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Collection of housing rents have dropped by two per cent Mayo County Council 's collection yield in respect of housing rents and annuities has dropped by two per cent from 68% to 66%, according to the Local Government Auditor's report. The report outlined that arrears increased from £827,633 to £886,668. Stated Mr. Gerry Millett, auditor: "This worsening position was discussed at length with senior management of the council. I have been informed that action is being taken on this area of income. One official has been assigned full time to the collection of these debts. Further resources should be committed to this area should it be considered necessary." In regard to hardship cases, Mr. Millett said they were being treated fairly. But it was noted that a considerable number of tenants were not honouring agreements made with regard to payment of arrears. Council top up interest free borrowing arrangement Mayo County Council have a formal arrangement with the three urban councils in the county for lending and borrowing money up to the tune of £500,000 from each other. The move, introduced in 1984, helps the authorities to avoid paying big bank interest rates when undertaking large capital projects. It has also enabled the local authorities to make the best use of cash resources when some authorities are in credits and others are in debut. Members of Mayo County Council accepted a recommendation at their July meeting to increase the maximum level of lending and borrowing between the councils to £2m. Explained Mr. Des Mahon, county manager: "There have been occasions when the upper limit of £500,000 has restricted the usefulness of the arrangement." Allowances to double for councillors The annual allowance of local authority members in Mayo is set to double. The Department of the Environment has announced an increase in the fee from £1,000 to £1,900. Travel and subsistence will continue to be calculated in line with the rates of senior local authority officers. An allowance of up to £4,000 will be paid to the chairperson of the newly introduced Strategic Policy Committees. Meanwhile, the full details of the once-off gratuity payments to members who retire from office before next June's local elections have been announced, and they are as follows: County Council: £750 per year of service between 5 and 20 years and £500 per subsequent year, subject to an overall limit of 40 years qualifying service Urban Council: £375 per year of service between 5 and 20 years and £250 for 20 years plus. If a person has 8 years qualifying service as an urban councillor, this would convert to a gratuity of £3,000. Council sell Claremorris property Mayo County Council have disposed of a house at Castlegar, Claremorris, for a sum of £20,000. The purchaser is Mr. John Cunningham, Cumbria, Wales. The house had been acquired by the council from Mr. Terence Prior. The council also disposed of a half acre site at Kilkelly Road, Swinford, to Mr. John Henry, Kiltimagh, Swinford, for a sum of £13,000. Big push to eradicate Ballina's flooding problems A major initiative to eradicate serious flooding problems in Ballina has been given the go-ahead by Mayo County Council at an overall cost of £1.7m. The development of virtually all remaining housing land in Ballina is restricted to the lack of adequate surface water drainage, a meeting of the authority was told. Mr. Pat Commons, administrative officer with the authority's sanitary and environment department, said Ballina Urban Council had experienced a 2% increase in population over the last ten years, while the town's environs had a 30% increase over the same period. He explained; "It is desirable, from a planning and land use perspective, that a greater proportion of new development by within the urban area. Five plots of land, all zoned residential, have been identified for housing development within the urban boundary. But development of three of these sites is restricted die to the under capacity of the existing watercourse at Sruffainbrogue stream. "A very serious flooding incident occurred in 1989 and almost reoccurred in January, 1998. Following the 1989 flooding, no other development was permitted within this catchment." Mr. Commons said it was proposed to provided the Ballina Main Drainage Scheme, at an overall cost of £1.12m., to help overcome the problems. A sum of £675,000 must be raised by the council to fund the scheme. "The provision of this surface water sewer would allow 81 acres of land , zoned as residential and located within the urban boundary, to be developed and eliminate a major on-going flooding problem." To help recoup the council's investment, Mr. Commons has advised that a sum in the region of £1,000 be levied on each house built in the area. He said it was also intended that the work be carried out by the direct force of the sanitary services section of Mayo County Council, and the work will commence early in 1999. He outlined provision will be required to be made to have a new relief road linking the Killala Road and the Crossmolina Road. The estimated cost of the new roadway, stretching 2.1kms., is £4m. Plans for this scheme are being drafted and an application for funding will be made to the Department of the Environment. Mr. Commons said it was also planned to provide a surface drainage scheme at Swinford Road, Ballina, as part of the overall programme of work. The development of two sites at the location is restricted by ongoing flooding problems related to the existing watercourse. The route selected as part of the Ballina Main Drainage Scheme will relieve this stream and provide surface water drainage for a large site. A parallel foul sewer is also required to service the site and this will open up 63 acres for development. The estimated cost of carrying out the project is £625,000, of which 60% must be raised by Mayo County Council. Mr. Commons added a fee of £750 per housing unit would have to be included as a planning condition. Opposition to funding for new blacksmithing centre A row flared up at a meeting of Mayo County Council when members were asked to approve the payment of a grant of £36,526 to the Cearta Inneona National Blacksmithing and Forging Centre in Belmullet. Independent councillor Mr. Paraic Cosgrove said he had certain information which should be debated before a final decision was made on the grant. "This matter should not be pushed through before the full facts are investigated." Senator Ernie Caffrey said there was a time constraint involved. The centre was due to open in September. Mr. Richard Finn said the council should not give out money when there was a question mark involved. Mr. Padraig Hughes, county secretary, said the council could approve the grant in principle before bringing it up for a full discussion at the next meeting. The application for funding from the council's enterprise and employment fund was received from Dr. David Shaw Smith, chairman of the company. A grant of £36,526 was required towards the capital equipment costs of the project. The overall cost of the centre is £451,882. The centre will act as the driving force behind the regeneration of the ancient craft of blacksmithing. A fundamental part of centre's activities is a two-year fully accredited Blacksmithing & Forging Foundation Course, designed to provide the grounding for a core group of craftsmen and women armed with a unique range of skills for the contemporary marketplace and modern industrial needs. Recruitment is currently in progress for the first two year Blacksmithing Foundation Course, which commences in September. Cornaroya get long awaited sewerage extension The Ballinrobe Sewerage Scheme is to be extended to the Cornaroya area of the town in an overall investment of £717,625. Members of Mayo County Council gave their approval to the plan which involves the construction of a sewer and water main from the Tuam Road to New Street. Development in the Cornaroya area has been restricted because of the nature of the underlying bedrock which renders septic tanks unsuitable. Mr. Pat Commons, administrative officer with the authority's sanitary and environment department, said the project would open up 62.32 acres for development, facilitating up to 498 housing units. He said it will be necessary to have an amount of £865 per housing unit including in planning permissions in the area. Mayo County Council are financing the initiative to the tune of £430,575. The work, which is expected to start early next year, will be carried out by contract. Call to tackle rural litter scourge An urgent call has been made on Mayo County Council to identify the problem of rural litter. Mr. Paul Kneafsey, Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, made a written submission to the authority over the issue. He explained: "The problem has become especially acute due to winter feeding of cattle, leaving trees, hedges and ditched draped in black plastic. "In addition, there is widespread agricultural dumping, including dead animals in ditches, rivers and the sea. Much of this is then washed up on beaches. As one involved in tourist activities in the Ballycastle area, I am getting an increased volume of complaints in this regard." He said the council should create partnerships with agriculture to combat rural litter pollution, and encourage farmers to manage waste more effectively. Mr. Kneafsey made his submission in relation to the council's Draft Litter Management Plan. Mr. Padraig Hughes, county secretary, said the specific recommendations made by Mr. Kneafsey were dealt with in the draft plan under developing partnerships with the I.F.A., ICMSA, Macra Na Feirme and Coillte.
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