Councillors in Tipperary are to meet in Clonmel this morning for the first plenary meeting of the new 5 year council term. A deal between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour is expected to result in a Fine Gael councillor becoming Cathaoirleach with Cllr Declan Burgess rumoured to be the agreed candidate. Cllr Burgess served most recently as Cathaoirleach in the Tipp Cahir Cashel MD.
The plenary meeting will also elect a Leas Cathaoirleach for the coming year. The post of Cathaoirleach comes with an additional allowance of €30,000 per annum while the Leas Cathaoirleach or deputy chair post has an additional allowance of €6,000 per annum.
The AGM will also appoint councillors to be Chairs of 7 Strategic Policy Committees – the post of Chair has an additional allowance of €6,000 per 12 month term and the chair holds office for a minimum period of 3 years. These Strategic Policy Committees are Housing, Economic Development & Enterprise, Infrastructure (Including Roads & Transportation), Planning & Emergency Services, Environment and Climate Action, Libraries and Cultural Services/Biodiversity, Social Inclusion Community and Rural Development. Appointments will also be made to a total of 22 other outside bodies such as the Education and Training Board, Regional Health Forums and the Southern Assembly.
The Tipperary Cahir Cashel Councillors will hold their AGM on Monday at noon if this change from the original date of Tuesday June 25th is approved as expected at today’s meeting. It is expected that a Fine Gael Councillor will be elected as Municipal District Cathaoirleach for the next 12 months, meaning either Cllr John Cross, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan or Cllr Marie Murphy will be appointed. The role of Municipal District Cathaoirleach comes with an extra allowance of €6,000 per annum.
