Share the chain before council’s abolition – Cllr Adams

Share the chain before council’s abolition – Cllr Adams


Áine Ryan

MEMBERS of the majority Fine Gael Westport Town Council were last week urged to ‘share the chain’ of office with the minority group in the nine-member town council. Longtime Fianna FΡil, Cllr Margaret Adams made the call in light of proposals to abolish the country’s 80 town councils.
Speaking directly to the newly appointed Cathaoirleach, Fine Gael’s Cllr Tereasa McGuire, Cllr Adams said: “I urge you to talk to your colleagues and consider sharing the chain with us during a term which could see the abolition of town councils.”
Concurring her party colleague Cllr Brendan Mulroy said: “If this is the last council, it will be the first time in its history that one party has dominated. For the betterment of the town it would be only fair to share the chain.”
Independent Cllr Martin Keane also urged that the chain be shared ‘as a goodwill gesture’.
The current Westport Town Counicl, formed in 2009, has an historic five Fine Gael members, two Fianna FΡil, one Labour and on Independent.
Earlier, in his farewell speech outgoing cathaoirleach, Cllr Myles Staunton spoke passionately about the central role urban local authorities had played over the decades.
“At a time when the Government are talking about publishing a paper recommending the abolishment of existing Town Councils, I want to state categorically that I will vehemently oppose any move to do so.  Westport has been fortunate to have a town council in existence, which has played a significant part in the development of the town into the wonderful town which it is today,” Cllr Staunton said.
He continued: “Any attempt to abolish a town council like Westport in the future would be a regressive and narrow minded step and an affront to local democracy and I am pleased that we have set out a clear message in passing a motion that we condemn any decision to do so.”
The proposed abolition and rationalisation of local and regional authorities was among the many cost-saving proposals made to government in economist, Colm McCarthy’s Bord Snip Nua report.
It recommended the abolition of the 80 elected town councils throughout the State and the merger of some county councils.
If the plan goes ahead it will herald the end of urban authorities in Ballina, Castlebar and Westport. They will be replaced by new bodies – district councils – that would, in turn, work closely with county councils. The move is aimed at reducing the number of councillors throughout the country by 500.