‘Drogheda has done well from council budget’ - Mayor Smith

DROGHEDA mayor, Pio Smith, says that the town has done well out of the council budget process.

“The Budget process this year was long and difficult for a number of reasons. For example, many councillors believed that their input into policy decisions was not being heard and that there was a requirement for greater accountability within the council. There was also concerns from the Executive side that councillors were trying to overturn decisions that were purely executive in nature. This resulted in the first attempt being voted down. However an agreed mechanism has now been put in place to address all issues,’ he stated.

‘Drogheda has done well out of the Budget. When you look at our allocation on a yearly basis since 2014 it is greater than that received by either Dundalk or Ardee. This might be hard to believe, but it is true. Also, this year we are getting €100,000 to improve our streetscape, €100,000 towards municipal pitches, €200,000 toward Phase 2 of the Thosel.’

He also says that the new West Gate plan, including Narrow West Street, is nearly complete and he has an agreement with the Chief Executive to allocate €500,000 towards the plan. The decision on early priorities for spending will be decided after the new plan is published.

‘Some people expressed their anger at the recent decision by the council Executive to stop plastic bag collection at the Bring Banks. This decision will now be discussed by the Planning and Environment SPC to determine the evidence for and against the decision. According to the Director of Services, 80% of households in Louth have Green Bins, there are two recycling facilities where plastics can be recycled and the money saved has been used to increase glass bottle collection and cleaning up fly tipping around the county.

‘ There is €5.9m toward new Civic Offices in Fair Street to be spent this year. If we want Drogheda to be a City, then we need proper Civic Offices in order to administer the various functions associated with Local Government,’ he states.

‘Finally, my proposal to take money from the twinning and economic development budget and allocate it to the Districts to be spent on Homelessness and Social Care Services was supported by my colleague Cllr Paul Bell and all the political groups with the exception of Sinn Fein. This money will go some way toward helping the most vulnerable by supporting the organisations who are on the front line.

‘Given all of this, I was not going to vote down a Budget and place funding for Drogheda at risk. If we voted down the Budget then the Minister would appoint an administrator who would pass the Budget with or without changes.”