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PDF versionMEMBERSHIP OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL
The Borough Council comprises twelve members, elected for a five year term of office.
The current Borough Council was elected in June 2004 and membership at 31st December 2004 was as follows:
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MAYOR: Councillor Martin Brett (FG) |
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DEPUTY MAYOR: Councillor Malcolm Noonan (GREEN PARTY) |
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Councillor Michael Lanigan (FF) |
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Councillor Andrew McGuinness (FF) |
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Councillor Joe Reidy (FF) |
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Councillor John Coonan (FF) |
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Councillor Pat Crotty (FG) |
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Councillor Paul Cuddihy (FG) |
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Councillor Betty Manning (FG) |
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Councillor Sean O hArgain (LABOUR) |
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Councillor Joe Cody (LABOUR) 11 Noremount, Kilkenny |
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Councillor Marie Fitzpatrick (LABOUR) |
Administration:
- County Manager: Mr Michael Malone
- Town Clerk: Mr Donal O'Brien
- Senior Engineer: Mr Kieran Fitzgerald
The Municipal Rate for 2004 was €51.35
ROLE OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL
It is the role of Kilkenny Borough Council to administer local services with the Borough. Such duties include infrastructure, community and social services and the promotion of Kilkenny as a major tourist centre.
The Borough Council plays a major role in the preservation of Kilkenny's medieval heritage and in the promotion of Kilkenny as a major tourist centre.
Kilkenny Civic Trust augments the work of the Borough Council in these areas
PROFILE OF THE CITY
Kilkenny was constituted as a City by a Royal Charter of James 1 in 1609. The Sovereign and Council of Twelve have since been replaced by a Mayor, and Councillors.
The City has an area of 373.5 hectares (923 acres) and a population estimated at 8,500. The Borough and Environs has a population of 21,000 approx. The medieval character of the city has been maintained, particularly by the preservation of such historic buildings as Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral, Rothe House and Shee Alms House.
SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Borough Council operates James Stephens Swimming Pool in Michael Street and is currently planning a new state of the art facility to be built at Scanlon Park.
The Council undertakes an extensive gardening service for the City and each year adorns roundabouts and streets with floral displays which is one of the reasons why Kilkenny always does so well in the annual Tidy Towns Competition.
The Borough Council provides Kilkenny with the Watergate Theatre which when it opened in 1993 was only the second municipal theatre in the country and was the first provided by a local authority in recent decades.
Kilkenny City is one of the local authorities with a taximeter area and currently licenses over 100 taxis as well as being responsible for setting the fare structure for the area.
Radestown Water Treatment Works
PLANNING PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Forward Planning
In 2004 the Planning Authority commenced the process of preparing a Local Area Plan for Kilkenny City Centre. A brief was prepared which set out the aims and objectives of the Plan for the future development of the city centre. Tenders were sought from consultants to submit proposals for the preparation of a plan. These tenders were shortlisted, and successful candidates were interviewed. In December 2004, Planning consultants Tiros Resources Ltd. together with O'Mahony Pike Architects and WSP Ireland (Engineers) were appointed to prepare a Local Area Plan for Kilkenny City Centre. It is envisaged that the Plan will go before the Elected Members in the summer of 2005.
The Kilkenny Retail Strategy and parameters affecting the Housing Strategy were both reviewed in 2004. Both the Retail Strategy and the Housing Strategy are county wide strategies affecting the Borough and County Councils alike.
Development Control
Number of application received in 2004: 143
Number of applications determined: 116
Granted: 111 (96% of applications)
Refused: 5 (4% of applications)
ENVIRONMENT
In 2004 Kilkenny Borough Council embarked on a new kerbside collection system whereby refuse is now separated between dry recyclable materials and ordinary refuse. Kilkenny Borough Council has now discontinued the old system where all refuse was collected for a standard charge. New identifiable bags are now available in local shops and customers now pay by weight. Yellow bags (€5 per bag) are used for ordinary refuse and green bags (€1.50 per bag) are used for dry recyclable material, and collections are made on alternate weeks. This new system has proved very successful because in addition to creating an environmentally friendly Kilkenny, people can now reduce household costs by recycling. The system is also in line with National and South Eastern Waste Management strategies.
