Behind the scenes at Sligo County Council
Standby - the thrilling machinations of Sligo County Council could, in theory at least, find their way to a screen near you.
It’s thanks to Cllr Chris MacManus, who called on the Council to bring forward proposals to allow the live webcasting of monthly Council meetings. It was all in the interests of enhancing local democracy you see.
“I want people to see what goes on physically in here, if they could only see what goes on,” he told The Sligo Champion before the meeting.
Cllr Seamus Kilgannon was having none of it when it was raised within the carpeted confines of the Council chamber.
“I would have thought there was plenty of coverage with The Sligo Champion and the Weekender,” he observed ( thank you Seamus).
“I thought we might have more pressing needs,” he harrumphed.
Council official John Moran gently broke the news that no, there was no money in the kitty for live webcasting this year. Maybe next year. Or never. The press table was almost blown over by the gale of collective relief councillors, silently mouthing ‘ thank you’ in John’s direction.
A delighted Seamus said he hoped Chris would be supportive of a hike in the Local Property Tax next year to pay for such fripperies.
“Or maybe we could look to Apple and ask them to sponsor us, seeing as they owe us 13 billion,” shot back Chris. Fight!
If the Council actually was live webstreamed last Monday, punters would have been greeted by the sight of an empty chamber.
Item No. 33 on the agenda was an enigmatic joint submission by 11 members: Independent Councillors Marie Casserly, Michael Clarke, Margaret Gormley and Joe Queenan, six Fianna Fáil Councillors Martin Baker, Keith Henry, Seamus Kilgannon, Jerry Lundy, Tom MacSharry and Paul Taylor and one lonely Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey.
They wanted to convene a special meeting to consider the latest draft of the County Development Plan - stay with me - ‘ at the earliest convenience.’ This is the plan they had agreed on a few weeks ago. What could they mean? All eyes trained on Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes. He didn’t like it. Neither did Independent Cllr Declan Bree.
“Tell the public what ye want changed in the plans,” he said innocently.
Outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Hubert Keaney was aghast. What they were asking members to do was render the decisions made “null and void”. The decisions were made and while lots of people would like some of them changed, that was that.
Ever the expert on the finer points of Council procedure, Declan Bree helpfully pointed out that if any decisions were made at any such ‘ special meeting’, “then we’d be in trouble.”
Never slow to miss an opportunity to raise the spectre of the L- word (‘ Lawsuit’ of course), Ciarán Hayes warned that who knew what developers or organisations were ready “to sue us for interfering with the process?”
It was all too much for Cllr Joe Queenan. “This is our plan,” he burst out. He wouldn’t have the Department or the Minister pressurising officials about one- off rural housing.
“They are interfering in our plans. They don’t want anything in rural Ireland. I’m sorry for getting emotional about it,” he said, his eyes tearing up.
Were they prohibited by Statute from considering the second Manager’s report on the plan or not, Cllr Tom MacSharry wanted to know.
Ciarán Hayes stuck to his legal opinion. “Is that legal opinion or fact?” pressed Tom.
“But what do ye want to change?” Declan implored.
An awkward silence fell. Worried glances were exchanged. Time out was needed.
A five minute recess was agreed and they scuttled out to an ante- room. Someone was seen ‘ giving it socks’ to the others through a window. Cllrs Declan Bree, Chris MacManus and Thomas Healy remained on in the Chamber, as puzzled as the reporters.
Hubert Keaney was then called in. Head of Planning Frank Moylan was next to enter the Secret Chamber.
What were they cooking up behind closed doors? Nothing as it turns out. Forty minutes later, just as we were about to order in, the councillors reappeared in a puff of white smoke.
And lo, the Third Secret of Riverside was about to be revealed. Hopes were high.
“We’re withdrawing the motion,” gulped Tom MacSharry, to our bitter dismay.
He wanted to say, “very clearly” that “none of the councillors who put their name to the motion were at the behest of any developers.”
It had to do with “community issues and rural concerns” that some councillors in South Sligo had. He would reject and refute any contention that that was the case.
“Not all councillors were invited into that meeting so I’m not privy to what was said at that meeting. Maybe we can be informed,” sniffed Chris MacManus.
“Are you not satisfied that we’re withdrawing the motion,” roared Seamus Kilgannon. Why couldn’t people just be grateful.
Hubert Keaney didn’t know why the secrecy, during this, his last meeting as Chair.
“There were issues brought up that I didn’t know about. It’s not the way to conduct business,” he scolded.
There you have it. Stick with The ‘ Champion, reader. Standby.