See Both Minutes Below

Minutes of Special Meeting of Kells Area Council and Kells Town Council held in joint session on 2nd June 2006 at 12 noon in The Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells

Cllr. Eugene Cassidy, Vice Chairman presided.

Members Present

Cllr. John V Farrelly, Cllr. Michael Gallagher, Cllr. Tommy Grimes, Cllr. Liz McCormack.

Officials in Attendance

Mr. Brendan McGrath, Area Manager, Mr. Bill Sweeney, Area Administrator, Mr. Tom Traynor, Area Engineer, Mr. Martin Rogers, Senior Executive Officer – Infrastructure Section, Meath County Council, Mr. David Keyes, Senior Executive Engineer – Infrastructure Section, Meath County Council. Ms. Lorraine Hennessy, Assistant Staff Officer.

Apologies

Cllr. Michael Lynch, Chairperson

  1. Minutes

The minutes of Area Council meeting held on 2nd May 2006 were confirmed on the proposal of Cllr. McCormack, seconded by Cllr. Gallagher.

  1. Reports

Draft Water Services Investment Programme Assessment of Needs 2007-2013

Mr. M. Rogers, Senior Executive Engineer, & Mr. D. Keyes, Senior Executive Engineer, Infrastructure Section, Meath County Council submitted a report to the meeting. The main points were as follows:

  • To qualify for funding under the Water Services Investment Programme, must be included on the programme for 2005-2007.
  • Must determine what schemes should be on the program
  • Deadline is 31st July 2006
  • List of schemes – prioritised in accordance with the Development Plan
  • List of 31 schemes
  • Construction start date is 2009 as there is substantial work to be carried out i.e. planning & design stages.

Copies of this report had been previously distributed to all members by Infrastructure Section, Meath County Council.

  1. Sanitary Services

The Area Engineer submitted the sanitary service report to the meeting, copy attached. A question and answer session was facilitated. The main issue raised was the metering of non-domestic premises. All non-domestic premises to be meter in accordance with EU policy, Water Pricing Policy, based on the Polluter Pays Principal.

  1. Roads

Mr. T. Traynor, Area Engineer, gave a verbal report on roads main point being that road surface dressing will be on going. A question and answer session was facilitated and the following main issues were raised by the members:

  • Hedge & Grass Verge trimming.
  • Repairs to Roads – possibility of Overseer dealing systematically with damage on the edges and corners of roads.
  1. Works Programme for Kells Electoral Area

Mr. T. Traynor, Area Engineer, gave a verbal report. Main topics as follows:

  • Concentration on the Roads Works Programme.
  • Implementation of Health & Safety has had a big impact.
  • Procedures are required.
  • Work in progress.

A question and answer session was facilitated and the following main issues were raised:

  • Possibility of taking on addition part-time staff during the busy periods.
  • Will there be an effect on the Village Renewal Schemes.

Mr. B. McGrath, Area Manager, stated that health and safety is top priority. Road Works Programme will be delivered, possible delays are envisaged, however the work will get completed.

  1. Speed Limits

The Area Engineer submitted the Speed Limit Review 2006 report to the meeting, copy attached. This report is at the early stage, has to be forwarded to the NRA before it will be passed.

The following issue was raised by the members:

  • Possibility of having the Nobber/Navan road increased to 100Km/h
  1. Amenity & Lawnmower Grants 2006

Mr. B. Sweeney, Area Administrator, submitted the Amenity & Lawnmower Grants 2006 report, proposed by Cllr. Farrelly, seconded by Cllr. Gallagher. Copy attached.

  1. Taking in Charge of Public Roads

Mr. T. Traynor, Area Engineer, submitted the Taking in Charge of Public Roads report, proposed by Cllr. Farrelly, seconded by Cllr. Cassidy. Copy attached.

  1. Any Other Business

The following issues as raised by Councillors were noted or responded to be Mr. T. Traynor, Area Engineer:

Cllr. J.V. Farrelly

  • Local Contribution Schemes – requested an up-date.

Cllr. E. Cassidy

  • Ervey Church – works to be carried out.
  • Edenwood Estate – progress regarding taking charge of the estate.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

Minutes of Special Meeting of Kells Area Council and Kells Town Council held in joint session on 2nd June 2006 at 2pm in The Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells

Presiding: Cllr Michael Lynch

Present: Cllr.John Farrelly,Cllr. Peter Caffery, Cllr Eugene Cassidy, Cllr B Curran, Cllr.Sean Drew, Cllr. Liz Mc Cormack, Cllr Michael Gallagher, Cllr.Tommy Grimes, Cllr.Oliver Sweeney, Cllr.Conor Ferguson, Cllr.Brian Collins.

Apologies: Cllr B Reilly.

In Attendance: Brendan Mc Grath, Kells Area Manager, Bill Sweeney, Town Clerk Area Administrator, Tom Traynor, Senior Executive Engineer, Helen O Connell, Assistant Staff Officer, Shane Carroll, Executive Engineer, Duncan Byrne, Executive Engineer.

