MINUTES OFJANUARY 2014 MEETING OF BIRR TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC OFFICES, BIRR ON MONDAY 13thJANUARY 2014 AT 6.00PM.

CATHAOIRLEACH: / Cllr. J. Carroll
MEMBERS PRESENT: / Cllrs.M.Campbell,B. Fanneran, M. Loughnane,T.McLoughlin, N. Russell, D. Sheils, D. Tierney and B Whelahan
IN ATTENDANCE / Messrs.F. Heslin, Town Manager, J. Hogan, Town Clerk, Ms. A. Healy, Town Engineer.

Adoption of minutes of December Meeting of Birr Town Council held on 9th December 2013.

On the proposal of Cllr. D. Sheils, seconded by Cllr. B. Whelahan,the minutes of the December Meeting of the Council held on 9th December 2013 were adopted.

Part 8 Report on proposed enhancement works at Emmet Square.

An Cathaoirleach, Cllr. J. Carroll, advised that in accordance with the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2012(Part VIII) public notice was given of the proposed enhancement works at Emmet Square. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, were allowed for, in writing to the Town Clerk, Birr Town Council, Birr Civic Offices, Wilmer Road, Birr before 12.00noon on 13th January 2014.

An Cathaoirleach said that eleven submissions had been received. He also said that reports had been received from the Senior Architect, Roads Department and Water Services Department of Offaly County Council. The Cathaoirleach said that the Manager’s report on the submissions was prepared and circulated to the Councillors . He said that he would ask Mr. F. Heslin, Town Manager, to go through the report, each of the submissions and the Manager’s response to each submission.

Mr. F. Heslin, Town Manager advised that in February 2013, the Executive presented an outline proposal for Emmet Square and environs and requested submissions from the public.

This outline proposal was not accepted by the Elected Council.

Mr. Heslin said that the Council took on board all feedback and an alternative proposal was presented in June 2013 ,which proposed a one way system for Green St and a bus bay near the Green Street junction. This second proposal was not accepted by the Council.

A third proposal was presented at the July 2013 Council meeting. Further objections were received from some traders in the town. The Council agreed in August 2013 to procure a design team to work up a final proposal based on an in depth analysis of the issues and mindful of all public comments received to date.

The final design was presented to the Council and the community in November 2013.Satisfied with the final proposal and the initial response from the business community,the Council agreed to proceed to the formal Part 8 consultation process.

Mr. Heslin advised that this is a legal process. In making a decision, the members can legally only consider thesubmissions received and the Manager’s report. Any discussions or meetings outside thisprocess cannot be considered, he said.

Mr. Heslin said that “A resolution must be passed not later than 6 weeks after receipt of the Manager’s report”

He urged the members to take the time to give the report proper consideration before making the final decision.

Mr. Heslin said that the Manager’s Report contains a summary of all submissions and he went through them all and the Council’s response to each submission. All of the submissions and the Council’s responses were contained in the Part 8 report circulated to the members.

In conclusion the Town Manager said that following a review of the submissions the recommendation was that the proposed development should proceed subject to the following amendments:-

  1. Footpaths, kerbs and the civic space surfaces will be in a grey/black natural stone, preferably limestone.
  2. The raised shared surface will include grey limestone cobble or similar.
  3. Parking spaces will be grey paving blocks or similar.
  4. The design of the central civic space will be simple and uncluttered and will reflect the symmetry of Emmet Square. The main central paved area will be at one level .
  5. Vertical Elements will be omitted except lighting poles and bollards
  6. Trees should only be provided at the corners of the square. The species would require careful consideration.
  7. No changes are proposed to the currentbus parking arrangements at the old post office quadrant of the square.
  8. The alignment of the kerbline around the civic space will be amended at Dooly’s Hotel to ensure that large buses can pull into the set down space.
  9. Final details of all materials, street furniture, road signage and trees will require to be agreed with the Conservation Architect of Offaly County Council.

An Cathaoirleach then asked the members did they want to deal with the matter at this meeting? All members agreed that the matter would be dealt with at this meeting.

Councillors raised the following queries :-

  • Proposals for traffic calming measures on Emmet Street.
  • Ideal opportunity to provide CCTV.
  • Will two parking spaces be provided for Garda vehicles outside the Garda Station?
  • Concern about increased traffic numbers entering Emmet Square outside Bank of Ireland and Garda Station.
  • Business concerns.
  • Loss of some car parking spaces.
  • Car park at rear of Garda Station.

An Cathaoirleach said that one of the biggest decisions made by the Council was the introduction of a one-way traffic system on the Main Street, amid a lot of opposition at the time. He said the Council must show leadership on this matter.

On the proposal of Cllr. M. Campbell, seconded by Cllr. B. Whelahan, it was agreed to proceed with the proposed enhancement works at Emmet Square, as recommended in the Manager’s report.

Cllr. D. Tierney advised that people had asked him not to support the proposal. Cllr Tierney then proposed that the Council would not adopt the recommendation in the Part VIII report. There was no seconder to this proposal.

Therefore it was agreed to adopt the recommendation in the Manager’s report,i.e. to proceed with the enhancement works at Emmet Square, Birr.

Disposal of land at Fairview Birr, in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001 ( Notice circulated to members on 1st December 2013).

On the proposal of Cllr. D. Tierney, seconded by Cllr. N. Russell, it was agreed to the disposal of land at Fairview Birr, in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001.

Notice of Motion

Longford Town Council

“That the members of Longford Town Council call on the AMAI to challenge the recently published Local Government Bill as it is a direct attack on local democracy and goes against the core principles of the European Charter of Local Self Government”.

The Notice of motion was noted as read.

AOB

Cllr. T.Mcloughlin said that a lot of companies were looking for spaces in the Industrial Estate and he wondered if the Council could offer incentives to such companies, such as non payment of rates for a year or two. It would not include retail business.

Cllr. B. Whelahan asked if rates could be levied on an incremental basis over five years, with 10% levied in year one and the full 100% being levied in year five. This he said would give companies a chance to establish themselves.

Councillors said that a lot of Industrial Units are empty at present.

Mr. F. Heslin suggested that the matter would be referred to the SPC for consideration.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

SIGNED______

CATHAOIRLEACH

Dated this10th February 2014.

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