Minutes - Kildare County Council Meeting - 24 ... - Kildare.ie

Kildare County Council
Members queried the predicated amount of funding that would be available based on the
collection rate of the household charge and how households were identified. Members also
sought clarity on reminder letters that had issued, the next steps involved and if there had
been a notable increase in payments. The County Manager clarified the position on the
budget reductions advised to date and the allocation expected for Quarter 4 and outlined the
effects the collection rate would have on council resources. He urged people to pay the
household charge and advised that advertisements would be placed in local papers to
explain the penalties and reminder letters process.
Resolved on the proposal of Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor Weld, that the
minutes of the monthly meeting held on 30 July 2012, annual meeting and special meeting
held on 7 September 2012, be confirmed and taken as read.
2/0912
Household Charge
The Mayor suggested that item15 on the agenda, relating to the household charge, be taken
at this point and this was agreed by the members.
The council considered the following motion in the name of Councillors Callaghan, L Doyle,
S. Doyle, Miley, O’Loughlin and O’Rourke:
With a view to getting a higher household charge collection rate, that the council write to the
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government seeking an amnesty from
fines for all householders now intending to pay the household charge and this proposal be
circulated to all local authorities asking for their support.
Councillor O’Rourke outlined the reasons for submitting this motion, suggesting that this
would be an incentive of the council to encourage people to pay the charge and increase
revenue. Councillor Miley seconded this motion. The members discussed the motion
indicating that, while it was important to encourage people to pay the charge, any incentive
must have regard to householders that had already paid on time and those who had now
paid with interest. The County Manager confirmed that current legislation would not allow for
an amnesty as outlined in the motion. The Mayor put the motion to a vote.
The members considered the motion proposed by Councillor O’Rourke and seconded by
Councillor Miley, and resolved with 5 members voting in favour and 16 members voting
against, not to support the motion.
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Minutes of meeting of Kildare County Council 24 September 2012