Minutes of Navan Electoral Area Committee Meeting held on Wednesday 25th June 2008 at 9.30am in the Council Chamber , Town Hall,
Watergate St, Navan, Co Meath
Cllr J Mangan presided
In attendance
Cllr J Reilly, J Holloway, T Reilly , P O’Neill, PFitzsimons,
J D’Arcy & S Cassells
Officials present:
M Rogers, Acting Navan Area Manager
S Donnelly, Navan Area Administrator
F Fallon, Navan Area Engineer
M Killeen, Director of services Community & Enterprise
W Bagnall, Acting Senior Planner
R Donagh, Assistant Engineer , Community & Enterprise
J Young, Senior Staff Officer
The Chairman welcomed the new Mayor of Navan Cllr P. Fitzsimons and wished him well as a member of the Navan Electoral Area Committee.
1.0 Confirmation of Minutes
On the proposal of Cllr J Holloway seconded by Cllr P O’Neill the Minutes of the May Monthly Meeting of Navan Electoral Area Committee held on the 21st May 2008 at 9.30 am were adopted by the Members.
2.0 Correspondence & Matters Raised by the Area Manager
The Members received and noted correspondence from the Meetings Administrator Bill Sweeney regarding Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 in relation to the Ethical Framework for the Local Government Service.
3.0 To consider and recommend (if thought fit) to Full Council adoption of proposed Amenity Levy Scheme 2008.
The Members received a presentation from M. Killeen & R Donagh on the Amenity Levy Scheme 2008.
After the presentation the Members raised the following issues.
· Decision needed on what to do with St Patrick’s Academy building. Costing a lot in security.
· Is there any decision on where playground for Johnstown is to be located?
· What capital funding is available for Town Park?
· Town Park & St Patrick’s Academy should be classified as County projects.
· Welcome for FAI Mini Pitch & funding for Liscarton Cow Plots land.
· Need to identify small projects to enhance smaller villages.
· Only sports clubs getting funding.
· Why are community groups not applying.
· Can a presentation be given to the Members on funding that Pride of Place is getting for Navan Area.
· What is position re allocation to County Museum.
· Funding available is very small.
· Where are mini pitches to be located.
· Provision of facilities is tied in with the level of development.
M. Killeen responded
· Estimated that €20million required for Town Park & St Patrick’s Academy.
· Only Countywide project so far has been the Arts Centre.
· Credit Balance of €52,000 on town & village amenity works cannot be spent on footpaths but can be spent on environmental works.
· Playground in Johnstown can be Council led or in partnership with a community group.
· Need high spec for playgrounds .
· Eleven community groups applied, primarily sporting groups apply. Residents groups can be directed towards this type of funding.
Area Engineer indicated that the two mini pitches are to be located in Boreen Keel & Claremont.
The Area Administrator indicated that
· it was not decided where the playground in Johnstown was to be located but that there would be extensive consultation with the Community.
· The Council would take the lead in delivering the Playground in Johnstown.
· that the Area Manager was in discussions at Management Team Level in efforts to get it listed as a “County” Project.
The Acting Area Manager said that there is a need for criteria to be set for what constitutes acceptance as a “ County” Project and suggested that this matter could be dealt with either through the SPC or the full Council.
On the proposal of Cllr J D’Arcy and seconded by Cllr P O’Neill the Members agreed to recommend to the Full Council the adoption of proposed Amenity Levy Scheme 2008.
R Donagh presented a report on the proposed allocations under the Community Grant Scheme in the Navan Area for 2008.
The Members raised the following issues
· If all funding allocations are inspected to determine if the approved works have been carried out.
· Details on the Members of the Navan Nitro Nuts.
· Could an information night be held for Navan Area next year to inform Community Groups.
R Donagh & M Killeen responded that
· inspections are carried out.
· database of 900 groups receive notification of all grants available every year.
On the proposal of Cllr J Holloway seconded by Cllr J D’Arcy the Members resolved to recommend to the full Council the adoption of proposed Community Grant Scheme 2008 for the Navan Electoral Area.
4.0 To receive an update on LAP 5
The Members received an update on LAP5 from W. Bagnall A/Senior Planner, Meath Co Council.
Following the update the Members raised the following issues.
· The planning section has been under resourced for years despite number of requests for additional resources.
· Could the school campus site be detached from other lands within LAP 5?
· The need for the Director of the planning section to be present at the meeting to answer questions.
· What is difference in materially contravening the plan and varying the plan?
· Do not agree with changing LAP’s to AAP’s.
· Could a material contravention be carried out on school site only.
W Bagnall agreed
· That the planning application for the school is presently on a Further Information request.
· When materially contravening the development plan for a proposed development you set aside the zoning only in relation to that development
· Varying the plan means you change the zoning.
Acting Area Manager noted that if the development plan is not varied for the lands subject of LAP 5 then every time a planning application is received for these lands (and the Members are disposed to) then the material contravention process would have to be used to enable the development to proceed.
The Members agreed that they would be prepared to recommend that a material contravention of the development plan would be used in respect of the school site.
The Members requested that the plan be circulated to the Members and W Bagnall agreed to do so.
5.0 To receive an update in relation to proposed Variation 2 of the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009 ( Liscarton Cow Plot ).
The Members received an update in relation to proposed Variation 2 of the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009 ( Liscarton Cow Plot ) from W Bagnall Acting Senior Planner.
