of Carrigaline are expected to pick up the tab for the traffic impact of yet 1,000 more houses – that is at least 2,000 more residents. It is just not fair on the existing residents of Carrigaline. It is not fair on people generally that they should have to continually pick up the tab for government failure to invest. And it is not fair on future residents of the Shannonpark development who, because of traffic congestion, will be so removed from the town of Carrigaline that they may struggle to become part of the Carrigaline community. So I too had not made up my mind by this morning how to vote on this.

Cllr O’Laoghaire (SF): Believes not enough has been done towards committing to social housing in the development. Doesn’t hold the view of the executive in terms of social housing. Doesn’t think we should be restricted to Part V. Issues of connectivity were taken on board by the residents. The issue of infrastructure remains very significant. We spoke recently of a new transport plan for the town. Traffic is the highest issue on the agenda in the town and the biggest influence on quality of life. Thinks N28 is crucial to Carrigaline. Has serious concerns about going any further than Phase 1 without the N28 in place. Also pointed to the need for the western relief road. There is a significant housing crisis. A large part of me is keen to support a well planned Masterplan. Other councillors have expressed reservations about the Masterplan approach but it is a step away from the developer led approach which characterised house building in the past.

Cllr Collins (FG): I proposed a new upgraded and updated transportation plan for Carrigaline at our last Municipal District meeting. The relief road isn’t going to happen. It was primarily developer-led and the Council was backed into a corner to agree with it. Doesn’t think it is in the right place. Shannonpark is a phased development over 10 years. There will not be 1,000 houses or 2,000 cars immediately. Doesn’t agree that the dearth of infrastructural development in Carrigaline was the cause of the government. In the last 15 years Carrigaline did take off but linking the proposed development with the N28 is not an issue. The developer in question is prepared to construct a slip road. Has no issue with Cllr McGrath’s three words at the end if it will move on this Masterplan. We do need infrastructural development. Much is stitched into the greater plan for the development.

Cllr Forde (FG): Seconds Cllr Collins’ proposals. Masterplans were never meant to fall on one issue. The major issue in Carrigaline when she spoke to the people was connectivity. Glad that the executive has acceeded to our request. The Masterplan is in phases. We all know there are people sleeping on the streets. We know there are people homeless. Quality of life is first and foremost a roof over our heads. The Masterplan will go a long way towards providing much needed housing stock. The Masterplan should not fall on a single issue. But this Masterplan has been in gestation for so long, the crunch comes now. Lets not parry any more. We can through other mechanisms sort out the kinks we have with other issues. The people of Carrigaline are so resilient. We come to meet them half way. This is not a political issue.

CE: The Masterplan has come a significant way. Concerns raised here this morning are infrastructrure generally in Carrigaline and the N28. We have a Local Area Plan process in which matters such as these are dealt with. The Masterplan underpinned by extensive traffic modelling. It will allow for development on a phased basis. Has no problem with the extra three words. The traffic modelling indicates that the N28 is not required for the development to proceed.

Inclusion of the three words was formally proposed and seconded.

Cllr D’Alton (Ind): But what good is including an intention to deliver infrastructure in the new Local Area Plan? That intention is already there in the existing Local Area Plan drawn up in 2011. It says that one of the challenges for Carrigaline is “rebalancing Carrigaline town centre to include better traffic management, car park provision, pedestrian access and general improvements to the public realm”. A commitment in the Local Area Plan does not mean the infrastructure is going to be delivered.

The Mayor shut down the discussion, saying that the Masterplan was passed.

 

9.  National Road Grant Allocations 2016.

Letter from the CE regarding funding for non-national roads: Roads damage from adverse weather

Director of Roads: Funding from TII is down on last year. The main reason is because the only allocation for pavement works is that in Lissarda. TII says they are currently reviewing the pavement programme and what funding is available. They say they will be able to notify us in the near future. They speak of priorities. Last August they asked us to advance the design of 8 or 9 different schemes. They will tell us what the most urgent needs and priorities of these are.

