Monaghan reviewing process for ‘taking in charge’ estates

MECHANISMS are being put in place at Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) level to streamline the process through which Monaghan County Council takes private housing estates in charge, Cllr Sean Gillland (FG) informed the November meeting of the local authority.

The councillors were debating the sometimes protracted nature of the 'taking in charge' process, as well as the long-term cost on the council of assuming responsibility for estate infrastructure.

Members had approved a proposal to take in charge Knockroe Glen in Monaghan Town, while Acting Senior Planner Maeve McKearney assured that a traffic speed assessment will be undertaken to determine appropriate measures.

In proposing that the Council proceed, Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) said road subsidence issues in the estate have been raised with him. However, he emphasised that residents’ main concerns relate to road safety and a need for speed ramps.

Cllr Seán Conlon (SF) said he has been advocating for this proposal for a number of years and is glad to see it finally happening.

He also expressed hope that the traffic survey might result in road safety measures, not necessarily ramps, before requesting that planners ensure that taking in charge notices are published on the council's website and social media.

Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) said many estates taken in charge come with a significant cost for the authority. He reiterated his prior appeal for the Government to establish a separate fund for local authorities for this purpose, and asked for a broad estimate of the costs involved to be furnished to the members at a future meeting.

Cllr P.J. O’Hanlon (FF) said he too had raised the costs issue at MD level a year ago, and was “delighted to see that everyone is now in unison” with him on the issue.

“The Council is telling developers they need to have an estate in pristine condition before it is taken over, so why is there a difference with this one?” Cllr O’Hanlon asked regarding references to required works at Knockroe Glen.

“Councillors are talking of subsidence and safety, a litany of things,” he continued. “The rules and regulations are that estates be in pristine condition, and if we start changing this now it could backfire on us,” he warned.

Cllr Raymond Aughey (FF) pointed out that the council owns around 60% of the houses at Knockroe Glen.

Cllr Gilliland said the timeframe for taking in charge processes is a huge part of the problem. He has discussed this with the relevant Senior Planner and Director of Services and the Housing SPC is bringing proposals forward to have taking in charge done in a timely manner.

“If seven years go by, it is a bit Irish to still expect the developer to have an estate in pristine condition,” he remarked. “Naturally there will be issues over time and subsidence can be caused by many things that are not the developer’s fault.”

Director of Services Cathal Flynn said it has been some years since the taking in charge policy has been reviewed and the SPC is engaged in an important piece of work.

Chief Executive Robert Burns said taking in charge is one part of how the Council gets private roads to become public roads. There is a legitimate expectation when a housing estate is built that the roads and infrastructure will eventually be taken in charge by the local authority.

“Alongside the review we should look at the implications of making roads public roads and how this ties in with existing legislation. It can cost millions to maintain these roads and drawing out of the same pot as our existing roads funding can be an issue.”

The CE hoped the new policy can be brought before the SPC and the full council in the first quarter of next year.

Cllr O’Hanlon said the taking in charge of roads is a reserved function of the elected members and he felt they are going to have a “klondike” of such applications arising in the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD area.

“We also take public lighting and sewerage in charge as well as roads and we do not have a budget for that,” he continued. “We don’t have a bag of money under the table. We should get the rules and regulations in place but the only source of money is the Department.”

It was agreed on Cllr O’Hanlon’s proposal, Cllr Keelan seconding, to write to Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien TD reiterating the Council’s request for a special 'taking in charge' fund to be established.