Ulster Gazette - News - Questions over Navan decision

News

Questions over Navan decision

Thursday, 19 January 2012

CITY Council officials have been accused of overstepping the mark after making a decision on the future development of Navan - without the backing of councillors!
The move has been lambasted by Sinn Fein, who said elected representatives were bypassed, something the party has branded "undemocratic and insulting".
The council - when contacted by the Ulster Gazette - refused to be drawn on the issue, offering a simple "no comment" to the claims.
Councillor Mary Doyle told the Gazette that officials in Armagh Council took a decision - without their knowledge - to change a funding application for a play park at Navan Fort without consulting elected councillors.
“This is a blatant example of council officials making decisions without taking elected representatives' views into consideration," she said.
“This is completely undemocratic, not to mention insulting to local councillors."
Following a council initiated tourism review in 2008-10, it was acknowledged that the Navan Centre and Fort could be developed as a major tourist attraction.
A £300,000 application was made to SEUPB - the Special EU Programmes Body - but in October 2011 the council was asked to review its application.
“Without any discussion with councillors, officials in Armagh Council decided to effectively 'downgrade' the application to a play experience necessitating funding of only £180,000," said Councillor Doyle.
“The reason given for this was that it would be in competition with the development of a free play park being planned at the Palace Park, and therefore would not attract local people.
“But the objective of the Navan play experience was threefold - to attract local people, to attract people from all over this island and to put Emain Macha, Navan Fort and its massive historical significance, on the world map."
Councillor Doyle said it was presented to the councillors at an executive committee meeting recently as a 'fait accompli'.
She went on: "The democratic decision initially made by councillors was reversed by unaccountable officials and all that was required was the 'rubberstamping' of the application by councillors.
“In Sinn Féin we take our responsibility to the electorate seriously. We are elected to provide the best representation for our constituents by ensuring that services are fairly distributed and that the most appropriate decisions are made for the collective good.
“We will not stand silent while others in council, who have not gone before the electorate, change, amend or reverse previously agreed decisions."
When contacted by the Gazette, the council made a reply of "no comment".
But after a meeting between Sinn Féin Councillors Roy McCartney and Noel Sheridan and senior council officials, clarification was reached on some of the concerns raised.
Councillor McCartney explained: "After this application came before the last statutory council meeting, I requested and received additional paperwork from council officials.
“After studying the initial application and the updated proposal, it became apparent that, in both the initial project application, costed at £325,000, and the revised project proposal, at a cost of £180,000, the amount of funding applied for to EBR was the same, at £125,000, with the rest coming from council, who have a budget set aside for work at the Navan Centre.
“This clarification, coupled with an explanation of why the project had changed in its outlook, made it easier to understand the rationale for the actions taken.
“However, as argued by my colleague Councillor Noel Sheridan, this still does not justify council officers taking this action without consultation with democratically elected representatives.
“Sinn Féin find this totally unacceptable. We have been saying this for some time now and, as far as we are concerned, a line has been drawn in the sand on this issue.
“Other political parties, and particularly one or two councillors, may be happy to give free reign to council officials, but we are not.
“We are elected to represent all the people of Armagh City and District and to do the best we can for them.
“It is ultimately up to us to take decisions on their behalf - not unelected officers who are not answerable to the electorate.
“Council officers have apologised for this most recent breakdown in accountability, we have accepted that and made it clear we expect it to be the last.
“They may have used the timeframe involved as an excuse, but we do not accept that.
“A scrutiny panel was convened within days to discuss the Health Service proposals for the out-of-hours service. A similar panel could have been called to discuss this, or at the very least the group leaders contacted to give them an update and explanation.
“Indeed, there was ample opportunity for it to be fully explained at the statutory council meeting, but this was not taken and, no doubt, it was expected that the matter would not be taken any further.
“Sinn Féin will continue to ensure, even if we are ploughing a lone furrow, that the best interests of ratepayers and residents of the city and district are met and that includes proper scrutiny of decisions and equality for everyone."