Following a lengthy discussion and debate regarding the Port of Cork’s current application under the Strategic Infrastructure Act the following document has been appended to the Chief Executive’s report.
(PL04.PA0035 as submitted to An Bord Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Act)
The County Council Chief Executive’s assessment of the Port of Cork’s planning application was circulated to all Members on Wednesday of last week. It was disappointingly but unsurprisingly in full support of the planning application.
I was particularly disappointed that the CE’s report did not, in my opinion, reflect any concern for the effect the proposed development at the port in Ringaskiddy might have on the other multi-faceted benefits that Cork Harbour offers. It is acclaimed as one of the potential tourism jewels in the county, marine-based recreation continues to grow ever more in popularity, it is surrounded by designated scenic routes, it has a highly sensitive landscape of designated national importance and this area of the Lower Harbour is home to some 30,000 people. The report spoke of the economic benefits of the Port’s move as presented in the planning application, but it did not mention the socio-economic benefits of all the other uses which the Harbour offers and is developing.
I prepared an assessment for the Members to highlight what I perceived to be important topics for consideration that remained unaddressed by the CE’s report. I did not suggest that the Port should not move to the Lower Harbour, but merely that we, as Members, had a duty to alert An Bord Pleanala to the fact that we believed the report to be incomplete in the context of assessment of the impacts of the proposed development. The debate in the Chamber was recorded as part of the Strategic Infrastructure Process for the benefit of An Bord Pleanala.
I was very grateful and relieved when the Members agreed to append my report to that of the CE for sending to An Bord Pleanala as a reflection of the Members concerns for full and just impact assessment.
Copy of my email sent to all independents prior to the AGM of Cork County Council.
Dear all,
I am very conscious that we all voluntarily came together as a group of Independents last Saturday with an agreed spokesperson and that whilst much water has gone under the bridge since Tuesday, I have spoken to just some and not all of you on my position.
I do not wish to be part of the “agreement” proposed on Tuesday prior to our induction meeting in the Chamber. My reasons are myriad, but the primary and over-riding one is that I cannot and will not give up even the perception of the independence which was so important to those who voted for me. I have no desire to wear a chain nor to hold the position of a chair. Therefore I do not consider that a 5-year alignment with any political grouping in return for these positions is adequate reward for the loss of the absolute independence I guaranteed to those who placed their trust in me. Whilst I appreciate that we will have months to work on the budget prior to its being brought before full Council, I cannot commit to supporting a budget about which I may have reservations for any of those five years. The aims to be worked towards in the run-up to the budget do not come close to meeting the priorities I outlined to those who voted for me. The additional committee positions being offered as part of the proposed agreement do not offer me any opportunity to influence policy in areas where I have expertise.
It was clear from our meeting on Saturday that we had formed a defined group to increase our chances of getting the positions on committees that we particularly wanted. It was also clear that our forming a group would allow us the opportunity to appoint a group chair to an SPC and consequently get to take a seat at CPG meetings. The benefits of this approach are self-evident.
But what was equally clear at Saturday’s meeting was that our formation of a group had no relation to any pact or agreement with any other party. Indeed, this position was voiced and confirmed prior to our going our separate ways. Our individual positions as independent members of the Chamber was also clarified.
I have to be truthful and say that, at a personal level, I was blown away at the leap our voluntary grouping had taken between Saturday lunchtime and Tuesday morning. At our Tuesday meeting, it became clear that negotiations with regard to an agreement with political parties had been undertaken on our group’s behalf. As a member of that group, I certainly had not been informed of even an intention to undertake such negotiations.
As confirmed at our Saturday meeting, each member of our group is independent. Should any one of you wish to be part of the 5-year agreement with Fianna Fail and Labour, that is of course your prerogative. I choose not to be part of it for the aforementioned reasons. I have made it clear to John Paul that as agreed on Saturday, I will support him to take the chair of the SPC of his choice and, indeed, should he wish to propose himself for the position of Mayor tomorrow, I will also support him in that.