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Old system whereby all refuse was collected for a standard charge |
New pay-by weight system with separation between dry recyclables and ordinary refuse |
RAPID Programme
Kilkenny was selected as one of Twenty towns around the country have been selected for priority attention under Strand II of the RAPID Programme. A Local Area Implementation Team has been established for the city and was reviewed in June 2004. Plans, in consultation with the relevant line Departments with responsibilities for various programmes e.g. health, environment, education, etc. and with the support of ADM Ltd., have been prepared prioritizing and identifying specific issues and actions.
- The RAPID process co-ordinated by the Kilkenny Local Authorities, in partnership with existing agencies and community groups, continues to work towards identifying real needs through community participation.
- RAPID is not about re-inventing the wheel, but rather the building on existing structures already successfully initiated by agencies and community groups alike.
- RAPID continues to build on existing community structures, and works closely with all of the community organizations. The process is identifying and empowering communities with no community structures to participate in the programme.
- The programme is facilitating newly established community groups to take an active role in highlighting present issues within their communities and looks at developing structured methods of bringing such issues to the table.
Examples of new investment includes, Dormant accounts, estate enhancement works, the Provision of a City Playground, Sports Capital Grant , New Investment under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, Health Board Capital projects, Sporting amenities, Housing Liaison Officer. At time of writing, twenty three prioritised and stamped by the RAPID AIT Area Implementation Team have been approved. These projects range from community grants, Child Care, Education, and Community development projects.
You can find further information on the programmes activities on the Kilkenny County Council website or on www.rapidkilkenny.ie.
HOUSING/HOUSING ENGINEERING - 2004
HOUSING PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- 31 families assisted in obtaining suitable housing accommodation
- 3 Annuity Loans totalling €401,200.00 advanced
- 3 Reconstruction Loans totalling €8,957.25 advanced
- 6 Local Authority Dwellings sold under Tenant Purchase Scheme
2004 HOUSING CONSTRUCTION / ACQUISITION PROGRAMME
- 25 Dwellings purchased by Kilkenny Borough Council
| OSSORY PARK REMEDIAL SCHEME | |
| Completed Internal Works: | No. 29, 30, 31, 54, 55 & 60 |
| Completed Internal Works & Partial External Works: | No. 27 & 28 |
| Works designed and priced: | No. 3, 10, 18 & 25 - this work is to commence shortly |
Plans to develop the estate in its entirely are being finalized at present. This work has been discussed closely with the members of the Ossory Park Working Group (comprising of members of Ossory Park Residents Committee and Kilkenny Borough Council supported and facilitated by the Ossory Park Liaison Officer) over the last number of months.
Ossory Park Remedial Works
ROAD TRANSPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
During 2004, Kilkenny Borough Council continued with its Roadworks Programme - the following is a brief description of each project.
STEPHEN STREET
The road surface on this tree-lined street had deteriorated over the years. This road was strengthened by the introduction of a heavy duty reinforced mesh and overlaid with stone mastic asphalt.
HORSELEAP
This section of road was cracked and seated and then resurfaced. A new footpath was also constructed adjacent to the steps thus making access safer for pedestrians and wheelchair users.
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
The entrance road into this mature housing estate was resurfaced for a distance of 130m. It is anticipated that the remainder of the estate will be resurfaced in the 2005 Roadworks programme.
CHAPEL LANE
This laneway was in an extremely poor condition prior to improvement works being undertaken. Provision has been made for the undergrounding of both ESB & Eircom networks and the roadway was paved with castlestone thus improving the aesthetics of the area.
BUTTERSLIP
This popular pedestrian thoroughfare linking High St to Kieran St was repaved with limestone flags and as such has improved conditions underfoot.
CORCORAN TERRACE, HALTIGAN TERRACE, BROGUEMAKER'S HILL
The roads in these estates were resurfaced as part of the 2004 roadworks programme.
COLLIERS LANE
Again this laneway was improved with castlestone paving, old lead water connections were replaced, provision was made for the undergrounding of ESB and Eircom overhead cables, problem sewers were replaced and overall works undertaken here have improved this once neglected laneway for locals and tourists alike.
SPEED RAMPS - TROYSLANE, ASSUMPTION PLACE, MICHAEL ST
After consultations with local residents speed ramps were installed at the above locations thus making these areas safer for local children and discouraging motorists from speeding.