‘Saving Scheme’ for Clones PO

By Cliona Connolly
Monaghan Post

CLONES Town Council has approved a General Annual Rate on Valuation of 59.90 or a 5.8 per cent rate increase for commercial properties in the town for 2008 due to a budget deficit of €436,373.15.

While many councillors expressed concern at the rise in rates, the council did not want the standard of services to suffer for a lowered rate. Both Cllr Peter McAleer and Cllr Peter Mulligan felt it was unfair to raise local commercial rates when their profit margins may already be tight.

However, local business man and Cllr Eugene McCaughey said he was happy to pay higher rates if the town’s cleanliness was maintained. Many felt it was vital to improve the town in order to attract more business and therefore expanding on the rate base in future.

Housing

This year the council will benefit from an additional €40,000 from Internal Capital for housing maintenance.
Housing rental income is expected to increase by 23 per cent this year with twelve new homes to be completed this year.

Development and Roads

€2,900 has been allocated to maintenance of the new online planning enquiry system. This facility provides public access to every planning file online, including maps.
€1,400 is also paid to Monaghan Tourism who help market Clones to tourists. The council are also keen to promote Clones with the re-opening of the canal and development of a marina in the future.
The main road works this year will be link road between the Clones Technology Park and Fermanagh Street car park and the Roslea Link Road to the N54 Clones-Monaghan road.

Environment and Amenities

Clones continues to enjoy a seven-day-week street cleaning service, half of this cost is recouped from Monaghan County Council. A road sweeper also visits the town on a fortnightly basis to service residential areas. €3,000 was also set aside for the Tidy Towns Committee. The council will also continue to maintain parks and open spaces within the town and provide support to community groups at a cost of €42,000 in 2008.
A 5 per cent increase on last year’s environmental budget to €272,000 was approved.

It is predicted that 2008 will bring a Gross Revenue Expenditure of €1,588,678.55, against a Gross Revenue Income of €510,831.40 plus the Local Government Fund of €641, 474.00. The budget was proposed by Cllr Ross Mealiff and seconded by Cllr Eugene McCaughey.

NEED FOR MORE HOUSING EMPHASISED AS...

14th February 2008

Clones councillors call for CPO on old cinema site

By Michael McDonnell
michael@northern-standard.ie

The pressing need for council housing for single people in Clones was highlighted at the monthly Town Council meeting when Niall Quigley asked if the council had taken any steps regarding a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the site of the former cinema on Fermanagh Street.
Cllr Quigley pointed out that 31 people on the housing list were single and under 25. Single-bedroom apartments were needed for these people, but nothing was being done to facilitate them at present.
Regarding the cinema site, Town Manager Paul Clifford said planning permission had been granted for a retail business and four apartments. But the Town Council was not seeking a CPO at present, as it did not have the financial resources to do so.
Cllr Quigley remarked that a former government minister had stated that there was plenty of money available for local authorities that needed housing.
Bur Mr Clifford pointed out that the council had already spent 175% of its capital allocation for housing in 2007. A CPO would have to be initiated in relation to derelict sites, and had nothing to do with housing. The council was already at its financial limit in relation to its housing commitments, and was also seeking to acquire land for future house building. The financial difficulties had been highlighted at a budgetary meeting earlier in the eveing, he pointed out.
Pat Treanor, however, backed Cllr Quigley in calling for a CPO on this site. He pointed out that it was derelict, and contended that the council had been “messing about” for 20 years in relation to the site. At some stage the council would have to “take a grip” on it and go for a CPO.
This in turn could help deal with those on the single persons’ waiting list. He suggested that the council should inform the Department of Environment that funding for a CPO in this instance could also help in dealing with the need to find accommodation for such people.
Town Mayor Ross Mealiff pointed out that the cinema site was in the heart of the town, where shops were needed and not just apartments.
Eugene McCaughey wondered if some other developer could be encouraged to take the site over.
But Cllr Treanor was of the view that the present developer was “not interested”. The council was being criticised about the number of derelict sites around the town, but in this instance there was a legitimate argument to do something about it.
Mr Clifford said he would take on board the points that had been made.
HOUSES NOT READY
On the housing issue, Mr Clifford also accepted that the five council houses to have been ready by the end of November at Ard Chluain were not yet available.
Replying to a question from Cllr Treanor, he said money had been handed over — but the matter was still being dealt with by the solicitors. The Town Manager was hopeful the houses could be allocated in the first two weeks of December, but he could not give an exact date.
Cllr Treanor was concerned that solicitors might not move until pressurised. He wanted to see this matter finalised as there was a long waiting list for housing in Clones. People had anticipated getting into these houses before Christmas, he pointed out.
He also felt that the councillors should given information as to how long people were on the list. This in turn might bring home the urgency of getting more housing. The information should include the date on which each application was made — as was the case with people with special needs, some of whom were on the list since 2003. The council was obliged to provide social housing for those who could not get private housing, he stressed.
Mr Clifford said the lists would be updated to include that information.
TWO BEDROOMS OR ONE?
The debate took a new turn when Peter Mulligan asked why those on the the single persons’ list could not be allocated two-bedroom houses.
Mr Clifford said council accommodation was allocated on the basis of need.
But Peter McAleer said he could not see why single people should necessarily be restricted to apartments with just one bedroom. It meant, for example, that they could not have guests in their homes. Accommodation might be based on need, but there were also social needs. The cost of two-bedroom units was not that much more.
But Mr Clifford pointed out that there was a greater cost involved, and that the Department was against the allocation of two-bedrooms in such cases.
Cllr Mulligan felt this policy was “mean spirited”, and pointed out that in many cases the people involved would have been separated and might have children who should be able to visit them.
While accepting that this was an issue for the Department rather than the Town Manager, the chairperson Ross Mealiff said it seemed to make more sense to build two-bedroom units at present. He suggested that a motion in this regard should be drawn up for the next meeting.

