MEMBERSHIP 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 2006 was as follows:

MAYOR: Councillor Martin Brett (FG) Derdimus, Tennypark, Kilkenny

 

DEPUTY MAYOR: Councillor Sean O hArgain (LAB) 14 College Square, College Road, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Michael Lanigan (FF) 12 Greenfields, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Andrew McGuinness (FF) Brooklawn, Ballyfoyle Road, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Joe Reidy Parliament House, Parliament Street, Kilkenny

 

Councillor John Connan (FF) 17 Willow Close, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Pat Crotty (FG) 14 Oak Road, Dukesmeadows, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Betty Manning (FG) Castle Road, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Paul Cuddihy (FG) Granges Road, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Marie Fitzpatrick (LABOUR) 64 Bishop Birch Place, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Joe Cody (LABOUR) 11 Noremount, Kilkenny

 

Councillor Malcolm Noonan (GREEN PARTY) 35 Fr. Murphy Square, Kilkenny

Administration:

• County Manager: Mr Michael Malone
• Director of Services: Mr. T. Walsh.
• Senior Executive Officer: Mr Brian Tyrrell
• Senior Engineer: Mr Kieran Fitzgerald

The Municipal Rate for 2006 was €56.07

 

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 The Sovereign and Council of Twelve have since been replaced by a Mayor, and Councillors.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 8,625. The Borough and Environs has a population of 23,967 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

Fairtrade City

Kilkenny achieved Fairtrade status in 2005. With the support of coffee shops, pubs, hotels, offices, churches, clubs and schools the city has met many of the stipulations set out by Fairtrade Ireland. A range of Fairtrade products from tea and coffee, to honey, cocoa, chocolate and fresh fruit can be purchased in the major supermarkets in Kilkenny. Numerous schools have undertaken project work on the issue of Fairtrade which encompasses human rights issues, child labour and environmental protection.

 

Entente Florale Competition

Kilkenny, with the full backing of the Mayor and elected members of the Borough Council, represented Ireland in the 2006 Entente Florale Competition. Through this process Kilkenny was presented in a manner befitting its national and international reputation as a centre of excellence for tourism, heritage and culture, in a setting containing a rich fabric of built and natural amenities. Following adjudication by an international panel of judges Kilkenny was awarded a silver medal at the awards ceremony in Bad Sackingen, Germany in September.

Kilkenny is known as the Medieval Capital of Ireland due to its magnificent built heritage, and our theme for this competition was to show how we can embrace our medieval heritage, whilst maintaining the vitality of the city, by using the natural environment of rivers and parks in a sustainable manner.

A vigorous works programme was undertaken which met the challenge of competing on an international stage

Preparation Work for Entente Florale Competition at Kilkenny Borough Council's Nursery

 

CAR PARKING

Following the commitment given at last year's Annual Budget, a barrier car parking system was installed at the Fair Green. It is intended to provide additional surface car parking spaces at this location, funded from Development contributions, by revising the current layout.

The Borough Council agreed in principle to introduce on street parking charges in Kilkenny. These proposals will be an essential traffic management tool, and will address the concerns of members in relation to residential parking around the city.

The employment of a Traffic Monitor to monitor compliance in disabled parking bays has attracted considerable positive attention, and it is intended to continue this initiative in 2007.

 

ROADS

A new 3-year Roads Programme was initiated in 2006. The following is a brief synopsis of the various projects completed in the first year of this programme.

Paving projects completed in 2006 were:

• Evan's Lane
• Coach Road footpaths
• Guard Lane

Re-Surfacing works are completed in:

• Coach Road
• Thomas' Square
• John's Quay
• Gaol Road
• Old Callan Road (Estate)
• Dominic Street
• Deloughrey Place
• St Patrick's Close
• Ashleigh Court

 

Evan's Lane

Works on Evan's Lane involved the provision of ducting for the undergrounding of existing overhead services, upgrading of existing services and paving of a similar standard to adjacent laneways.

Improvement works at Evans Lane

 

Guard Lane

This lane had deteriorated significantly over the years and after consultation with property owners, the lane was cleaned out, drainage improved, paving provided at entrance and a commitment given by the adjacent premises to implement a hygienic method of refuse storage and collection.

 

Coach Road

Major improvement works were undertaken on Coach road, existing overhead cables were removed, high quality decorative public lighting was provided, limestone kerbing and Bergerac paved footpaths were laid on both sides, disabled parking bay designated at entrance to St Canices Cathedral, tactile paving at crossing point and the road resurfaced with Stone Mastic Asphalt.

Road and Footpath Improvements at Coach Road

 

Thomas' Square

Works were undertaken at the entrance to eliminate indiscriminate parking and allow access for residents and emergency vehicles. A shared surface was created on the internal road in the estate thus facilitating vehicular movements, parking bays were provided, surface water drainage improved and additional street lighting erected.

 

John's Quay

The existing overhead services have been undergrounded. The road was resurfaced in 2006 to compliment previous footpath and landscaping improvements. It is intended to complete works here in 2007 by providing a raised paved area which shall incorporate disability access to the Library.

Improvement Works at John's Quay

 

Gaol Road & Dominic St

Works here involved planing of the road, laying of meshtrak reinforcing, a stone mastic asphalt overlay and relining. These works were carried out during the school holiday period to minimize traffic disruption.

Resurfacing at Gaol Road.

 

Old Callan Road (Estate)

After consultations with the residents association, alterations were carried out to the existing wide entrance. This involved the construction of two traffic islands, filter lanes for traffic entering and exiting the estate and tactile crossing points. Works here have resulted in a safer environment for pedestrians, as inconsiderate parking and dangerous traffic manoeuvres, i.e. u-turns, have been eliminated. The estate road was also resurfaced.

