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Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Strabane District Council
14th September 2010
Minutes of the Meeting of Strabane District Council held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, 47 Derry Road, Strabane on Tuesday 14 September 2010 at 7.30p.m.
Present: - In the Chair: Councillor M Boyle
Other Members: Councillors A Bresland, D Breslin, J Donnell, J Emery, G Foley, D Hussey, T Kerrigan, T McBride, C McGill, R McHugh, B McMahon, E McMenamin, J McNulty, J O’Kane.
Total = 15
In Attendance:
Clerk & Chief Executive
Business Manager
Administrative Officer
Apology: Councillor K McGuire
Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Tuesday 6 July 2010 were adopted as a true record of the meeting on the proposal of Councillor O’Kane seconded by Councillor Kerrigan and signed by the Chairman.
Matters Arising from Minutes
Page 4 – Unstable Pedestrian Bridge (Loughs Agency)
In response to a query from Councillor Emery, the Chief Executive (CE) said that a response from the Loughs Agency was still awaited.
Councillor Emery felt that it was essential to follow this up, as the bridge was a cross border walking route.
Page 5 – Transition Committee
Councillor McNulty referred to a meeting of Chairpersons from Transition Committees with the NI Assembly, scheduled for 23 September 2010 at 10.30am and noted that he was unable to attend due to work commitments.
AGREED
It was agreed that Councillor Kerrigan would attend the meeting in his place.
The CE said that Chief Executives and Officers would also be in attendance at the meeting.
Minutes
The Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held on Wednesday 7 July 2010 were adopted as a true record of the meeting on the proposal of Councillor Breslin seconded by Councillor McMahon.
Matters Arising from Minutes
Page 6 – Castlederg Visioning Framework
In response to a query from Councillor McHugh, the CE said that an update would be provided by the Economic Development Manager (EDM) at the forthcoming Committee meeting.
Page 6 – Community Work Programme
In response to a query from Councillor McMahon, the CE said that an update would be provided by the EDM at the forthcoming Committee meeting. He understood that there was a proposal coming forward in this regard.
Minutes
The Minutes of the Corporate and Regulatory Services Committee held on Wednesday 14 July 2010 were adopted as a true record of the meeting on the proposal of Councillor O’Kane seconded by Councillor McHugh subject to the following amendment:
Page 3 (receptions), one bullet point to read as follows:
• Ardstraw Boys Brigade under 15 5-a-side football team and volleyball team on recent national achievements.
Minutes
The Minutes of the Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee Meeting held on Monday 23 August 2010 were adopted as a true record of the meeting on the proposal of Councillor O’Kane seconded by Councillor Bresland.
Matters Arising from Minutes
Page 1 – Letter of Sympathy
Councillor Hussey noted that he had been absent from the meeting and wished to be associated with the condolences regarding the sudden death of employee, Danny Rouse.
Page 4 – DSD Review & Consultation of Regional Infrastructure Programme
Councillor McGill referred to the previous request regarding details on funding from Council and elsewhere provided to relevant organisations. The CE said that the Head of Culture, Arts & Leisure (HCAL) would deal with the request accordingly.
Minutes
The Minutes of the Environment Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 24 August 2010 were adopted as a true record of the meeting on the proposal of Councillor O’Kane seconded by Councillor McGill.
Matters Arising from Minutes
Page 4 – WELB/School Transport
Councillor Hussey referred to WELB management decisions to curtail home to school transport for pupils and he said that concerns had now been raised regarding other areas throughout the district. He noted with dismay the response from a public body such as WELB not being prepared to meet with Council as an associated body. A discussion ensued and Members referred specifically to concerns regarding children in the Magheramason, Bready, Killen and Glebe areas. Members expressed the following views:
• Dangers for children having to walk on roads without footpaths.
• Inclement weather conditions.
• Dark mornings/evenings.
• Increased traffic volume.
• Shortfall of required distances to meet criteria was often minimal.
• Buses not at full capacity passing children who were walking.
• Need for common sense to be applied.
• Support was expressed of WELB officers’ willingness to respond to concerns.
• Need for a risk assessment to be carried out by WELB.
• Need for legislative criteria to quality for school transport to be reviewed.
• Current lack of a Council representative on the Board due to ELB appointment delays, prevented the opportunity to raise the issue directly.
AGREED
On the proposal of Councillor Hussey, seconded by Councillor McMenamin, it was agreed to seek a meeting with WELB Members as the executive body, to discuss the overall issue of school transport.
Pages 5/6 – Irish Language Nameplate: Mount Carmel Heights
In response to a query from Councillor McMahon, the CE confirmed that the previous request to set up a working group to consider an appropriate policy had been assigned to the Technical Services Licensing Officer for his attention. The CE said that he would follow up on this issue.