Proposed Development by St Colmcilles GAA Club

The Area Administrator advised councillors on the proposed plan for 26 acre site by St. Colum Chill G.A.A. on the Athboy road. A number of meetings had been held with officials of the club and their agents in the course of which the following concerns had been brought to the attention of the club

  • Distance from the Town ;
  • Inadequate sightlines / access into the development . Amount of car using the facility (400 car park spaces)
  • Not suitable development in relation to the New Motorway.

The latest meeting had taken place on the previous day and the club had still to fully address the above concerns. The Area Administrator advised that the location of the development was a policy matter which was a reserved function of the elected members. The technical issues were an executive function subject to clear national guidelines which must be complied with.

In reply to Cllr J. Farrelly and Cllr. Sean Drew regarding the ownership of the current site land the Area Administrator advised that the Town Council own the main pitch and there is a 99 year lease to the Meath Co Board. The remaining lands are the property of the club.

Cllr J. Farrelly advised on behalf of the CCGAA that they can get the extra land required for safe access.

Cllrs. Sean Drew and Connor Ferguson informed the meeting that they were members of the CCGAA

Kells Area Manager- Advised the councillors that it was their decision to exercise their reserved function to decide on policy issues. However, it will create an undesirable precedent and will not be recommended. The Council will work with any club, but will not put aside proper planning.

Town Clerk / Area Administrator, advised that there is adequate land within the ,development boundary. With some 12 acres community zoned land in the East of the town, acquisition of a further 15 acres for community facilities between GAA & landowners was a viable option. The Council is also not in a position to fund any works required by the proposed development including road improvements and extending sanitary services networks.

It was agreed that councillors would consider the situation further and advise the officials of their views.

Presentation on Draft LAP

The Area Administrator advised that the Draft was currently on display with a closing date for submissions of June 20th 2006. Today’s presentation was being provided at the request of Town Councillors for information purposes only.

Ms.Wendy Moffett, Senior Executive Planner, described briefly the details in the Plan
see attached Plan

This sets out the structure; there were 39 submissions in response to the Strategic Issues Paper, The draft plan is a lengthy document and is sensitive to Kells History and heritage.

DTZ Pieda were commissioned to carry out study on up-dating the Retail Strategy i.e. Location and size of the appropriate units

Town Square-Types, most appropriate, functions & forum i.e. hard space for a market, recreation spaces. The over-riding guidelines are to accommodate development while recognising the town’s heritage and monastic structure.

Road Strategy-drawn up by Councils Officials and Roads Technical Section of Meath County Council to ensure that the draft plan was a product of the Local Authority.

Town Clerk Area Administrator noted access to the development is a major issue, in relation specific property owners. The plan identifies optimal solutions for the access issues.

Kells Area Managerreassured the Councillors that the Planning Act provides for further consultations and discussion following receipt of submissions on the draft.

A question and answer session to inform members on the detail of the plan was facilitated by W. Moffett and following issues were raised

  • Area / old town wall
  • Flood study recommendations.
  • Type of square, Amenity strip
  • Grid system used where building will look onto the front of the street.
  • Pedestrian and vehicle use
  • Issue regarding how to service the town centre?
  • Phasing of Roads and Development.
  • Possible C.P.O. of land.

Town Clerk / Area Administrator, reminded the councillors of the statutory provisions relating to Local Area Plan. All members of the public and property owners are advised to make relevant submission. Pre-planning will be organised after the Plan is adopted.

Draft Town Plan2 June 2006

The Town Clerk Area Administratoradvised the Councillors that the period for the Councillors to give directions in relation to the preparation of a Draft Plan was due to expire. This meeting provides an opportunity for Councillors to give such directions to the officials. The Draft Plan is due to be prepared by Oct. 2006.

Ms.Wendy Moffett, Senior Executive Planner gave a brief up-date on issues raised at previous meeting including community, retail infrastructure and transport.

Main point of response from the Councillors

  • Facilitate Office, Industrial and Tourist development
  • Retain H.S.E and provide a Health Centre
  • Community facilites i.e. soccer pitch’s
  • Identify land for private sites.
  • Relocate school (keep together in same area)
  • Bus Station, Taxi Rank, Rail Line, Derelict sites
  • Use up all currently zoned land no re-zoning until infrastructure provided.
  • Integrated Council and social housing for young population
  • All new development must provide crèche & community facilities
  • antisocial behaviour measures in plan i.e. security cameras, ramps, eliminate black spots, litter free, tidy towns habitat, artery roads connecting established estates.
  • Traffic.

Response from Brendan Mc Grath, Director Services Kells Area, advised of the need to reserve water service capacity to allow for the Backlands Development. This would seriously limit the scope for zoning further lands in this plan. He also indicated that a distributor road linking Maudlin and Headfort Roads could be considered.

This concluded the business of the meeting.