Improved Entrance to Old Callan Road Estate

 

Housing Estates

St Patrick's close, Ashleigh Court and DeLoughry place were also resurfaced and footpath repairs undertaken during 2006.

Resurfacing and provision of tactile paving at entrance to Ashleigh Court

 

DISABILITY ISSUES

In all completed projects, cognisance was taken of disability issues with best practice methods being used. Tactile paving was provided at all pedestrian crossings from the Granges Road to Rioch Street. A new pedestrian crossing was constructed at Parnell Street and bollards erected to alleviate the problem of indiscriminate parking. A new dished kerb and handrail was provided at the public toilets at the market yard.

New Pedestrian Crossing at Parnell Street

New ramp and railings at public toilets

Disabled Parking at Coach Road

 

JAMES STEPHENS SWIMMING POOL

Kilkenny Borough Council operates the James Stephens Swimming Pool, which caters for all swimmers from learners to life guards. The James Stephens Pool has a comprehensive schools programme and caters for schools from all over the county.

Kilkenny Borough Council also provides children and adult lessons and we provide a facility whereby life-guards can train to upgrade or re-validate qualifications.

The Swimming Pool Manager or members of staff can be contacted at 056-7721380.

Kilkenny Borough Council and Kilkenny County Council have jointly decided to provide a state of the art pool and leisure centre at Scanlon Park, Loughboy. A comprehensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2005 to ensure that best practice would obtain in areas such as access use and wide participation.

 

PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Kilkenny Borough Councils Annual Parks and Open Spaces Programme ensures that Kilkenny consistently scores high in the National Tidy Towns Competition. The Borough Council Nursery at Evans Lane, Kilkenny is the base from which the Head Gardener directs her staff to enhance the view of Kilkenny for visitors and natives.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Kilkenny Borough Council provides a refuse service, together with a dry re-cyclable kerbside collection on alternate weeks. In addition Kilkenny Borough Council is heavily committed to street and road cleaning and also provides an efficient litter bin service.

 

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL

Number of application received in 2006: 148
Number of applications determined: 117
Granted: 104 (89% of applications)
Refused: 13 (11% of applications)

 

KILKENNY CITY CENTRE LOCAL AREA PLAN

Following the adoption in 2005 of the Kilkenny City Centre Local Area Plan, a full programme of implementation measures was considered in 2006. The principal aims of the plan are:-

This Local Area Plan seeks to provide an integrated strategy for the future sustainable development of Kilkenny City Centre in order to ensure its continued vitality and viability, and to strike a balance between preserving its architectural and archaeological heritage and facilitating modern living and enhancing the quality of life for its existing and future residents.

In order to deliver this strategy, the Local Area Plan has a number of principle aims:

• Propose traffic management objectives to improve existing vehicular and pedestrian linkages within the City Centre.
• Propose a framework for existing and future car parking requirements.
• Prepare urban design frameworks and land use strategies for key sites.
• Access the core retail area and propose strategies for its future development.
• Develop a general directional vehicular and pedestrian signage strategy.
• Propose a network of quality open spaces.

In conjunction with the Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan 2002 the Kilkenny City Centre Local Area Plan will be the main instrument to guide and control development in the area and thus has major implications on the future growth and development of the City Centre

 

REVIEW OF KILKENNY CITY AND ENVIRONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The review of the Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan commenced in 2006 with pre draft consultation meetings taking place on a wide range of issues which fed into the full consultation process.

 

HERITAGE

Work continued on two important heritage projects in 2006:

1. The Kilkenny City Walls Heritage Conservation Plan

Background

On behalf of Kilkenny Borough Council, Dúchas (now the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government) and An Taisce, Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by the Heritage Council to produce a Conservation Plan for the City Walls of Kilkenny. The walls are of great importance both locally and nationally, but their deteriorating condition and the recent partial loss of surviving lengths have been causes of concern.

Objectives

It is anticipated that the Conservation Plan will be of use for:

• Improving local understanding of the walls and their significance.
• Promotion of the recognition and protection of the walls.
• Encouragement of management schemes for effective maintenance.
• Guidance for repairs and conservation.
• Protection of the setting from adjacent developments.
• Improving access to the walls.

This Conservation Plan consolidates the extensive documentation relating to the City Walls found in local records, historical mapping and national documents. The data can now be disseminated in a manageable form, from which the policies for protection and preservation can be developed.

 

2. St. Mary's Church and Graveyard, St. Mary's Lane, Kilkenny

The Conservation Plan for St. Mary's Church and Graveyard, Co. Kilkenny is the result of a number of years work and co-operation between the Trustees of St. Mary's, Kilkenny Borough Council, The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, An Taisce, The Kilkenny Archaeological Society, The Garda Síochána, University College Maynooth, Kilkenny Security and the Heritage Council, all of which are delighted to see this Plan brought into the public domain.

The stimulus for this Plan arose from the concern of the people of Kilkenny to ensure the long-term survival of St. Mary's Graveyard and the unique burial monuments it contains. The significance of the Graveyard, as the Plan reveals, is due to its central position and its potential to be an amenity for the whole city as well as the presence of the monuments of many notable historic personages of Kilkenny.

The Plan should be viewed in the context of national heritage legislation and policy, both in its recommendations and process used in its drafting, with consensus as the cornerstone. Government policy, as expressed in the National Heritage Plan, emphasises the role of heritage conservation in maintaining the quality of life and the need to encourage local communities to become involved in heritage protection.  This Conservation Plan provides a framework within which government policy can be realised.