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Fermoy Town Council is to seek a written report from Cork County Council on how the latter intends harmonizing the commercial rates in Fermoy.

Fermoy Town Council is to seek a written report from Cork County Council for their next meeting, on how the latter intends harmonizing the commercial rates in Fermoy following the town body's abolition in May.

Cllr Seamus Coleman tabled a motion calling for the measure and for the county council to outline the time frame they intend to use, the financial difference between both rates as they stand at present and the legal obligations involved. The information is needed for their next meeting, he advised, as their April meeting will be their last.

At present there's an "enormous difference" between Fermoy Town Council and Cork County Council's rate, he pointed out. "Fermoy Business Action Group doesn't know what's coming down the line. They are seeking a 20% reduction in rates, it's off the wall. They're going up not down," he stressed.

They need to know how long the county council is going to take to bring them up to a par. "They should be honest with us," he said.

Cllr John Murphy seconded the motion, saying they need to get clarification. Many businesses won't be able to afford the increase, he believed.

Pointing out that the difference between the two is 23%, Cllr Tadhg O'Donovan said they'd be asking for something they already knew.

"There's a fear factor out there, people wondering how they will pay. Phasing in is important, how many years will they give to bring it in line," Cllr Noel McCarthy said, adding, "There are difficult years ahead, there's no doubt."

Fermoy Business Action Group is having a public meeting on it. "There is a lack of information on that and other issues," Cllr McCarthy said of the situation post abolition.

There was agreement too from Cllr Pa O'Driscoll who said the difference in the two rates is "quite huge". "If they are going to go for the full 23% I would hope they will phase it in." They'd had a good plan for Fermoy outlined in a presentation to them earlier. "Maybe a carrot and stick approach would work; look for a project in return. Fermoy won't thrive until it's seen as an attractive place to visit," he stated.

Town manager, Niall Healy, said there was no definite information as yet and the time frame for harmonization was unknown. Some guidelines may be in the offing, he told members. It will centre on whether the collection of rates will be an executive or other function.

"The time frame is the thing for me. It's key," Cllr O'Donovan said.

That's why the second part of his motion was important, Cllr Coleman stressed. It called for the difference as it presently stands to be set out. "Get that down on paper, how they plan to get up to it."

He also argued for the retention of that part of his motion that requested the legal obligations involved to be set out. He believes Fermoy Town Council's rate will be brought up to the county council's rate "very very fast" after abolition.

The motion was passed.

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