HEATED DEBATE SEES COUNCIL OFFICIAL WALKING OUT OF MEETING
BEGINNING AS A DISCUSSION ON FESTIVAL BUDGETS, THINGS TURNED SOUR AS CLLR DEVEREUX ACCUSED THE COUNCIL OF BEING ‘AN ECONOMIC ZOO’
IN what began first as a discussion around the 2020 budget for Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District on the topic of festival spending, the same meeting ended with a Council official walking out following remarks made by Fine Gael councillor Diarmuid Devereux.
The budget for this year’s festivals, concerts and festive lighting is €125,000, the same amount as the 2019 budget which included an additional €15,000 for the Norman Invasion celebration.
Council officials said that this years’ total budget, going from €291,000 in 2019 to €336,000 in 2020, reflected the enlargement of the district.
A breakdown of spending on festivals and civic functions during 2019 was circulated to committee members on December 20, 2019.
Officials noted in the correspondence that there had been extra spending on festivals outside of the budget, and Cllr Devereux called that in to question asking how it is that this happened.
‘The nature of festivals and the various items that are funded through that, there’s a lot of man-led expenditure there,’ said Michael Drea.
‘The members have been saying that we need to spend more on festivals here to equate ourselves with Wexford town and the allocation for 2020 was approved by everyone, sought and agreed, and the fact is that we have to spend more,’ said Eddie Taaffe.
Chairman Cllr Joe Sullivan said that he understood that there are variables when it comes to festivals.
‘With festivals and events like that, it’s very hard to just put a budget on it and stick within that and give the value that people are looking for. All the festivals listed from last year were highly successful, and that’s a tribute to the people in the council and those members of the public that worked so hard. We should look at our achievements.
‘Going over budget, I’m sure the officials will look at that and will try to ensure that if there are savings that can be made, they will make them.
‘I don’t believe for a minute that the overruns were anything but necessary. It’s almost impossible to do these type of festivals without some overrun. I one hundred percent accept that the officials set out with the greatest of intentions to work within that budget.
‘We’re either going to have these festivals and we’re going to make them enjoyable and invest money in them, but if we start penny pinching, are we reducing cultural and artistic input in to our town.
‘I would be very slow to criticise the officials because they do put in extra hours to make sure these festivals are successful.
‘There’s transparency, and any money that is spent is accounted for publicly,’ he said.
Cllr Devereux said that he was raising the point because he feels councillors are responsible for the budget and the spending of funds.
‘It’s €125,000 now, but I see that we’ve no intention of sticking to it, that’s what you’re telling us. Not everybody in Gorey thinks that the amount spent on the Market House Festival is money well spent’.
This comment was deemed unfair, and after being asked to withdraw the comment, Cllr Devereux did so.
District Manager Michael Drea said that all expenditure within the Council observes national and European procurement standards.
‘There seems to be a perception that these are unforeseen out of control spends that perhaps the local authority isn’t getting value for money on. We have a discretionary budget each year, the cost of the additional expenditure comes from my own discretionary budget.
‘If there are concerns about the Market House Festival, there’s a position of treasurer on the committee that I would be happy to fill from this chamber. If Cllr Devereux wants to take up that position, I’d happily welcome him on to that.
‘There is no money being spent without due thought, procurement and without value for money in the long run. All expenditure is to enhance the offering of what we already have’.
Responding, Cllr Devereux said he was asking from a place of concern.
‘All I’m asking is if it’s policy that when we set a budget, do we set out with the pure purpose of sticking to it? Secondly how are we going to manage the festivals with €125,000 when we now have the Kilmuckridge area? We know now at this stage that it’s not enough,’ he said.
The concerns were raised again at the end of the meeting, when Cllr Mary Farrell asked the Council to consider the plea of Ballycanew Ballyoughter Community Development Association in relation to upgrading work to the premises at Ballycanew resource centre.
Cllr Farrell made the case that if the centre got some more funding to develop the centre, a large amount more than the €5,000 annual cost for rent that was paid by the Municipal District last year, they could fundraise for the remainder.
‘They have assured me that they could be up and running, and open a second part of the
I WILL NOT STAND BY AND ACCEPT ACCUSATIONS THAT WE ARE SOME WAY HOODWINKING MEMBERS AND MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS – MICHAEL DREA
building which is currently closed off with our assistance. If something crops up within the next 12 months, are we saying that within the budget we can’t deal with it?