Burial Rights Grants
On the proposal of Councillor Emery, seconded by Councillor McBride, forms of grant in respect of the following were signed and sealed on behalf of Council: -
ARDSTRAW CEMETERY
William David McCallan
21 Danton Manor
Artigarvan - 2 plots (transfer of ownership)
CASTLEDERG CEMETERY
Cecil Caldwell Hogg
67 Learmore Road
Killen
Castlederg - 1 plot
MOUNTCASTLE CEMETERY
John Hayes
33 Glenview
Killen
Castlederg - 1 plot
Paula Rodgers
56 Gortaclare Road
Carnigribben
Donemana - 1 plot
Sarah Sheerin
29 Ballyheather Road
Ballymagorry
Strabane - 2 plots
STRABANE CEMETERY
David Oliver Gibson
84A Woodend Road
Strabane - 2 plots
Robert Dunn
84 Woodend Road
Ballymagorry
Strabane - 1 plot
Maureen McCrossan
3 Innisfree Gardens
Strabane - 1 plot
Kay Tinney
22 Springhill Park
Strabane - 1 plot
Diane McLaughlin
64 Liskey Road
Victoria Bridge - 1 plot
Ken Finlay
66 Liskey Road
Victoria Bridge - 1 plot
Daniel Breslin
16 Fountain Street
Strabane - 2 plots
Veronica Devlin
4 Alexander Place
Strabane - 1 plot
URNEY CEMETERY
Sam McKnight
72 Owenreagh Drive
Strabane - 1 plot
Roads Service - Footpath on Duncastle Road
Correspondence, a map and photographs received from the Donemana & District Community Association had been distributed for Members’ attention, in relation to the need for a footpath on the Duncastle Road.
Councillor Emery felt that it was necessary to have a site meeting with Roads Service to discuss the issue. He said that this was a dangerous stretch of road and a footpath was vital for safety reasons. He noted that this issue had been raised with Roads Service in the past but there was a need to reiterate the importance of the request.
Councillor Donnell advised that Members had made this request on many occasions and that it should now be seen as a priority. He noted the dangers involved and said that the cricket club was the main sporting facility in Donemana and a footpath to that facility was vital.
Councillor McGill supported the request.
AGREED
On the proposal of Councillor Emery, seconded by Councillor Bresland it was agreed to request a site meeting with Roads Service.
Roads Service – Grass Cutting
Councillor McBride felt that there was a need to cut the overgrown grass on the footpath and along the kerb on the Plumbridge Road leading to Glenoch Chapel, Newtownstewart.
AGREED
It was agreed to make a request to Roads Service in relation to this matter.
Planning Service Cuts – Nipsa Union
Correspondence and briefing document outlining Nipsa’s concerns had been distributed for Members’ attention.
Councillor McNulty said that he was aware that the unions had concerns about other major cuts in public services, in addition to Planning. He felt that Council should be in a position to receive delegations from any interested unions on these matters.
AGREED
It was agreed to give unions the opportunity to address Council on their views and concerns regarding cuts in public services.
Any Other Business
Chairperson – Reserved Car Parking Space
The CE noted that, following a recommendation in the recent Review of Members’ Services Report, a designated car parking space would be allocated for the exclusive use of the Chairperson of Council. He added that this would be located at the front of the main Council building.
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – Annual Charity Ball
The CE referred to correspondence which had been tabled for Members’ attention. He noted that there was a request for Council to host a drinks reception at an approximate cost of £600-£700, in addition to taking a table for 8 people at £45 each. He noted that with regard to taking tables at such functions, previously Members would have been individually responsible for payment, if they wished to attend.
In terms of the sponsored drinks reception, Members’ views included the following:
• It may give Council a chance to raise its profile.
• More detail was needed on the structure of the reception and the terms of the sponsorship.
• The use of ratepayers’ money simply to pay a drinks bill, would be difficult to support.
• It would act as a promotion of the Council and the district and would be a good gesture in terms of hospitality, which often occurred in other areas.
• The function had a charitable purpose, with the benefactor being Disability Action.
• It was understood that the Chair or Vice Chair of FSB resided in the district area.
• With small businesses currently struggling, such an event would be useful.
• Council had a role to play in economic development.
• Consideration of co-sponsorship.
• Chairperson and CE should be in attendance.
• The value of the hospitality in terms of small business profiles.
• Need to be clear on how the sponsorship would be channelled.
The CE advised that this function would historically rotate from Council to Council, with each hosting an event at the start of the Ball.
AGREED
It was agreed that further information would be sought and provided at the forthcoming Economic Development Committee meeting for a decision to be made.
Conferences
CIPFA Annual Conference: Public Services Taking the Lead, 23 & 24 September 2010, Newcastle at an estimated cost of £293.80. Details and costing for the conference had been tabled for Members’ attention.
In response to Councillor Hussey, the CE confirmed that Nilga’s involvement had secured up to 3 places for Members as complimentary day delegates.
The CE said that the Head of Finance may wish to attend and her availability would be checked.
AGREED
It was agreed that any Member interested in attending should contact the Administration Department.
Sustainable Development NI: Sharing Ideas on Implementation (OFMDFM), 21-22 September 2010, Belfast at an estimated cost of £236.60. Details and costing for the conference had been tabled for Members’ attention.
No Members expressed an interest in attending the above.
NAC AGM & Conference, 24 September 2010, Bangor at an estimated cost of £210.20. Details and costing for the conference had been tabled for Members’ attention.
AGREED
It was agreed that Councillors McMenamin and Kerrigan attend the conference and that Sinn Féin would indicate if their NAC representative or nominee was available.
Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Transgender (LGBT) Awareness Session
The CE advised that Members were invited to attend an awareness session, organised by Strabane/Lifford Inclusion Group on 21 September 2010 at the Council offices.
Councillor McMahon asked that his apology be forwarded for the meeting.
Councillors McNulty and Foley left the meeting at 8.15pm.
On the proposal of Councillor McMahon seconded by Councillor Bresland the meeting went “into Committee”.
The meeting concluded at 8.45p.m.
DATED this 14th day of SEPTEMBER 2010
SIGNED ____________________________
Clerk & Chief Executive
DATED this 12th day of OCTOBER 2010
SIGNED ____________________________
Chairperson of the Council
