Revamped district councils ‘making it up as they go along’

New municipal local bodies are "making it up as they go along".

The assertion came from a former town clerk Joe McCarthy who had consistently warned local government reforms were a “serious attack on local democracy”.

As municipal district officer for the new East Cork Municipal District Council, Mr McCarthy said officials and councillors were still “determined, however, to make the best of what we have”.

Five of the six county councillors convened for the municipal body’s first meeting. The proceedings had a somewhat surreal quality, with all members unsure as to their reserve functions.

Director of services for South Cork, Maurice Manning said documentation relating to the Performance and Reserve Functions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 had only been issued on May 29 and there had not been time to consider it properly.

The draft standing orders had been compiled subsequently.

Mr Manning said decisions reached by the new council should be “consistent with overall County Council policy”.

Cllr Michael Hegarty, clearly annoyed, said people were angry and confused about the standard and procedures of local government services. “It is important we start here on the right foot and it isn’t good enough that information is so late being provided,” he stated.

The members will consider the Draft Standing Orders prior to adopting then, subject to amendments, next month.

Meanwhile, Independent councillor Noel Collins was elected chairman of the district council.

Cllr Collins, a former mayor of Midleton and a local government representative for over 40 consecutive years, was elected unopposed having been nominated by Cllr Hegarty (FG) and seconded by Cllr Aaron O’Sullivan (FF).

On the proposal of Cllr Hegarty, Cllr Susan McCarthy (FG) was elected vice-chairman, after SF Cllr Pat Buckley had proposed himself.

The inaugural meeting was attended by five of the six members with Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley (Ind) on holiday. It was overseen by the municipal district officer Mr McCarthy and attended by five executive officers and engineers.

The first meeting was held in Youghal but subsequent monthly meetings will be rotated with Midleton.