Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Heading.

            The following Members declared an interest in relation to the minute of the meeting of the People and Communities Committee of 22nd September, under the heading “Update on Community Provision Funding”, in that they worked for or were associated with the organisations listed:

·        The Lord Mayor (Councillor Black) - Grosvenor Community Centre;

·        Councillor Beattie - Blackie River Community Group;

·        Councillor Canavan - Blackie River Community Group;

·        Councillor Carson - Upper Springfield Development Trust;

·        Councillor Corr - Falls Community Council;

·        Councillor Donnelly - Upper Springfield Development Trust;

·        Councillor Gormley - Lower Ormeau Residents’ Action Group

·        Councillor McCabe - Féile an Phobail;

·        Councillor McCullough – Greater Shankill Partnership; and

·        Councillor Verner - Greater Shankill Partnership.

            Councillor Long declared an interest in relation to the minute of the meeting of the People and Communities Committee of 22nd September, under the heading “Regulation of Cosmetic Treatments in Northern Ireland”, on the basis that his practice provided non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

            The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor M. Kelly) and Councillors McMullan and Smyth declared an interest in relation to the minute of the meeting of the People and Communities Committee of 22nd September, under the heading “Carew Family Centre: Bridging Support”, in that they were on the Board of the Eastside Partnership, which had been recommended for funding.

            Councillor Thompson declared an interest in the minute of the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd September, under the heading “Update on Area Working Groups”, in that she was a member of the Greater Shankill Community Council which had been recommended for funding by the West Belfast Area Working Group. 

            As none of the aforementioned items became the subject of discussion, those Members who had declared an interest were not required to leave the meeting.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Black),

Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st September and the special meetings of 25th August and 11th September be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Lord Mayor referred to the recent death of the father of Alderman Dorrian and the sister of Councillor McAteer and, together with a number of Members, extended her deepest condolences to both Members.

            Alderman Dorrian and Councillor McAteer thanked the Lord Mayor and the Members for their kind remarks.

            Alderman Rodgers referred to the recent death of former Councillor James (Junior) Walker and, at his request, the Lord Mayor agreed to forward a letter to Mr. Walker’s family expressing the Council’s deepest condolences.  

            At the request of Councillor T. Kelly, the Lord Mayor agreed to forward a letter to Sandy Row Football Club congratulating it on winning the Irish Football Association’s 2022 Grassroots Club of the Year Award for Belfast.

            Alderman Rodgers pointed out that this would be the last meeting which would be attended by Mr. Ronan Cregan, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources, as he was due to retire from the Council at the end of October, having completed twenty-eight years’ service. He, together with a number of Members, highlighted the significant contribution made by the Director in managing the Council’s finances and wished him well in his retirement.

            The Lord Mayor, together with a number of Members, paid tribute to Mrs. Jayne Byrne, the former Executive Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive, who had recently left the Council after twenty-eight years’ service to take up a post in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

            The Lord Mayor congratulated Mrs. Louise McLornan, Democratic Services Officer, on the recent birth of her daughter, Anna.

            Several Members referred to the fire which had, earlier that morning, caused significant damage to the Old Cathedral Building in Donegall Street and highlighted the considerable impact which it would have upon businesses and organisations in that area and their need for support.

            Councillor Nelson expressed his disappointment that the multi-agency City centre revitalisation task force had yet to be convened and was informed by the Chief Executive that work was underway to identify potential participants.

            Councillor McKeown reminded the Council that it had, at its meeting on 1st December, 2020, adopted his motion to invite the then President-elect Biden and the then Vice President-elect Harris to Belfast at the earliest opportunity, when circumstances safely permitted it. He referred to recent reports of a potential visit by President Biden to the United Kingdom and secured approval from the Council for the Chief Executive to write to the United States Embassy in London to formally invite the President to visit Belfast. 

            The Lord Mayor congratulated the Ulster University on the recent opening of the final phase of its enhanced Belfast campus.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party that Councillor Douglas had replaced Councillor Pankhurst on the National Association of Councillors.

            The Council noted the change.

            Moved by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

            Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Update on Physical Programme

Moved by Councillor McKeown,

Seconded by Councillor de Faoite and

      Resolved - That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd September, under the heading “Update on Physical Programme”, insofar as it relates to the Alleygating Phase 5 Project, be amended to provide that the Council agrees to write to the Justice Minister requesting that the Department of Justice match the Council’s allocation of £500k to this phase of the project. 

            (Councillor Long declared an interest as soon as the foregoing amendment had been proposed, on the basis that his wife was the Justice Minister and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion.)

Amendment

Update on Contracts

Moved by Councillor McLaughlin,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd September, under the heading “Update on Contracts – Other Single Tender Actions”, to approve Single Tender Actions for i. Fiat and ii. Mercedes Benz Original Equipment Manufacturer approved parts and components, warranty support and specialist repairs, be rejected and, accordingly, the Council agrees to undertake a full public procurement exercise. 

            On a recorded vote, forty-six Members voted for the amendment and ten against and it was declared carried.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor McMullan,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 6th and 22nd September be approved and adopted.

Cherryvale Gate Anti-Social

Behaviour Measures Consultation

            At the request of Councillor Long, the Council agreed that local residents also be invited to attend the meeting of Elected Members from the Lisnasharragh DEA to be held to agree the final remedial measures to mitigate against any anti-social behaviour arising from the reopening of the gate at Cherryvale and that this meeting be convened as a matter of urgency.

Amendment

Request for the Renaming of

Moltke Street Playground

Moved by Councillor T. Kelly,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting and

      Resolved - That the decision of the People and Communities Committee of 22nd September, under the heading “Request for the Renaming of Moltke Street Playground”, to name the playground the Ruby Murray Park, be amended to provide that it be named the Ruby Murray Village Green instead.

Update on Cemeteries and

Crematorium Working Group

            In response to an issue which had been raised by Alderman Rodgers around the delay in the planning process for the new crematorium, the Chief Executive undertook to raise the matter with the Chief Executive of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment and additions, the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 6th and 22nd September were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Murphy,

Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 28th Septemberbe approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Matt Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 21st September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Pavement Café Licensing Scheme

            At the request of Councillor Canavan, the Council agreed that, in addition to extending the current temporary pavement café licensing scheme for a further twelve months, Council officers would consult with businesses on a proposed permanent scheme and associated guidelines.  

            In response to an issue which had been raised by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor M. Kelly), the Council agreed that the operation/enforcement of pavement cafés be placed on the agenda of the newly established Working Group on Disability. 

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing additions, the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 21st September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Whyte,

            Seconded by Councillor Murphy and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 31st August and 20th September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hanvey,

            Seconded by Councillor Pankhurst and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 27th September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.