Tuam and B'sloe councils will lobby Minister for survival

By JACQUELINE HOGGE PUBLIC representatives from Tuam and Ballinasloe are to join forces to lobby the government to retain and increase their powers ahead of forthcoming proposals to reform local government. [private] Local TDs attended a special meeting of Tuam Town Council this week where they were asked to support a submission sent to Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government Phil Hogan last year. Deputy Colm Keaveney suggested that the board arrange a meeting with Ballinasloe Urban District Council to form a delegation that could meet with the minister to lobby him on the issue. 'I firmly believe that Tuam Town Council offers value for money and the cost benefit of abolishing it would be next to nothing.' Mayor of Tuam Cllr Mary Loftus said the idea of a joint delegation made perfect sense. Look for more power 'We should be looking for more instead of begging to keep hold of the pittance we have,' she said. Deputy Paul Connaughton said he was at a recent meeting in Ballinasloe where similar concerns were raised. 'I don't want local democracy to get lost in any reforms and we have to prove the role Tuam Town Council performs in representing the community.' Cllr Paul O'Grady pointed out that the submission, which states that members reject proposals to abolish town councils, didn't go far enough as the town needed greater powers. 'Tuam needs Urban District status on a par with Ballinasloe as we need to be involved in the planning process and have the ability to set our own rate,' he said. Deputy Keaveney agreed that Tuam should have greater powers at town council level and agreed that local people were best placed to govern on matters most relevant to the community. Cllr Sally Ann Flanagan said that while she supported calls for enhanced powers, the work that had been achieved by the council in recent years proved it did have an important role. 'The little power we do have has delivered many significant results in recent years such as the protection of the Palace Grounds from development as well as ensuring the Tuam swimming pool was accessible to the community through extended opening hours,' she said. Deputy Micheál Kitt said the fact Tuam had both Hub and Rapid status should be borne in mind by the minister when making his decision. 'I think the changes that are coming will have more of an effect on the County Council but I pledge my full support to maintaining and enhancing Tuam Town Council and I will engage with the minister both through parliamentary questions and debate on this issue,' he said. Cllr Imelda Kelly added that the local knowledge brought to the council by locally elected members could not be underestimated or replaced by people at a higher level. 'As locally-elected members who live in the town, we are aware of its history and the emotive issues that concern the public, and you can't put a price on that,' she said. [/private]