Cllr Creed (FG): This is a massive cut in funding. The original programme we got was from 2013 – 2016. Money has been allocated to Cork County Council but has redistributed to other roads. The survey on these roads was done in 2012. The standard of the roads in Macroom-Blarney are in an appalling state. To do this to us and to expect the people to suffer huge consequences. Our area is not hugely populated, but has long lengths of roads. Totally unacceptable for this to happen year after year after year.

Cllr N O’Donovan (FG): Disappointed to see the reduction but understands from the Director of Services that the full grant hasn’t been announced yet. The Leap section along the N71 is the only oustanding stretch left along this road. What is the priority here? Spoke of a dangerous stretch of road in West Cork.

Cllr C O’Sullivan (FF): Disgust that there is no funding again for the N71. People of West Cork are left emptyhanded when it comes to this year after year. It is the main artery into West Cork. We rely on it for tourism, for investors and there is the safety aspect of it.

More members spoke about the N71. Cllr O’Flynn’s motion on the Mallow Relief Road was taken:

“That Cork County Council immediately call on the Minister for Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make the necessary finding available to ensure that the much needed Mallow Relief Road can commence as was promised by the Minister in November 2015.”

Cllr O’Flynn (FF) spoke about the dire need for the bypass and wants a consulting engineer to be assigned to draw this up to design this as a matter of urgency.

Cllr T Collins (Ind): Spoke in support. You’d have to be around Mallow to realise how bad it is. As a former haulage contractor, drove into that town before.

Lots of members spoke in support of the motion.

Cllr O’Flynn (FF): If you’re going to cut back funding for roads in rural areas – we have spoken about increasing milk production, etc – basic core of our work is maintaining a good road network.

CE spoke on distribution of grants for non-national roads:

• Allocating funding based on the condition of the road is the only way to do this.
• In 2013 when we were allocating funding, it was based on the condition of the roads then. That basis for the distribution of the money is now out of date.
• It is true that some areas have benefited more than others, even though those areas may have had better road surfaces.
• We have better information now which classifies the road condition. If we don’t redistribute based on our current knowledge, we could undermind our current level of funding from the Department. They may say we are not using the best information available. Value for money would be called into question.
• East Cork is the area is suffering most from this reallocation. Perhap we could transition the allocation in over the 3 year life of the programme?

The Director of Roads said that TII asked us to prepare designs on 10 pavement schemes on natioanl roads last August. We are progressing these.

It was agreed that we would write to the Minister objecting to his leaving the Mallow bypass out of the funding for this year.

Cllr O’Grady (SF) proposes that the survey on non-national roads is undertaken again. We need a new survey.

Cllr Conway (Ind) seconds that, especially for Blarney-Macroom.

The Department’s requirements for surveying are that:
Regional roads are to be surveyed every year
Local primary roads are to be surveyed every 2^nd year
Local secondary are to be surveyed ever other year
Local tertiary are to be surveyed every 5 years

It was agreed that the programme transition period would be spread over 3 years, not one.

 

Suspension of Standing Orders:

Cllr Hegarty (FG): Meeting at Waterrock Golf Club on recent flooding. Concerns are about where water is currently discharging from Waterrock. A local resident put in some dye. Tried it on high, medium and low water levels and no dye appeared where it usually discharged. There is quarrying at John A Wood. Water used to be pumped there in the old days. There is a culvert under the Railway line that was closed by Irish Rail a few years back. This used to be a discharge point for surface waters. Residents called for some form of stormwater drainage system to be put in.

Cllr Barry (FG): The problem is not the Masterplan site itself, but the effect the extra surface water and capacity of the gullies would have on existing residents in the area.

Cllr O’Keeffe (FF): Maybe we should extend the remit of the consultants (Arup) to examine Midleton town. Going forward here, what contingency plans can we have for this time next year if flooding comes about again. We must have something in place.

Cllr McCarthy (FG): Drainage of the roads there is very important. Dye was put into the caves. Three tests were done. No dye appeared on the other side of the N25 by the wastewater treatment plant like it should. Residents mentioned closing of the culvert by Irish Rail. We need to talk to Irish Rail about this.

CE suggests that we would ask the OPW to include the Waterrock Area in the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme.

