County council payroll down to €36.8m

CLARE County Council faces a €36.8m payroll in 2012, down from a high of €44.8m three years ago.
Outlining in the council’s budget that the total payroll cost for next year represents a reduction of 17.8% from 2009, county manager Tom Coughlan also disclosed that the estimated number of staff employed at the end of next February will be 810, compared to a figure of 1,002 in 2006.

Mr Coughlan also warned it is anticipated that further reductions in staffing levels will occur during the year. “As a consequence of the reduction in staff available to deliver the services to our customers, it is imperative that available staff be engaged in productive activity,” he added.
The county manager emphasised that the budget provides for the achievement of efficiencies through procurement measures, further implementation of shared services, both internal and external, improvements in information technology services and restructuring of the organisation.
However, he cautioned that Clare County Council has, in recent years, significantly reduced its expenditure but that primarily due to the difficult economic environment, the income being received by the council is reducing. The consequences of that situation, he said, are that the council has to continue reducing costs, while endeavouring to increase income.
“The reduced level of funding available to Clare County Council necessitates a continuous review of structures and levels of service delivery to achieve even greater efficiencies and economies and maintaining existing levels of services is becoming increasingly difficult.
“It is imperative that the scarce resources of the council are expended in a productive manner and that the reducing number of council employees are engaged in productive activity,” he added.
Mr Coughlan also referred to the fact that staffing levels will be further reduced, having regard to Government policy to reduce public service numbers up to 2015. The February deadline for retirements will also result in a further reduction in employee levels.
“As a consequence, the provision of services has to be prioritised. This review of priorities will be influenced by national policy. However, local management can exercise some discretion and control in relation to the organisation of work programmes and the assignment and deployment of staff to best meet the service delivery requirements.
“The HR department will continue to support national employment initiatives, such as the JobBridge Scheme. There are currently 11 participants engaged in the scheme, administered by FÁS, with further additions expected shortly to bring the total to 23. This scheme is cost-neutral from a payroll perspective and provides valuable work experience for eligible participants,” he explained.
The budget provision for pensions and gratuities is €6m in 2012, which is similar to the level provided in 2011.

Facing a €500,000 deficit
CLARE County Council will face an operating loss of €500,000 for the year.
Despite ongoing efforts to reduce expenditure and increase income, Mr Coughlan has attributed the deficit to “essential work, which was undertaken to respond to the adverse weather conditions, unexpected costs relating to Traveller accommodation and the increased levels of vacant properties in the county”.

Almost €1m for councillors
WITH a €102m budget for 2012, Clare County Council has approved almost €1m to fund the activities of its 32 members.
In the annual budget, a sum of €592,768 has been approved in representational payments, €197,000 in allowances and €150,400 in expenses.
The elected representatives also approved a total allowance of €36,000 for the mayor and deputy mayor.

Traveller accommodation costs ‘disproportionate’
CLARE County Council has set aside €235,000 in respect of the maintenance of the 11 group schemes in the county for Travellers.
However, the local authority has also made provision for €128,000 for legal costs, the same amount as 2011.
In his report, the county manager pointed out that expenditure on maintenance and legal costs in Traveller accommodation “continues at a disproportionate level”.
He said the security cost at Beechpark halting site has continued during 2011 and the efforts of the council to let the three refurbished dwellings have been unsuccessful.
“It is planned that the security presence will be withdrawn when the department-funded CCTV system is installed in the first quarter of 2012,” he added.
Mr Coughlan explained the costs associated with defending against complaints of alleged discrimination under the Equal Status Act is ongoing.
“The council has made a submission to the department seeking a complete review of the administrative processes involved in referring a complaint to the Director of Equality Investigations and the introduction of regulation to govern these processes,” he remarked.
“The department-funded pilot project on tenancy sustainability and community development within Traveller group schemes is being delivered by Respond. The initial focus is on engaging with the tenants at the Ennistymon and Shannon developments. The council continues to work with relevant agencies, groups and committees to provide housing accommodation and integrated support services to the Traveller community”, he said.

