Site could hit council pocket

THERE is no Nama to recoup Clare County Council for the loss it stands to make on an Ennistymon site if social housing does not proceed there, according to county manager Tom Coughlan.

At this week’s adjourned meeting of council, the manager was faced with angry questions from North Clare Councillor Richard Nagle in relation to the valuable site, beside the Traveller accommodation site and opposite the council area office, in Glan, Ennistymon.
The Draft North Clare Local Area Plan 2011 will go on public display for six weeks from this Friday. However, already a difference of opinion has emerged between the council executive and local councillors over the best option for the 14-acre site.
Mr Coughlan told the council the site was purchased during the property boom with the intention of providing social housing, which has not happened yet. He added that if the land is used for the construction of local authority housing, then the council would be refunded the full purchase amount of the property from central government. If not, the council stands to be considerably out of pocket in relation to the site.
However, Councillor Nagle contended that the site and the local area plan provide a great opportunity to cater for the recreational and sporting needs of Ennistymon, which the local community have been “crying out for”.
“What the plan is fast becoming is not a plan for the people of North Clare but a plan to suit the needs of Clare County Council,” Councillor Nagle said. “This is a stated need of the community and the five elected members of North Clare and we have met with outright opposition by Clare County Council, which is extremely disappointing,” he said.
He added that the value of the land when it was valued and the value of the land now is totally different. “It would be very remiss of Clare County Council if we didn’t take this opportunity to meet the needs of the people in Ennistymon.”
Mr Coughlan said that the issue is not one of planning but the financial liability of the local authority, should it not be able to reclaim the money paid for the land.
“It would be remiss of me not to point out that this could be very expensive for the council,” he said. “It is my job to protect the interests of the council. The disposal of land is a reserved function of the elected members but it is my function to protect the best interests of the council.”
Councillor Joe Arkins said there is enough land in the 14-acre site to accommodate the future needs for social housing in Ennistymon and create a space for a recreational or sporting facility.
Councillor Nagle added that representations have been made to the council by sporting and community groups in Ennistymon.
“We were subsequently told by the council that a master plan would be prepared, after which time we heard nothing. Now we’re told we’re getting a local plan. There should be discussions with local representatives to draft this plan to ensure the necessary facilities are provided,” he said.
Mr Coughlan commented that that the council wants to include sporting and recreational needs but that he had to inform council that it would be difficult for them to do that. “This could be pretty expensive for the council,” he added.
However, Councillor Nagle replied that some recreational and sporting facilities would not necessarily significantly cost the council.
Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy said that he would like to see figures of the amounts involved and the potential financial loss to the council, before the council would agree to give any site away.
Councillor Nagle that there are financial considerations with every piece of land.
“The problem here is that the value of the site when the council purchased it and the value now are very different. Effectively, what you’re saying is that this consultation process will be a waste of time because the money isn’t there and the zoning is decided, so our hands are tied. If the local interests are not represented in the plan, they will not support it.”
Councillor Arkins agreed, adding that the fact the council owns the land should not reflect in how it is zoned. “It should cater for the need of the population there,” he commented.
Mr Coughlan stressed that there is no Nama for councils who are set to lose money on sites.
“The council will not recoup the money it spent on the land, so we have to work this out. There is no Nama for us. You can’t expect me to say we’ll take less for the land than we need,” he remarked.
After the council purchased this site some years ago, in the subsequent local area plan it was rezoned to residential and community use. Representations were then made to councillors by community and sporting organisations that wanted amenities in Ennistymon, which were put to Clare County Council. The council now want the site zoned as residential, which would cater for housing developments, while the councillors want the site zoned partially residential and partially recreational.
After the council meeting, Councillor Arkins pointed out that one of the amenities badly needed in Ennistymon is a playground. He said that funding is there from the previous playground scheme to part-fund a playground but the playground committee need a site to advance their plan.