Agenda item

Note dates and times for meetings of Leitrim County Council until the next Annual Meeting

Minutes:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paddy O’Rourke said the general consensus is that the existing arrangements are satisfactory and that they be kept in place until the next Annual Meeting.

 

Councillor Enda McGloin supported this.

 

Councillor Des Guckian said the plenary Council meeting should be held monthly.

 

Councillor Brendan Barry sought clarification as to the date of the next plenary Council meeting.

 

Kieran Brett, Meetings Administrator said the next plenary Council meeting will be held face to face on Monday, 12th July 2021 at 11.30 am in the Ballroom of the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon. The Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District Meeting will take place face to face prior to this meeting at 10 am in the Enterprise Suite of the Bush Hotel. The duration of the Plenary Council meeting is limited to 1 hr 55 minutes. 

 

It was noted that no presentations are scheduled for the July meeting.

 

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paddy O’Rourke proposed that the pertinent SPC would consider the format of future presentations at Council Meetings and revert to the Corporate Policy Group with recommendations. He noted that presentations take up a lot of time at Plenary meetings.

 

Mr Lar Power said presentations could be delivered via workshops or via an online format.

 

Councillor Mary Bohan said that a lot of business has to be gone through in 1 hr and 55 minutes and sought clarification if there could be a break and come back again to finish the business of the meeting.

 

Mr Lar Power said the advice in accordance with the HSE and Government Guidelines is that persons at a meeting should not be more than 1 hour and 55 minutes in close contact with each other and he said there are matters in relation to meetings that could be done virtually.

 

Councillor Thomas Mulligan sought clarification on what arrangements are going to be put in place for those people who are not able to attend meetings face to face due to health reasons.

 

Kieran Brett said blending arrangements will be made available in the future.

 

Councillor Brendan Barry welcomed the fact that all could attend this meeting today in person.  Councillor Barry acknowledged Councillor Guckian’s earlier comments in regard to the Cathaoirleach position been decided a few years ago.

 

Councillor Barry agreed with Councillor Mary Bohan on the issue of rural planning and said it is up to the Minister for Local Government to amend the existing regulations.  Cllr Barry suggested that the new regulations be introduced by the Minister as proposed in Deputy Martin Kenny recent bill which he put before the Oireachtas.

 

Councillor Sean McGowan proposed that Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballinamore MD meetings be held in the Council Chamber from September.

 

Mr Kieran Brett said once refurbishment works are complete in the Council Chamber, Carrick-on-Shannon MD Meetings will be held in the Council Chamber and if the works are not complete by then a room in The Dock will be made available for Carrick MD Meetings.

 

Ms Samantha Healy confirmed that members of Manorhamilton MD had, earlier this week, agreed that MD meetings will be held face to face in the Bee Park Resource Centre in Manorhamilton.

 

Councillor Caillian Ellis said the Scouts Den in Ballinamore would be a suitable venue for the Ballinamore MD meetings and this will be considered at the Ballinamore Annual meeting on Monday next.

 

Councillor Justin Warnock said the views of the Members should be reflected in the County Development Plan regarding issues such as forestry, windfarms and rural planning.

 

Councillor Sean McDermott concurred with the members in relation to the challenges raised in regard to windfarms, forestry, one off rural housing etc and he said if this is let continue his community and others will not survive and all the relevant authorities must work together to find a solution.

 

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paddy O’Rourke said all members shares the same sentiments in regard to the challenges outlined.