Limerick City Council

Limerick City Council is the name given to the local authority which is responsible for the city of Limerick in Ireland. It is the body responsible for local government, sanitation, motor vehicles tax, and social housing.

History

What is now known as Limerick City Council began life as Limerick Corporation after the City of Limerick received its Charter of Incorporation from King John of England in 1197. The first Mayor of Limerick following the Charter was Adam Sarvant. Between 1197 and 1651, Limerick City Council was dominated by English settlers.

The period between 1651 and 1656 represents the only break in the existence of Limerick Corporation. This came about by the surrender of the Old English settlers to Cromwellian forces in 1651. During this time, the city was administered by a Military Governor. In 1656, the Corporation was restored, but under Protestant rule. Catholics who had previously run the corporation were excluded from taking part in local government. There was a brief Catholic restoration of power in 1687 when Lord Tyrconnal, appointed by James II of England, deposed the Protestant Mayo and his sheriffs and replaced them with a Catholic Mayor, one Catholic and one Protestant sheriff. Limerick Corporation would remain in Catholic control until the Treaty of Limerick in October 1691.

Between 1691 and 1841, Limerick Corporation was ruled by only a few powerful families. This period is known both as "The long eighteenth Century" and the "Corrupt Corporation".

The Corrupt Corporation was brought to an end after the passing of the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840. The act also brought an end to Protestant control of the council.

Limerick had it's first female Mayor in 1921 Alderman Maire O'Donovan was appointed Mayor while the incumbent of the position was fund-raising for the newly established government of Ireland in the United States. She held the position for seven months, from 21 May 1921 until 30 January 1922.

In 1934, the Free State government of Ireland enacted the Limerick City Management Act. This new law took away much of the day-to-day responsibilities from the Mayor and gave it to an appointed City Manager.

Following the enactment of the Local Government Act 2001, Limerick Corporation became Limerick City Council.

Council hierarchy

The City Council's day-to-day operations are run by the City Manager. The current City Manager is Tom Mackey.

The powers of the Mayor have been greatly reduced since the 1934 Act, and the role is mainly ceremonial. The Mayor also chairs city council meetings.

Council meetings normally take place on Mondays, however, there are occasions when it convenes on a Tuesday. [ [http://www.limerickcity.ie/YourCouncil/CouncilMeetings/ScheduleOfMeetings/ScheduleOfMeetings2008/ Schedule Of Meetings 2008] . Limerick City Council. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.]

Council members are elected by the electorate every five years. Only council members are able to elect the Mayor. A new Mayor is elected in June of each year.

Council services

Limerick City Council is responsible for a number of local administrative cervices in the City. These include Motor Vehicle Tax, environmental maintenance and litter control, social housing, city planning, maintenance of roads, sanitation and upkeep of municipal sports and recreation facilities.

The City Council is also responsible for administrating the Higher Education grant scheme for Limerick City residents wishing to go to university.

External links

* [http://www.limerickcity.ie Limerick City Council website]

References

*First Citizens of the Treaty City: The Mayors and Mayorlty of Limerick (1197-2007) - Mattew Potter