Cork Chamber calls for merger of city and county councils

Cork Chamber has called for a merger of the city and county councils by 2018, claiming the move could deliver significant rates reductions for struggling businesses.

Chamber president Gillian Keating, who represents over 1,100 businesses, was speaking yesterday at the launch of the chamber’s local election manifesto.

The document focuses on three areas — local government reform, transport, and infrastructure — and proposes a package of measures it says local election candidates must consider to build a better Cork.

The key recommendation, the merger of the local authorities, would create efficiencies and savings in the delivery of local services which could then be passed on to businesses in the form of rate reductions, Ms Keating said.

“The constant message we are getting from our members is that they do need to see significant reductions in rates to make a difference,” she said.

“Holding the rates steady in recent years was the least that could have been done. Something different needs to happen,” she added.

The chamber’s last two economic surveys have shown that positivity is returning to the regional economy.

“However, if we are to capitalise, harness and build on this sentiment, we need to ensure the right structures are in place,” she said.

“The evidence already exists where mergers in Waterford and Limerick resulted in rates reductions of 20% and 16% respectively,” she said.

The chamber has called for a rates freeze, and for a 10-year rates harmonisation period in county areas losing town councils, to give businesses there time to adjust to a possible rates increase.

And it has also called for the introduction of parking meters in the city centre, for incentivised parking initiatives, for a new park and ride at Carrigrohane, to explore the possibility of developing another park and ride at Curraheen Park greyhound stadium, and using Kent Station as a long-stay/all day parking facility.

Calling for the full implementation of the Collier’s city centre strategy document, published earlier this year and which is due to be considered by city council next week, she said: “We need to stop talking about the vacancy rates in the city. We need to focus instead on how city centre can be a solution rather than a problem.”

She said chamber members contributed to the report and they want to see it implemented.

“We want to ensure that our members’ time was not wasted. We want to ensure that we get bang for buck,” she said.

She also called for the delivery of Cork INC’s strategy for the joint marketing, tourism and economic development of the region.

Chamber’s wish list

- Merge Cork city and county councils, with savings passed on to businesses in the form of rates reductions.

- Rates freeze and a 10-year rates harmonisation period in county areas losing town councils.

- Upgrade the N28 Bloomfield to Ringaskiddy road.

- Deliver improvements to the Dunkettle interchange, and press for the North Ring Road, and M20 Cork to Limerick motorway.

- Introduce metered parking in the city, open a park and ride at Carrigrohane, and investigate the possibility of using Curraheen Park as a park and ride.

- Implement Cork INC’s vision of a co-ordinated tourism, economic development and marketing plan for city and county.