As it was clear that the formation of our independent group was not aligned with any agreement or pact of any kind, I hope I am correct in assuming that our independent group will continue to work together towards the aims for which it was established. Should I not be correct in that assumption, I should be grateful if you would let me know.
I look forward to working with all of you.
All the best,
Marcia.
Link to my Irish Times article on the loss of town councils…
This link opens in a new window or tab – please close to return here.
From rob@marciadalton.net
On behalf of Marcia I would like to let you know that we have had a difficulty with our leaflet delivery company.
A specialised leaflet delivery company was employed to deliver the leaflets to everyone in the Ballincollig/Carrigaline ward. Sadly, it would appear that very many people did not receive their leaflet and the company have not been able to pinpoint exactly where the leaflets were delivered.
Between Marcia’s volunteer helpers and myself we are distributing leaflets as fast as we can so that you may read them before the election.
I would like to apologise to anyone who receives the same leaflet twice. It was not our intention to have this happen. I also had reports of leaflets being delivered out of the ward – I have been told that this has only happened in a small number of cases but I not confident that this is true.
If you haven’t received print literature and would like some, please email me at the above address and I will organise a delivery for you.
Rob.
Marcia’s husband and poster hanger!
o Between the seats in Patrick Murphy Park
o Opposite Derek O’Brien’s
o Opposite the Tavern
Some updates from the April meeting of Passage West Town Council
Signalisation of the Shannonpark Roundabout
The County Manager still has not decided whether to take the signalisation of the Shannonpark roundabout to full Council. The Area Committee voted against the proposal to signalise the roundabout. If the Manager does proceed to take it to full Council, it will be an almost unprecedented step that he should step over the opinions of the elected councillors in the area.
Passage West – Carrigaline Greenway
It is still hoped that the Greenway will go to Part 8 planning. This will give the public opportunity to comment on its extension from Passage West through Monkstown, Raffeen and up to the N28. The SECAD funding which was hoped to advance the project has not been secured. Funding is now being sought from national cyclepaths funding.
Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme
The consultants for the Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme, Nicholas Dwyer, have committed to a series of public meetings prior to advancing for planning permission for the various pumping stations associated with the scheme. The public meeting for Passage West/Glenbrook/Monkstown will be held in Passage West. The date and venue is yet to be confirmed.
Public lighting at Buncoille
The Town Council is going to fund the erection of a public light at Buncoille. The light will be double headed, one facing towards Hayes Boreen and the other facing the R610. It will be mounted on an existing pole in the grass patch in front of the lime kiln.
A light at this location has been awaited a long time. Unfortunately the cost of funding street lighting from Buncoille to Murph’s Pub is simply beyond that which the Town Council can achieve. But they are pleased to at least help residents and safety by providing this light at Buncoille.
Future of Town Hall
The benefits of the Town Hall are well recognised. Its size makes it ideal for a meeting room for smaller groups. When the Town Council is abolished at the end of May, the building will revert to the ownership of Cork County Council.
The Town Council regrets seeing this meeting room lost to the people of the town. So for the present, it is planned that a lease arrangement will be made between the County Council and the Tidy Towns group such that the Tidy Towns group will hold the key for the Town Hall. Although the County Council will insure and maintain it, the Tidy Towns will pay for electricity and heating and an annual rent for the lease. This will facilitate the availability of the Town Hall for all smaller groups in the town wishing to use it for meetings.
Other points of note
The proposed MUGA/table tennis for the Marmullane Tennis Club site is waiting for Sports Capital funding. It is presumed that a decision will not issue from the Department of Transport until the end of May.
The Painting Scheme will be finishing up early this year. This may be one of the reasons that the number of applicants to the scheme is very much lower than it was last year. If anyone is interested in applying for the scheme, please contact any member of the Town Council or the Town Clerk at niall.okeeffe(@)corkcoco.ie