‘The message should be going out that we will try to help the best way we can. If we’ve to look for the funding, let’s look for it,’ she said.
Answering this, Michael Drea said that he was aware of the circumstances of the group but he said ‘Everyone understands that we are working within a budget and that funding has to come from somewhere’.
Eddie Taaffe said ‘Nobody is arguing about merit of the cause, the only thing I’d say is where do you want the €15,000 to come from (in the budget), as it has to come from somewhere.’
The case brought up by Cllr Farrell resulted in mixed reaction from the rest of the councillors, with Cllr Kavanagh saying that if the Municipal District gave money to one centre, every other one would be looking for the same.
It was Cllr Devereux that vocalised his views, which resulted in Eddie Taaffe walking out of the chamber.
‘All this proves that in the absence of strict financial governance, this is where you end up. I find this crazy, where is the record of this €5,000 paid in rent? I find this bizarre.
‘We are sitting here wasting our time. Where is the statement of record? It’s an economic zoo,’ said Cllr Devereux.
Cllr Joe Sullivan asked the councillors to stay quiet after these remarks were made, and Eddie Taaffe responded immediately by leaving the chamber.
‘I’ve never walked out of a meeting in 20 years on the Council, but I’m walking out now’.
When things had settled, Michael Drea responded to Cllr Devereux.
‘The minutes of the meeting of the €5,000 allocation will be forwarded by the district manager, but in this chamber, I expect grand slams and political point scoring occasionally, what I don’t accept is comments and remarks being directed at employees of Wexford County Council without foundation.
‘There is a distinct tone to this meeting today that I take grave exception to, election coming up or not, about how Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District is spending its funding.
‘We will open up books, accounts and give them full transparency but I will not stand by and accept any accusations that we are in some way hoodwinking members, misappropriating funds in some way whether it’s overspending or diverting.
‘We work on absolute trust, and open and transparent relationships with the members. If we don’t have that, I don’t see how as a district Council we can deal and have a working relationship going forward,’ he said.
Cllr Devereux said that he had concerns about governance of Wexford County Council as a whole and that he wanted someone to engage with him, and he was told to write his complaint to the head of internal audit.
‘Do you think I’m a fool? Every time I raise something you tell me what to do when I know what to do. They all say take it up within the chamber, I have concerns about procurement, insurance, payment of moneys and consultants within the general taxation. I’d like someone in the council to address them,’ said Cllr Devereux.
Cllr Sullivan said that he would confer the concerns to the appropriate person, as he is part of a committee with them, even though he did not share the views of Cllr Devereux.
‘As chairman, I’ve full confidence in the financial dealing of the officials of Wexford County Council both at local and county wide level. Everyone has to be challenged and everyone has to be accountable, but I wouldn’t like to undermine the officials without solidly being able to back it up.
‘Allegations are simply that, allegations. I would ask the members to be mindful,’ he said.
There has been mixed reaction from all concerned as to what happened at last week’s meeting.
‘My role is to work with the elected members and have the best possible relationship with them, we work as collaboratively as we can,’ said Michael Drea.
Cllr Devereux said that he was simply making the point and asking the question, after he had sent an email in relation to the budget.
He said that he felt he was under attack by those in the Chamber, and that coming from the private sector, he would see it as normal circumstances to ask about spending and budgets.
‘I’m not against anything, but I simply made the point: should we not know where money comes from and whether it’s value for money’.
A spokesperson for Ballycanew Ballyoughter Community Development Association said that the group were deeply saddened about the events of the meeting.
‘I’m sure that no voluntary group would like that politics are overriding requests from members of the community, where we are working so hard and finding that our elected members and managers are not addressing them in a fair and professional manner’.
A Council spokesperson said that since last week’s meeting, the Council itself has written to Cllr Devereux.
‘The January meeting was the first time Councillor Devereux raised such issues with district staff and staff remain unaware of the exact nature or basis of these concerns as Councillor Devereux did not substantiate any of his concerns at the meeting.
‘The Council has robust measures in place to ensure proper management of each district, including governance and financial management.
‘Since the meeting the Council has written to Councillor Devereux respectfully requesting that he fully outline his concerns in writing and that they will be considered and dealt with in full by the Council’.