Concerns about future of Clones Co-op agri stores

Serious concerns about Town of Monaghan Co-op’s plans to discontinue its involvement in the agricultural supply stores at Clones Mart were voiced at the monthly Town Council meeting, where Town Mayor Ross Mealiff expressed disappointment at the lack of a response from the Co-op to concerns he had raised on the issue.
Cllr Mealiff had written to the Co-op’s CEO Vincent Gilhawley at the beginning of November, calling on the Co-op to retain the supply stores in Clones.
The Town Mayor said that when sending the letter he had made it clear that he was speaking on behalf of the council, and following representations from farmers and townspeople in the area. He had pointed to fears that any change in the status of the service would have serious implications for the local community. The town’s economy was being regenerated and there was a need to retain and improve all existing services.
Pat Treanor noted that the Co-op had carried out a review of its stores in the mart. A local effort had been made to safeguard jobs, as there were concerns that the business might be tendered out — as was happening in the case of the local post office.
It was also feared that the business would be closed if it could not pay for itself, and this would result in the loss of jobs and another service to the town. The council should write to the Co-op again on this, Cllr Treanor proposed.
The Chairperson said it was disappointing that the Co-op’s manager had not responded to a letter sent by the council three weeks earlier.
CLOSURE CONFIRMED
•Meanwhile, Mr Gilhawley of Town of Monaghan Co-op has confirmed to the Northern Standard that the Clones branch of the agricultural goods store will close “sooner rather than later,” due to the decline in the volume of business, writes Veronica Johnston.
This follows the closure of Lakeland Dairies stores last year. The commercial decision was taken due to the fact that many people have given up farming on a full time basis and many are now having their goods delivered to their homesteads.
It was hoped that another company might take over the running of the store, the Co-op CEO added.

STUDENTS SAY THANKS
A letter from Largy College students Niall O’Connor, head prefect, and Manus McIntyre, deputy head prefect thanked the Town Council for allowing them to attend a recent meeting, which had been “extremely informative” and gave them a “real insight into how Student Council meetings could be better organised”. The Largy students also appreciated the warm welcome they had received.
subvention motion deferred

GOOD WISHES
Good wishes were given by Town Mayor Ross Mealiff to Walter Pringle on Mr Pringle’s retirement after 28 years as rates collector for the Town Council. The Mayor commended Mr Pringle for his dedication over a long number of years to what would have at times been a difficult job.
Pat Treanor associated, and also wished former Northern Sound broadcaster Martin Shannon well in his new position in the Monaghan Voice,
Marcella Leonard wished good luck to the new new Italian restaurant that has opened in the town.

Clones Councillors Chair VEC

By Cliona Connolly
Monaghan Post

TWO CLONES Town Councillors, Pat Treanor and Deirdre Kelly, were elected as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Co Monaghan VEC respectively this week. Cllr Pat Treanor also achieved the feat of becoming the first Sinn Fein Councillor to Chair the Monaghan VEC and is also believed to be the first Sinn Fein VEC Chairperson nationally.

The Clones duo will head up the VEC Committee that governs local VEC schools including Largy College, Clones. Cllr Treanor said it was a great honour to be elected Chairperson of the VEC. “I hope and intend to continue the good work of this committee and will insist that everyone carries out their duties regardless of politics.”

Cllr Kelly also assured members that she would give all assistance possible to both Cllr Treanor and the CEO. Committee members all agreed they believed the pair would be both professional and successful in their new positions.

Cllr Treanor outlined his many objectives for the next 12 months including sustaining enrolment and student retention. He also placed emphasis on establishing a Youth Reach centre in Clones next year, ensuring works at Castleblayney College are speedy and securing the permanent status of Coláiste Oiriall as well as new buildings for MIFET and Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre.

Outgoing Chairperson Martha Williamson-Hunter and former Vice-Chairperson Matt Carthy thanked the VEC members and the CEO for their support during their term. Members commended both former chairs on their excellent professionalism and commitment to the job. Cllr Benny Kieran and Cllr Heather Humphries also agreed that it was great to see two Clones councillors chairing the committee.