Development contributions down
CLARE County Council has budgeted for a 25% drop in development contributions next year.
Up to the end of November, the council had collected €831,000 in development contributions but the expectation is that the figure will drop to €600,000 for 2012.
Mr Coughlan noted that development contribution receipts have reduced significantly in recent years and he attributed this to the current economic climate and subsequent downturn in development.
“This reduced source of funding will impact on the council’s ability to progress with projects,” he warned.
Mr Coughlan also revealed that the council anticipates a total of 800 planning applications in 2012, compared to 870 in 2011. Planning fees are expected to reduce to €215,000, down €5,000 from this year.

Increase in loan arrears
ARREARS in home loans advanced by the local authority increased in 2011 and, according to Mr Coughlan, during the year this will again be an “area of focus”.
That focus will take the shape of meetings with borrowers who are in difficulty, securing payment plan agreements, monitoring agreements and exploring alternative options, with a view to improving the collection rate.
There are currently 436 active loans, while a number of shared ownership loans will expire in 2012. Fifteen annuity loan applications were received during the year and, of those, 11 were declined on the recommendation of the council’s loan underwriters and four were withdrawn following an internal desk-top assessment.

Tourism up 12% at Cliffs
VISITOR numbers at the Cliffs of Moher increased by some 12% in 2011.
Mr Coughlan believes the level of promotion that the Cliffs of Moher received as an entrant in the new 7 Wonders of Nature competition was instrumental in the increase of visitor numbers.
“The campaign allowed the maximum exposure for the Cliffs and significant national and international publicity, despite it ultimately being unsuccessful in reaching the final seven in the competition,” he acknowledged.
The council also acquired the lease on the main restaurant facility at the centre and Mr Coughlan believes this provides for a “more integrated tourism product to be offered with significant elements of the operation now in the control of the one operator”.
“Overall, operations at the Cliffs performed satisfactorily in 2011 and provides a basis for some investment in the site, exhibition and for addressing accumulated losses. The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre will be five years in existence in February 2012 and it is imperative that the tourist offering at the site be revamped and refreshed. Provision is made in the budget for 2012 to commence this process,” he explained.

Landfill income to drop by €2.1m
CLARE County Council is anticipating a drop in income of over €2m, following the closure of the Central Waste Management facility at Ballyduff Beg in Inagh.
On top of the loss of income, the council will still incur operating costs at the landfill because of ongoing maintenance of the closed facility.
The council has budgeted to spend €1,122,201 in aftercare maintenance of the facility, over double the sum they allocated and spent in 2011.
In his estimate of expenditure report, Mr Coughlan said, “The closure of the landfill will mean that all waste deposited at the three transfer stations of Scariff, Lisdeen and Ballyduff Beg will need to be transferred by licensed waste management companies to landfills outside the county”.
Mr Coughlan added that market conditions for waste management, both nationally and locally, have continued to be volatile in 2011.
“There has been a continuing decrease in volumes of material deposited at the council’s waste management facilities. The total waste arising in the county has remained static and the decreases in the past few years have halted,” he added.
Set against national statistics, the county manager said Clare “performs very well” and “the overall household recycling rate is 38%, which is a further improvement from last year, while waste electrical and electronic equipment has also show very positive results”.
“Clare County Council has a very well developed waste management infrastructure and, notwithstanding the current economic conditions, the use of our facilities by the public remains high,” he remarked.
Mr Coughlan also explained that in compliance with EU regulations, the council has been implementing a remediation programme for closed landfills in the county.
During the year, the contract for the final remediation works at the former Doora landfill was completed, while work remain to be done on the Lisdeen landfill.
He said the local authority is awaiting funding approvals for the Lisdeen work but it is “unlikely” to proceed in 2012.