Agenda and minutes

No apologies were reported.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To consider a proposal that the Council award the Freedom of the City to former President William Jefferson Clinton and Senator George Mitchell.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is recommended to:

1.     agree to award the Freedom of the City to former President William Jefferson Clinton and Senator George Mitchell.

2.     agree that the decision should not be subject to the Call-In process due to the urgency of the matter.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

3.1.1    Councillor Attwood has submitted to the Chief Executive a request that the Council consider awarding the Freedom of the City to former President William Jefferson Clinton and Senator George Mitchell in recognition of their work for peace in Northern Ireland and on these islands.

3.1.2    In accordance with existing Council policy on the award of the Freedom of the City, the views of the Party Groups on the Council have been sought as to whether or not they would be supportive of such a suggestion.  Most parties have responded and there is the required 2/3rds support for the award to be made.

3.1.3    Accordingly, the Committee is recommended to agree to award the Freedom of the City to former President William Jefferson Clinton and Senator George Mitchell.

3.1.4    In order for the Committee’s decision to receive Council ratification and for officers to be authorised to proceed with arrangements, the decision of the Committee today will be submitted to a special Council meeting at 12.00 Noon on 27th March.  In order for this to happen, it will be necessary for the Committee to agree that its decision should not be subject to the normal Call-In process.

3.1.5    It will be necessary for a special Council meeting to be convened at an appropriate time for the purpose of formally conferring the Freedom of the City.

3.2       Financial Implications

3.2.1    The cost of the award of the Freedom of the City is not anticipated to be significant as there will not be any separate civic reception to be organised on this occasion and any costs can be met from within existing budgets in the current financial year

3.3       Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.3.1    There are not any equality or good relations considerations associated with this report.”

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Long,

      That the Committee agrees to award the Freedom of the City to former President William Jefferson Clinton and Senator George Mitchell for their services to Peace in Northern Ireland. The Committee also agreed that the decision should not be subject to the Call-In process due to the urgency of the matter.

            On a vote by show of hands, fourteen members voted for the proposal and one against and it was declared carried.