Harbour sails smoothly into council's control

Sligo Champion July 06 06

By HARRY KEANEY

http://www.unison.ie/sligo_champion

IT'S OFFICIAL - responsibility for Sligo Harbour has been transferred from the Harbour Commissioners to Sligo County Council.

The move, without pomp or ceremony, took effect with the stroke of a pen on a ministerial order in a government office last month.

However, The Sligo Champion understands that the historic handover will be marked by a special civic event, possibly in the autumn, that will have particular emphasis on acknowledging the work of the harbour commissioners and their outgoing chairman, local businessman Seamus Monaghan.

Confirmation has now been received from the Department of Transport that the Minister made an Order on June 13th, 2006, transferring the property, rights, liabilities and the staff of Sligo Harbour Commissioners to Sligo County Council.

And at the July monthly meeting of the county council on Monday, Declan Breen, acting Director of Community, Enterprise and the Arts, told councilors that it was proposed to continue to operate the port without change for the present.

Plan

He added that in terms of the long-term development of the port and harbour, it would be necessary to prepare a master plan for the entire area in consultation with all stakeholders, interested parties and the general public.

The legal situation regarding executive and reserved functions will remain the same as for other functions and activities of the council. Functions such as budget, adoption of byelaws, adoption of plans, etc., are reserved to the council members while operational issues, staffing, etc., are executive functions.

Mr. Breen said it was proposed to carry out a detailed examination and survey of all activities and leases to act as a basis for future planning and decision-making. It is hoped to commence this work in September.

Also at Monday's council meeting, Clr. Veronica Cawley had tabled a motion calling for the council to be informed of the terms and conditions attached to the transfer, about who would be making decisions on the future of the harbour and what decisions were reserved functions.

Her motion also asked about the provisions in place for the day to day running of the harbour until a proposed strategic plan on its future development could be brought before the council.

Recognition

Clr. Cawley told the council meeting that she thought there was a need for recognition of the work done by the harbour commissioners, and especially their chairman, Seamus Monaghan.

In relation to the future of the harbour, she asked: “Whom do people go to with representations and where does one go to get funding?”

Clr. Albert Higgins thought it was unfair to think that the council should have a plan produced overnight. A lot of thought and a lot of planning needed to go into it.

He also thought a management team needed to be put together.

“I think there should not be a rushed plan just for the sake of having a plan,” he said.

Tribute

Clr. Patsy Barry said he was quite happy that this would be done well, and he went on to pay tribute to the people who had worked at the harbour.

Clr. Tony McLoughlin agreed with previous speakers and welcomed the transfer. He also acknowledged the work done by the harbour and by “the people down there.”

He also pointed out that there were businesses that needed clarification about the plan and about “where we're going.”

Clr. Sean MacManus thought it would be very remiss of the council, on a housekeeping basis, if they did not formally acknowledge the work done by harbour commissioners and the chairman, Seamus Monaghan, who took on the job seven or eight years ago and devoted a lot of his time to it.

“I would propose that we have some form of ceremony in the next couple of months to acknowledge the work done by Seamus Monaghan and the harbour commissioners over the past number of years,” he said.

Clr. MacManus said the reality was that the harbour was handed over in fairly good condition, although there was a lot of work to be done.

“This needs hands on work down there,” said Clr. MacManus, who went on to ask what line management was there for the running of the harbour.

He thought it was not right for a report to come in front of the councilors “without some structure in place.” If there weren't a structure to oversee what was happening on a daily basis, or on a weekly basis at least, some of the good work done by the harbour commissioners would be lost.

Mr. Breen said it had already been decided to have some kind of ceremony and “we will be talking to the members about that.”

Regarding a plan for the harbour, he said it would take some time and there would be a huge amount of consultation. The executive functions were “pretty much the same as they are for other matters of the council.”

Mr. Breen said that the council was putting in an administrator to oversee the running of the port and “the harbour master is staying with us.”

Strategy

The council was also looking to put together a group that would form long-term strategy for the harbour and the council would welcome any ideas in that regard.

County Manager Hubert Kearns also paid tribute and thanked the harbour commissioners and chairman Seamus Monaghan.

Mr. Kearns pointed out that the council couldn't do any major work on preparations for the harbour until it saw the implications, if any, of the proposed western bypass.

Mr. Breen explained that the work of the administrator would be to deal with shipping coming in and out. It was a fulltime position.

Mr. Breen also pointed out that it was the council's intention was to retain the port as a working port.

Clr. Cawley recalled that when she was on the harbour board, there was a lot of complex work involved.

She also feared that the council might be seen as “a soft touch” when it came to collecting rents and she would be deeply concerned if that impression came to life.

Council Chairman Clr. Jimmy McGarry pointed out that the ceremony for the harbour commissioners and the chairman was “in train.”

June 15/2006

Control of Sligo Harbour finally handed over to Sligo County Council

The ownership and control of Sligo Harbour has finally been passed over to Sligo County Council.

The Minister for the Marine's order transferring the property to the Council was approved by him a year ago, but has only come into effect this week.

Members of the County Council approved the move four years ago.

The outgoing Chairman of Sligo Harbour Board, Seamus Monaghan, has welcomed the move and says he believes the Harbour can be transformed within a three-year period.

Acknowledging that the Harbour has been neglected in the past, he has however insisted it now needs a major cash injection, but is a profitable operation.

Ocean fm 14/06/2006

May 17 / 2006