Suspension of standing orders continued on the proposal Cllr O’Flynn (FF) to discuss the water outage on Saturday in Fermoy main street. Dreadfully difficult on the traders. No information coming from Irish Water. Members agreed generally that notification from Irish Water on water supply issues generally amounted to a tweet on Twitter and that is simply not good enough.

 

At 2.45 pm, the meeting was suspended with other items deferred until the next Council meeting.

 

 

[g]           CORRESPONDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

10.  Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government:

• Letter dated 4^th January, 2016, in response to Council’s letter of 10^th December, 2015, regarding decisions by An Bord Pleanála.

• Letter dated 19^th January, 2016, in response to Council’s letter of 16^th September, 2015, regarding legislation governing the rental market.

11.  Department of Justice & Equality:

Letter dated 5^th January, 2016, in response to Council’s letter of 16^th December, 2015, regarding promotion of gambling.

 

[h]           NOTICES OF MOTION

12.  Councillor Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire:
That this Council requests that Transport Infrastructure Ireland come before the Council, to outline the Demand Management Study currently being undertaken by them on the N40, and to respond to reports recently following their meeting a committee of Cork City Council, that TII is considering tolling the road, and to discuss related matters.”

[Deferred from Council Meeting on the 11/1/16]

13.  Councillor Kevin Murphy:
“That Cork County Council seeks an immediate meeting with the Minister Kelly, Minister for the Environment and Local Government and Minister Coffey, Minister for State, to address the serious anomaly that has arisen in regard to the limits on County Council’s House Purchase and City House Purchase Scheme.”

[Deferred from Council Meeting on the 11/1/16]

14.  Councillor Noel Collins:
“That this Council call on the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to consider an early change in the Inheritance Tax Laws.”

[Deferred from Council Meeting on the 11/1/16]

15.  Councillor Aindrias Moynihan:
That Cork County Council calls on the Minister for Social Protection to end the age discriminatory way the contributory pension levels are being calculated.”

[Deferred from Council Meeting on the 11/1/16]

16.  Councillor Susan McCarthy:
“Following the devastation experienced by communities across our County wreaked by storm Frank on properties, businesses and residences, as well as extreme damage to our roads network, I would like to commend Cork County Council on its response, considering the unprecedented levels of damage caused. Notwithstanding these efforts, in anticipation of further events of such an extreme nature, that

a.) Council facilitate the setting up of a designated taskforce for each Municipal District, with a dedicated two-way channel of communication for Elected Members, and

b.) A direct phone line be made available to elected members in the event of such crises, with a facility for reply on reported events in order for members to more effectively feedback information to the public.”

[5/1/16]

17.  Councillor Des O’Grady:
“To request a written report on recent flooding of areas zoned for housing in the Metropolitan Area. The report to focus on the residential Masterplan sites and other areas zoned for housing (outside of once off housing) in the relevant Local Area Plans.  The report to contain information on the extent of any recent flooding that took place in these zoned areas outside of those sections previously designated as ‘susceptible to flooding’ on the 2011 Local Area Maps.”

[13/1/16]

18.  Councillor Michael Collins:
“I call on the Minister for Health to immediately publish the Capacity Review Report on our Ambulance service. Morale is at an all time low with Ambulance staff and it is high time that they are treated with some respect similar to other Emergency services in Cork County.

I call on my fellow Councillors to call on this Government for an immediate review of Ambulance staff pay and conditions to reflect the pressure these people work under.”

[18/1/16]

19.  Councillor Frank O’Flynn:
“That Cork County Council immediately call on the Minister for Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make the necessary finding available to ensure that the much needed Mallow Relief Road can commence as was promised by the Minister in November 2015.”

[18/1/16]

 

 

[i]            CORRESPONDENCE FROM OTHER BODIES

20. ESB:  Letter dated 11^th January, 2016, in response to Council’s letter of 16^th December, 2015, regarding the introduction of fees for electric vehicles.

 

21. Irish Water:  Letter dated 11^th January, 2016, regarding the Bandon Water Main and Sewer Network Project Update.

 

[j]             VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS

22. VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS (if any)

23. ANY OTHER BUSINESS