Following the update the Members raised the following issues.
· Should both industrial and community lands be varied at one time.
· Do not want access to community lands to be an issue.
The officials responded as follows:
· In the presentation received from the Consultants in relation to Lands, the Members had agreed to proceed with the industrial lands at first in advance of the development of the Community Lands.
· Necessary to ensure access to Community Lands which was outlined to the Members in the presentation to them previously by the Consultants.
· Lands will need to be acquired to provide this Access as was previously outlined to the Members.
· Can include a specific objective in the proposed Variation to access the community use lands from the road which exits onto L-3413-0(Cr 353).
· W Bagnall, A/Senior Planner agreed to include the community use lands in the proposed variation if the members so wished.
The Members resolved, on the proposal of Cllr J D’Arcy, seconded by Cllr T Reilly to proceed with Variation 2 of the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009 ( Liscarton Cow Plot ) as presented by W Bagnall Acting Senior Planner and to also include in the variation the community use lands.
The A/Senior Planner informed the Members that planning consultants Building Development Partnership (BDP) had been appointed to progress the for the Kentstown Local Area Plan.
On the proposal of Cllr J Mangan, seconded by Cllr P O’Neill the Members agreed to have a joint meeting ( Navan Town Council & Navan Electoral Area Committee) at 2pm on Wednesday 16th July 2008 in the Town Hall, Navan to receive the Managers report on the pre draft submissions received in respect of the review of the Navan Development Plan 2003-2009.
6.0 To receive details of proposed amenity grant/lawnmower grants 2008 for the Navan Electoral Area.
The Members received the details of the proposed amenity grant/lawnmower grants 2008 for the Navan Electoral Area from the Area Administrator.
On the proposal of Cllr J D’Arcy seconded by Cllr P O’Neill the Members agreed to recommend to the Full Council the adoption of the amenity grant/lawnmower grants 2008 for the Navan Electoral Area as presented.
7.0 Notice of Questions
Question to the Manager –Cllr T Reilly
“That the Manager inform me how many employees this Council has taken on for Summer work and what are their duties”.
The Members received the following reply .
· This information has been requested from the HR Dept and on receipt of same it will be forwarded to the Members for their information. In relation to the Navan Town & Electoral Area, there will
be a total of 10 people appointed to carry out summer work. This work will be carried out in the Open spaces and Environmental Sections of the Council.
8.0 Notices of Motion
Notice of Motion – Cllr J D’Arcy
“That this Authority provide the adequate infrastructure on the Boyne River and Blackwater River in the Navan Area for three launching points for Meath River Rescue to enable lifesaving work to continue and that we enter into negotiation with River Rescue as to the most suitable access points”.
This Notice of Motion was proposed by Cllr J D’Arcy and seconded by Cllr J Holloway.
Notice of Motion – Cllr T Reilly
"To call on this Council to install a pedestrian crossing at Watters Lane on the Commons Road for the safety of young people using the Claremont facility”
This Notice of Motion was proposed by Cllr T Reilly and seconded by Cllr S Cassells.
Notice of Motion – Cllr J Holloway
“Considering the increasing number of large vehicles, including HGV’s which enter Limekiln Road at Springfield Glen, on the expectation that this is a through road and the considerable nuisance and danger that results in efforts to turn and exit the area, Meath Co Council address this issue by way of signage indicating “No Through Road” or other suitable Notice”.
This Notice of Motion was proposed by Cllr J Holloway and seconded by Cllr T Reilly.
9.0 Any other business.
· Bollards at Ramparts
The Area Engineer responded that
- person had indicated that they would help with opening and closing but since has said he will not.
- Putting in a gate would probably cost €5,000 to €10,000 but will get a full costing for July meeting. Funding is not available for it.
· Provision of white line on Trim Rd, Navan .
Area Engineer responded that this is being addressed.
· Cars parking in middle of Kennedy Place.
Area Administrator responded that this was being addressed.
· Retail outlet on Kennedy Place .Van taking up a couple of parking spaces.
Area Administrator responded that anyone parked illegally will be fined.
· Speeding traffic through Dunderry Village.
Acting Area Manager indicated that the Road Safety Officer would be requested to take this up with An Garda Siochana.
· When will Navan /Trim Road & Phase 2B Inner Relief Road be completed.
Acting Area Manager responded that
- The Trim road is open but that on occasions temporary traffic lights are put in place to facilitate accommodation works which are required to be carried out.
- In relation to Phase 2B the contractor had indicated that these works would be complete by end of 2008.
· Can RAPID make a report to Monthly meeting on their work.
· Complimented work carried out on verge cutting.
· Damage to road outside Holy Ghost Fathers property at Ardbraccan caused by motorway trucks.
· Footpath on Trim Road has been narrowed by clay falling down.
· Dangerous junction at Mullaghfin.
· The Members asked when the roadworks programme was due to commence, the Area Engineer advised that works were due to commence works in approx. 2 weeks.
· Illegal occupation of lands on lands at Hill of Tara.
· Two sharp bends at Riggins, one in Navan Area & one in Dunshaughlin Area. Could Warning Signs be erected.
This concluded the business of the Meeting.
Minutes NEAC Meeting 250608 Page 6 of 6
Navan Town Council and Area Office, Town Hall, Watergate Street, Navan, County Meath