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Birr Town Council Reduces Rates By One Percent

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Birr Town Council decided to reduce its retailing Rates by one percent when it agreed its budget during its monthly meeting last Monday evening. The councillors said the reduction will only be a very small benefit to the town's retailers but during a recession it's an appropriate gesture and the best gesture they can currently make.
The reduction was proposed by Cllr John Carroll and seconded by Cllr Michael Loughnane. Cllr Tony McLoughlin wanted to reduce the Rates by two percent but the other councillors felt this wasn't possible given their straitened budget.
Addressing the meeting Cllr Carroll pointed out that these are difficult times for the ordinary people of Ireland and particularly difficult for people in business as they try to meet increasing overhead costs, insurance, stealth taxes plus all the stringent conditions imposed by government and councils. 'Today they look to us as we strike a rate, to be mindful of their plight and the economic climate in which they are operating.'
He said that last year Birr Town Council had to contend with a cut of €75,000 from central funds. To cover this shortfall they turned to paid parking but maintained one free car park in the town.
Cllr Carroll said he believed the Council's management and staff coped well with the reduced income and managed to achieve many improvements in the town. He thanked all the staff for their co-operation 'and I think it's fair to say that we all have the interest of our town at heart.'
This year the economic climate has worsened again for the council because central government has decided to cut its local government grant by another 8.9 per cent (€61,000), which means the Council has lost €136,000 in two years.
The government also strongly recommended that the Councils reduce their commercial rates - 'at this stage that is difficult,' commented Cllr Carroll, 'while complying with the Croke Park agreement and maintaining a reasonable service for the citizens of the town.'
He pointed out that this year the Council has a budget of €2.5 million with a proposal to raise €1 million of that through the town's businesses. 'Is that feasible in this climate?' he asked. 'Are we the instrument that will close down businesses in our town? Is that why we sought election? My motivation has always been to serve my community, to improve the quality of life for its citizens and support commercial activity, to assist in the creation of employment.
'With our sovereignty sold out to EU and IMF bankers and our continued willingness to pay the gambling bondholders we as a town council are all but powerless and one has to wonder what is the future for town councils if a government refuses to properly finance them? The introduction of a household charge is allegedly to help pay for improved local services - don't be fooled by that - it is another opportunity for the government to collect revenue. We already pay taxes for these local services.'
He remarked that this was his 27th budget and he had seen the rate go from under £20 to just under €60 for a much reduced service. For example 27 years ago the town had a landfill and free waste collection. Both of those things have now gone. 27 years ago the Council also had more outdoor staff. He pointed out that the Council's rates were higher than Tullamore's and the county's rates, and the Birr rates should be reduced.
The Director of Services Frank Heslin proposed that they maintain the rates at their current level, but this was rejected by the councillors who wanted a one percent reduction.
Mr Heslin said commercial rates, rents from houses and parking charges are the Council's main sources of income and concerted efforts will continue to be made in 2012 to collect any monies due to the Council. He said the proposed expenditure for 2012 is €2,664,380 which is a reduction of 10 per cent on the money available last year.
Mr Heslin said that when preparing this year's budget he was very conscious of doing all he could to maintain quality services for the citizens of Birr.
He pointed out that in 2011, despite the difficult economic climate the Council achieved many things including - completion of footpaths and the one-way traffic system at Drumbane; erection of fence at rear of Scurragh; development of Camcor River Walk under the Smart Travel scheme; improvement works Moorpark Street, Orchard Lane and Bridge Street; commencement of works on Tullamore Road Gateway; works at Military Road junction; official opening of Birr Skatepark; provision of adult recreational facility at Camcor Park; improvement works at the junction of N52 and Pound Street;
provision of railing at junction of Model School and Oxmantown Mall; commencement of the social housing leasing scheme; adoption of revised parking byelaws; progressing the objectives of the Town Realm Plan; addressing the issue of derelict sites; maintaining the housing stock; maintaining street cleaning services in the town; providing support to various groups in the town such as Birr Vintage Week committee, the OFFline Film Festival, Birr Leisure Centre, the heritage council and national water safety; support to the Birr Tidy Towns Committee; provision of the Town Hall for a book launch and art exhibition.
Mr Heslin pointed out that a number of local groups worked closely with the Council in 2011 such as Shannon Development, the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Tidy Towns Committee, the Gardaí and the Joint Policing Committee and Offaly County Council.
Cllr Loughnane said a one percent reduction in rates 'will help the bigger businesses more than the smaller ones. In fact the reduction will have only a very minor effect but it will send out the right signal during the times we are living in.' He said a number of bad things had happened in the town towards the end of 2011 including the reduction in MIDOC opening hours, the decision to cease the FAS decentralisation scheme and the closure of the Teagasc offices (which moved to Tullamore just before Christmas - another service in Birr which has been transferred to the county town). He pointed out that unfortunately four shops on Main Street have closed down this month.
Cllr Loughnane pointed out that in the good times the Council increased the Rates by 6 or 7 per cent. He said that regrettably it was being proposed to reduce the amount of money which will be given to the swimming pool and theatre.
Cllr Brian Whelahan said he felt the town had received value for money over the last few years. He pointed out that Birr is the highest rated town in Offaly and in the midlands.
Cllr Denis Shiels remarked that the Council provided great value for money during 2011. He noted there was a significant reduction in the street cleaning budget, which he hoped wouldn't have an adverse affect on the cleanliness of our streets.
Cllr Michael Campbell said the town wasn't benefiting sufficiently from the tourists passing through the town, and perhaps some thought could be given to this. He envied Westport which has a large company (Allergan), which recently announced an additional 200 jobs were available. He called on Laois / Offaly TDs to do something about the employment situation in Birr, the fact that the largest major company to open in the town was in the mid-'80s, and to 'rattle a few cages.'

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