Town councils for the chop?

FOUR town councils in Clare, with a combined membership of 36, and four county councillors are facing the axe under proposals for the most radical shake-up of local government in decades.

FOUR town councils in Clare, with a combined membership of 36, and four county councillors are facing the axe under proposals for the most radical shake-up of local government in decades.
A Department of the Environment spokesman has confirmed this new local government plan for the 2014 elections is expected to go to Cabinet soon. He added that the press office is not privy to the details and, in any event, would not be at liberty to discuss it prior to it going to Cabinet.
While the Cabinet has not yet approved the new model of local government that would see the abolition of Ennis, Kilrush, Kilkee and Shannon town councils, each of which has nine councillors, The Clare Champion understands the demise of these councils seems inevitable.
Also, barring an unexpected last-minute change, it is expected that the elected members of Clare County Council will be reduced from 32 to 28 and four new municipal-style authorities, each with seven councillors, will have the additional responsibilities for the functions of Ennis, Kilrush, Kilkee and Shannon town councils.
Currently, Clare County Council has six electoral areas, which look after local authority issues throughout the county. Six councillors represent the Killaloe, Shannon and Kilrush electoral areas. Ennis is divided in two, with five councillors in Ennis East and four in Ennis West, while there are five councillors in the Ennistymon Electoral Area.
Under the controversial new blueprint, the existing Kilrush Electoral Area would be expanded into a new West Clare municipal authority to oversee affairs in Kilrush town, Kilkee town, most of West Clare and possibly some parts of North Clare that are currently in the Ennistymon Electoral Area.
It is envisaged the current Ennis East and Ennis West Electoral Area may be amalgamated with the Shannon Electoral Area, including Shannon town, to form what would be the most densely populated district.
The existing Ennistymon and Killaloe Electoral Areas look set to be expanded as part of the drive to reduce the existing number of electoral areas.
If the Cabinet approves the new plan, it would also have huge implications for local authority staff, particularly those in Ennis Town Council, which is the only rating authority in Clare and director of services in the county councils.
Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara said he isn’t aware that a decision has been taken by Environment Minister Phil Hogan and hasn’t seen the final proposal.
He confirmed he isn’t opposed to the proposed reduction in local authorities, county councillors and Dáil deputies, providing the remaining elected representatives are provided with increased powers.
He said most local councils don’t have any powers and hopes the power to set commercial rates currently held by Ennis Town Council would be transferred to elected representatives in any new authority governing the county town and wider district.
Clare town councils have condemned the plan as a “blow for democracy” and have questioned the relatively small savings that may be made from not paying representative allowances to 36 town councillors.

Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine stressed his outright opposition to the abolition of Ennis Town Council in the interests of local democracy.
Councillor Considine, who has four decades of experience as a public representative between Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council, said town councils are more in touch with the needs of local communities than representatives could be in a new district authority.
He expressed concern that in a new expanded Ennis area, seven councillors could be representing constituents in Ennis, Shannon and up to Tubber on the Galway border if a decision is taken to revert back to the structure that existed about 40 years ago. He warned the new structure could see some conflict between councillors in urban and rural areas when it came to prioritising projects or funding in the new district.
He stated in England and Germany most local villages have their own body and noted Ennis Town Council’s ability to strike a commercial rate is vital, as local councillors are well aware of the challenges faced by local businesses.
Kilkee Mayor Claire Haugh admitted she would be bitterly disappointed if Minister Hogan proceeds with this plan. If Kilkee Town Council is abolished, Councillor Haugh stressed it would be a major loss to the town, as residents and businesses appreciate the ability to raise issues and concerns with local representatives.
The abolition of Kilrush Town Council would be a “devastating blow”, according to Kilrush Mayor, Mairead O’Brien.
Stating local people would have less of a say under any new structure, Councillor O’Brien said the town council does a lot of work efficiently with a relatively small budget. She said it is great that local councillors had a say over what is spent in the town under the existing structure, which would be lost.
Shannon Mayor Michael Fleming warned it would be a lot more difficult for residents to survive difficult times without having the option of a familiar face to address their concerns.
Noting that Shannon is Clare’s second-biggest town, Councillor Fleming said it would be a bad day for local democracy if it were abolished.
“Minister Hogan should have a total rethink about this plan before it has a terrible effect on local democracy,” he said.