Kilkenny County Council is setting about taking new housing estates in charge including those where developers have been liquidated or those that require work to be completed.
At this month’s meeting of Kilkenny County Council it was decided that it was necessary to take charge of the estates although John McCormack admitted that “there would be a small amount of estates where there will be issues”.
Some 40 estates in Kilkenny, some of which are unfinished, applied to be taken in charge by the council.
“It is our duty to take them in charge — it’s of zero cost to us,” Philip O’ Neill told the members.
Cllr Michael O’ Brien raised concerns about the issue. “Every time we take a new estate in charge it costs us and we have less to spend on our own housing estates,” he said. “We need to know what’s involved. The info supplied doesn’t give me information on what is involved from when we take these estates on, regarding costs into the future, and the amount of money that will be needed to compete them. Neither is there any information on the bond that goes with them.”
Members heard that in order for estates to be taken in charge the property owner rather than the renter needs to sign a document making the request.
Martin Mulally said that there were three such documents with the council at present and it would need to be examined to ensure that all the names were those of owners and not tenants.
“If they are not the owners of the property they will be informed and the estate can reapply,” he said.
Cllr Ann Phelan asked: “We granted planning permission for all of these estates but where are the developers now? They’ve all disappeared. We as a council have a responsibility to the residents.”
Mr Mulally added that the developers in many cases were working closely with the council to resolve issues.
“Enforcement action can also be taken, but it’s a national issue. Developers are working with the local authorities at present to finish even the segment /phase of estates that are inhabited. Some developers are looking for extensions to their completion dates, and in this way we can work with them to finish sites and use enforcement with others who are not so cooperative. We can always draw down the bond ourselves that was given, and complete what we can with that,” he said.
