Politicians put pressure on Government to restore Clonmel Borough Council
Motion calling on the Government to immediately convene its proposed Local Democracy Taskforce passed at special meeting of Clonmel Borough District
- Clonmel Borough District’s councillors have called on the Government to immediately convene a taskforce it has proposed with a view to recommending the restoration of borough councils in large towns like Clonmel.
The District’s councillors passed a motion requesting the convening of the Local Democracy Taskforce at a special meeting in Clonmel Town Hall on April 28 that was also attended by local Independent TDs Seamus Healy and Mattie McGrath.
They now plan to table seek support for the motion at the plenary meeting of Tipperary County Council.
The councillors will also seek to send a deputation to meet with Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage James Browne to plead their case.
Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English, who tabled the motion, said the needs of Clonmel aren’t being sufficiently met through the new local government structures introduced in 2014.
“We need to restore strong local democracy. Towns are missing out on opportunities for economic development due to the lack of a local town council.
“We require the re-introduction of borough and town councils in light of the current system of local government which has far fewer powers that most other EU countries and fewer local politicians per capita than any other EU member State.”
“The local government system in Ireland has to move away from a system of local administration back to a system of local democracy and local government,” he added.
The Workers & Unemployment Action Group councillor said the new Programme for Government proposed the convening of a Local Democracy Taskforce with examining the restoration of councils in large towns among its remit.
A long time campaigner for the restoration of Clonmel Borough Council, Independent Cllr Niall Dennehy welcomed the convening of the special meeting in the context of the difficulties currently facing Clonmel.
He described the abolition of Clonmel Borough Council and South Tipperary County Council 11 years ago as a “hostile” and “illegal take over” that was “unconstitutional”.
He claimed Clonmel lost out to Nenagh in the unification of South and North Tipperary County Councils and the town’s councillors need to press for the restoration of its corporation.
The District’s Government party members – Fianna Fáil Cllr Siobhán Ambrose and Fine Gael Cllrs John Fitzgerald and Tom Acheson – all spoke in favour of the restoration of Clonmel’s council and that it was a good idea to submit this motion to press the Government to take action.
Cllr Ambrose pointed out the minister responsible for local government reform was only appointed in February. She had no doubt the taskforce will be convened as proposed in the Programme for Government and she looked forward to it doing its work.
Deputies Seamus Healy and Mattie McGrath spoke passionately about the need to restore Clonmel Borough Council.
Mr Healy said the abolition of Clonmel’s council has undoubtedly done serious damage to the town which needs serious regeneration. The town was crying out for its own council that speaks for its people, he said.
Responding to Cllr Ambrose, he noted it was all very fine to propose a taskforce in the Programme for Local Government but it was another thing to implement the proposal.
Deputy McGrath welcomed the motion though he believed its wording was too vague. He pledged to campaign for the convening of the Local Democracy Taskforce.
The abolition of town councils was wrong and he agreed Clonmel lost out to Nenagh with the creation of the unified Tipperary County Council.
He said a multi-agency taskforce was needed to rejuvenate the centre of Clonmel. he highlighted the closure of shops and business in the town centre, the latest being Moroney’s Footwear on O'Connell Street, a long standing business that was now having a closing down sale.
The Mayor proposed Clonmel Borough District’s councillors seek support for the motion at Tipperary County Council's plenary meeting and seek to send a deputation to Minister Browne to press him to convene the taskforce. Cllr Ambrose seconded the proposal.
Cllr Dennehy failed to secure a seconder for his proposal to amend the motion so that the Borough District would call on the minister to immediately reinstate Clonmel Town Council and South Tipperary County Council.