COUNCILLORS AGREE TO LEASE THE BOG MEADOW FOR 20 YEARS
WICKLOW County Council has agreed to offer a lease of the Bog Meadow in Knocksink, Enniskerry, to the Bog Meadow Management Company.
Michael Nicholson, Director of Community, Cultural and Social Development told councillors at Monday’s monthly meeting that this was not a ‘normal’ process of leasing council land. The 20-year lease to the Bog Meadow Management Company was designed to resolve current ‘unsatisfactory’ circumstances surrounding the use of the land.
He explained there had been lengthy meetings between the county council, users of the land and the wider Enniskerry community. The council had received advice that a management group needed to be established. However, the county council retains ownership of the site and the facility ‘ has always and will be for the community of Enniskerry’.
Mr Nicholson added that Bray Municipal District had contacted the directorate about applying this model to a similar issue in Ballywaltrim.
During the debate, a number of councillors paid tribute to the work for former councillors Christopher Fox and John Ryan.
Proposing the motion that the lease should be granted, Councillor Melanie Corrigan (FG) said this was an area of land used by the local community and there was a need to improve and develop the facilities available.
Cllr Joe Behan (Ind) expressed concern that the matter had not been discussed at meetings of the Bray Municipal District. He proposed that the matter be referred back to the municipal district for a full discussion, arguing that the county council was ‘walking away from a public facility.’ Cllr Behan suggested that an alternative model, similar to the one used in Charlesland, should be considered. He warned about a ‘ trend of privatising’, asking what would happen to the land at the end of the lease. He also requested the senior counsel’s advice be circulated to councillors.
Cllr Jennifer Whitmore (SD) said she had a ‘ concern about the level of consultation’ with the community. She also warned against applying a similar model to Charlesland, saying that some community groups ‘can’t afford the rates begin applied there.’ Cllr Whitmore said she was in favour of the idea of community consultation at municipal district level.
Cllr Steven Matthews (Green) said there was ‘ huge awareness and support’ within the local community for this proposal. This vote was a ‘formality’ to allow the process move to a contract stage where restrictive terms would allow the situation at Bog Meadow to be regularised. Cllr Matthews added that the lease would provide security of tenure for current and future users, allowing them to apply for funding to improve the facilities.
While he indicated his support for the proposal’s potential, Cllr Dermot O’Brien (SF) said he had been contacted by users who were unaware of the plans. He argued there could be ‘no harm in putting it back and ticking extra boxes in the interest of the integrity of the process.’
Cllr Mags Crean (Ind) said that as she was not a Bray councillor, she did not feel she had have sufficient information to make a decision about another municipal area. She suggested this process raised broader questions about the centralisation of local government.
Mr Nicholson said that groups using the site were anxious to make funding applications. He said it had been a four-year process to reach this stage, which included meetings and consultations with user groups and the wider community. Mr Nicholson confirmed that the lease had not been brought to a meeting of Bray Municipal District, but that many consultations had taken place at local level. He added that the Charlesland model was not suitable as Bog Meadow was a ‘unique situation’ due to the number of groups who used the same land and clubhouse.
Cllr Matthews said there had to be ‘an element of trust’ between councillors.
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald (FF) said he didn’t think a delay would change anything about the decision that would be made by councillors.
Cllr Mary Kavanagh (Ind) suggested that one month’s delay is unlikely to make much of a difference, but could allow people ‘ tease out’ the issues at municipal district level.
Cllr Anne Ferris (Lab) said she was ‘willing to take it [the offer of the lease] in good faith’. She urged other members to have ‘faith in the process’ and said they had time to inform themselves before the meeting. She argued that a delay would only see the motion come before the council next month, where it would be supported by members anyway.
Referring to online discussions, Cllr Whitmore noted some people said they had not been contacted.
‘ This is ringing alarm bells for me. It has been a four-year process. Another month will not make or break it,’ she added.
Signalling her support for Cllr Corrigan’s motion, Cllr Aoife Flynn-Kennedy (FG) said she was unsure if there would be any benefit in bringing the matter back to Bray Municipal District, from her perspective.
Cllr Crean (Ind) suggested the council needed a new process for making decisions of this kind.
‘I would not like to think that a decision that would impact on Greystones Municipal District was made by the county council and consultation had not taken place,’ she said.
Cllr John Snell (Ind) said he had planned to support the lease to Bog Meadow Management Company, however, he had been contacted by groups that ‘felt excluded’ and it was important that everyone had the chance to participate.
Referring to his experience as a referee, Cllr Paul O’Brien (Lab) said children should not have to change on the side of the road. He warned a delay could be used to ‘ play politics’ and instead, there was a ‘need’ for councillors to ‘ trust each other’.
Cllr Derek Mitchell (FG) said he would trust the judgement of local councillors who were speaking on behalf of the community.
Cllr McManus (SF) suggested a brief delay could bring the proposal ‘closer to excellent’.
Cllr Corrigan (FG) noted the management committee would include representatives from groups who use the site, local schools, Enniskerry Village Forum and other clubs.
Cllr Peir Leonard (Ind) asked if councillors could direct that people who felt they had been excluded were given the opportunity to get involved and sit on the committee.
Mr Nicholson said it was not possible to do this. The council administrator reminded members if they voted in favour of a delay, under the relevant legislation, a new proposal would be required and this process could take a number of months.
Councillors voted on Cllr Behan’s motion first, which had been seconded by Cllr Whitmore, for a delay to allow the matter be referred to Bray Municipal District. The vote was nine in favour, 20 against and three councillors absent.
Councillors then voted in favour of offering a 20-year lease of Bog Meadow to the Bog Meadow Management Company, proposed by Cllr Corrigan and seconded by Cllr Matthews. The vote was 19 for, eight against and three councillors not present. The motion to grant the lease was passed.