Cllr argues crowded council chamber is crushing debate

Meath county councillors are sitting like pupils in a classroom when they meet to discuss important issues for the county, according to a long serving member of the council.

The facilities for meetings of Meath Co Council have come under fire from Ashbourne's Cllr Joe Bonner, who said the arrangements are not conducive to proper debate.

The council meetings currently take place in council headquarters, Buvinda House, but a planning application is currently with An Bord Pleanala for as extension to headquarters, which would include a purpose built council chamber.

Cllr Bonner points out that the current arrangements have councillors sitting forward like school students.

“The meetings are supposed to involve discussion and debate, but it is like being in a classroom, you cannot see the people behind you. It is not a proper place to do business.

“There are no annexe rooms where party groups can go and have a discussion and the toilets are quite a distance away from where the councillors meet.

“There are members of this council who have never sat in a proper chamber.”

Cllr Bonner said chambers are designed and built the way they are to encourage discussion and debate.

“We don't know when the new chamber will be built. The big question is how long will it take. Not having a council chamber is like a football team not having a home ground.

“The people of Navan let their old historic chamber (in Railway Street) go without a whimper.”

Cllr Bonner also said it was “scandalous” that the meetings are hybrid, with some of the members attending by zoom.

“It is time we got back to work,” he said.

A spokesperson for Meath Co Council pointed out the planning application for the extension to Buvinda House, which includes the new chamber is currently with An Bord Pleanala for consideration.

“The Council introduced online meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow for the business of the Council to continue. Following the relaxation of public health guidelines the elected members of the council were surveyed to ascertain their preference for in-person, online or hybrid meetings. The majority of which expressed a preference for hybrid meetings.

“The availability of hybrid meetings is a key component to supporting family-friendly local government in enabling and supporting, women, parents and carers in Local Government,” she said.