Fianna Fail councillors want 2% rate reduction in Kells

A call for a two per cent reduction in the commercial rate in Kells has been put forward by the town's three Fianna Fail town councillors. They have also called for free car parking in Kells in the week leading up to Christmas, the purchase of a street cleaning machine and funding for grass-cutting, upgraded public street lighting and road gritting. Councillors Sean Drew, Frankie Lynch and Bryan Reilly made the proposals as part of a package of measures designed to assist local businesses and retailers in the promotion of Kells and the retention of local jobs in the town. "Free parking over the Christmas period will help to encourage people from the Kells area to spend a portion of their festive expenditure in the town, thus increasing economic activity and employment in Kells," according to a statement issued by the councillors, who are also supporting the shopping/gift voucher scheme operated by Kells Chamber of Commerce. They said they realised that balancing the town budget would be a difficult task this year; however, they said they will be focusing on the provision of essential services in Kells in 2010. The three councillors have emphasised that their proposal for a two per rate reduction is designed for all existing and any new start-up business. "An across the board reduction of two per cent for all the town's ratepayers is justified in these deflationary times with the objective of decreasing business costs and thereby helping in securing jobs and employment in Kells," their statement said. They contrasted their proposal with the recent suggested by Cllr Sarah Reilly of Fine Gael calling for rates reductions to 'genuine new business', which they described as unworkable and anti-competitive. The Fianna Fail councillors pointed out that, last year, they proposed a zero increase in the rates and the purchase of a street/footpath cleaning machine, but these measures were opposed by the majority coalition on the town council. They are strongly urging the rest of the councillors to support their proposals this year and say it will be necessary to reduce expenditure in certain areas. They will, therefore, be proposing that any councillors' trips abroad to St Patrick' Day parades in New York and London and to members' conferences in 2010 should not be funded by Kells Town Council. The Fianna Fail councillors have also expressed their opposition to a 'slash and burn' budget, adding they will be seeking the support of all councillors in ensuring that the provision of essential services is prioritised in the budget. They have also reacted strongly to the recent claims by Cllr Brian Collins that Kells has not received increased funding from central government, pointing out that among the projects undertaken in Kells - and financed directly by central government funding - are the multi-million euro refurbishment/remedial works on the Kells local authority housing stock, in particular, the Headfort Grove scheme, and the €1.2 million project to develop the affordable community childcare facility on the Moynalty Road, as well as the impending commencement of works to provide pedestrian crossings and footpaths in various locations in the town.