City Issues
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| PROCEDURES WHICH FACILITATE ELECTIONS
TO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS 'That this Council agrees to
set in motion procedures which will facilitate elections to the recognised
local councils called Community Associations on a single mandate basis on
the same day as the forthcoming Local Elections 2004 resulting in the ...
1 .Extension of local democracy with responsibility into the heart of
the various communities in the City of Cork.
2. Wider and diffusion of participation and leading within these
Communities.
3. Creation of democratic local communities with a mandate to
speak on behalf of local areas as defined.
4. Such representatives joining with Cork City Ward Councillors in
local area committees enhancing representation of such areas on Cork City
Council.'
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| STATUTORY
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
'That it becomes the policy of Cork City Council and seek Cork County
Council support to establish a Statutory Regional Development Authority
for METROPOLIAN CASP and County Cork areas, on a
similar reference and fundifig basis to Shannon
Development.'
(Proposer: Comhairleoir Brian Bermingham 03/
137)
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Local Taxation
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In 1979 the first big City issue emerged after the 1977 TAX giveaway as local authorities were
denuded of revenue and the government of the day failed to match revenue income from Rates
etc.
In 1983 the coalition of Fine Gael / Labour allowed Local
Authorities to collect A WATER CHARGE which met with howling opposition from many on
Cork Corporation.
A Labour Councillor [Labour in Government] proposed that the estimate be taken from the
Water Programme and put into programme 8 miscellaneous not wanting Corkonians to pay for
water but agreed a general tax.
Fianna Fail opposed, and political careers were made by opposing this
charge leaving others like myself to defend it, irrespective whether Fine Gael was in or out of
Government to the acute annoyance of many colleagues. It became a swing ball issue depending if
your party was in or out of government. With my colleague Jim Corr we hold the dubious
record of continuously supporting this charge in principle since 1983 on Cork Corporation.
This issue, the debates, and the changing votes with promises of the Mayoralty, the
cliffhanger nights with minutes to go to abolition of Council itself - all have the
makings of a PHD for those interested.
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GRATTEN STREET HIGH RISE CAR PARKING |
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On Reflection residents were correct.
They picketed the polling booths highlighting those in favour of the manager's proposals.
The Manager who without informing Councillors dropped the proposal as highlighted on the
ECHO the day of the Local Elections, leaving Councillors who supported him slipping on
a slippery carpet. |
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THE LITTLE ISLAND MAIN DRAINAGE ISSUE
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THE LITTLE ISLAND MAIN DRAINAGE ISSUE was fiercely contested.
County Councillors awaited the decision of Cork Corporation who had to give the
go-ahead. Residents lobbied intensely whom I supported, on the basis of a lack
of commitment to Little Island by the County council over many years. They
encouraged industry without enhancing Roads and amenity infrastructure allowing
the island to decay.
At one point Cork Corporation had planned for secondary treatment but
later upgraded this to tertiary treatment and with commitments from Cork
County Council allowed for the eventual passing of the proposal. |
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Cork
Airport |
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