No hike in Cork city rates or parking fees despite €1m reduction in income

There will be no increase in commercial rates or parking charges in Cork City next year despite fears of a €1m reduction in the city’s income.

Tue, 17 Nov, 2015 - 00:00

Eoin English

City councillors finally voted 17 to 14 to adopt the 2016 budget after a lengthy meeting last night even though Sinn Féin identified a potential €762,000 hole in the finances.

Independent Cllrs Kieran McCarthy and Paudie Dineen voted with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to ensure the budget was passed.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Chris O’Leary voted with his party colleagues in Sinn Féin, the AAA, the Worker’s Party, and various independents against the budget.

Inds Kieran McCarthy and Paudie Dineen vote with FF & FG to support the 2016 budget #corkcc
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) November 16, 2015

Earlier, SF Cllr Thomas Gould said serious doubt had been cast over the ability of councillors to agree the budget in the wake of a nationwide rates re-evaluation of utilities companies which will result in massive rates cuts for all local authorities.

Council chief executive Ann Doherty said the decision, communicated to officials on November 4, would cost the city council around €762,000 in lost rates revenue. She said high level talks are underway with the department of the environment and she expected the council would be compensated in grant form.

But Mr Gould said councillors needed guarantees about this funding before they could agree the budget.

“To put this perspective, €762,000 is approximately double what has been allocated, in previous years, for home adaptation grants for disabled persons living in local authority housing,” he said.

Cllr Gould isn't happy. He's proposing the budget meeting is postponed until such guarantees are forthcoming #corkcc
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) November 16, 2015

The meeting was suspended for almost half an hour of talks before councillors voted to proceed with the meeting.

Councillors were then told that car parking income is forecast to be down by €240,000 due to loss of on-street parking spaces from bike lanes.

Car parking income is forecast to be down by €240,000 due to loss of on-street parking spaces from bike lanes #corkcc
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) November 16, 2015

Ms Doherty said it was a balanced budget prepared against a challenging financial background. Capital grants are also down €18m in three years.

She said recruitment has started again, that almost €1.7m has been set aside for 1916 commemoration events, to support Cork Opera House, and to provide for community and arts grants, with €1.85m due to be spent on disabled persons grants.

There will be limited improvement works on roads, with a focus on care and maintenance, and the economic development fund will continue, with €651,000 set aside.

Funding has been set aside for the Boole house refurbishment project, the development of Marina Park, and for the expected events centre project.

Service Division A is housing & maintenance. Cllrs now likely to start making amendments to the draft budget for this area #corkcc
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) November 16, 2015

But SF pointed to cuts in housing maintenance and traveller accommodation funds, with Cllr Stephan Cunningham saying he couldn’t support a “negative budget”.

AAA Cllr Mick Barry said it was “another austerity budget” with no reversal in previous cuts, and little increase in staffing levels.

After a three-hour meeting, councillors finally voted to adopt the budget.