Agenda and minutes

            Prior to the meeting commencing, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen Browne, McKee, R. Patterson and Spence.

No declarations of interest were reported.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Kingston),

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Campbell) and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 3rd January be taken as read and signed as correct.

A request has been received from Councillor McCusker to allow a number of young people to address the Council on the important role being played by youth services, in the context of the motion which he will be proposing later in the meeting.

As the Chief Executive has not received the required seven days written notice of the intended deputation, as required under Standing Order 8, the Council will be invited to consider the request.

            The Chief Executive reported that a request had been received from Councillor McCusker to allow a deputation to address the Council on the important role being played by youth services in the City, in the context of the motion which he would be proposing later in the meeting on proposed cuts in resources for that sector.  

            The Council agreed to accede to the request and, accordingly, Ms. M. Fullerton, a youth worker with Ledley Hall Boys and Girls Club, Mr. S. Hughes, a youth worker with St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre, and Mr. A. Heagney, a member of St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre, were admitted to the meeting.

            Mr. Heagney outlined various difficulties which he had faced in the past and highlighted the significant role which the St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre and the staff employed there had played in providing him with new opportunities and improving his overall quality of life.   

            Mr. Hughes reviewed the extensive work which was being undertaken across the City in terms of youth service provision. He explained that the proposed cuts in funding for that sector would affect over 130 posts and 53 projects in Belfast and would have a detrimental impact on young people, families and communities. He paid tribute to the Council and other organisations for their work around community relations, good relations and community safety and pointed out that that work had the potential to be affected, through, for example, reduced engagement on behalf of the youth sector. He concluded by requesting the Council to support the youth sector in its campaign to oppose the proposed cuts in its resources.

            The deputation were thanked by the Lord Mayor and they left the meeting.

            The Council noted the information which had been provided and that Members would have an opportunity to discuss the issue later in the meeting.

            At the request of Councillor Copeland, the Lord Mayor agreed to forward a letter to the Police Service of Northern Ireland officer who had been injured recently in a shooting incident on the Crumlin Road wishing him a speedy recovery.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party indicating that it wished to replace Alderman Sandford with Councillor Dorrian on the EastSide Partnership.

            The Council approved the aforementioned change.

Moved by Councillor Hussey,

Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic and Policy and Resources Committee of 6th, 20th and 26th January be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Revenue Estimates and District Rate 2017/2018

Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

Seconded by Councillor Craig,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 26th January, under the heading “Revenue Estimates and District Rate 2017/2018”, be amended to provide that the District Rate should increase by 1.61% in the 2017/2018 financial year, based on:

                                     i.          no membership fee being paid to NILGA;

                                    ii.          a sum of £75,000 being committed to the Small Business Service (Belfast Agenda); and

                                   iii.          a sum of £147,000 being committed to the Community Grants Scheme.

            On a vote by show of hands, eleven Members voted for the amendment and forty-one against and it was declared lost.

Director of Organisational Development

            The Lord Mayor referred to the fact that Mrs. J. Minne, Director of Organisational Development, would be leaving the Council in due course to take up employment with the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

            On behalf of the Council, he thanked Mrs. Minne for the contribution which she had made during her twenty-four years with the Council and wished her well in her new role.

Arrangements for the Future Management

of Human Resources

            At the request of Alderman Convery, the Chief Executive confirmed that, following the resignation of the Director of Organisational Development and in the context of the decision to appoint a senior Human Resources post, the wider organisational design implications would be discussed with the Party Groups and with the Budget and Transformation Panel, as well as bringing options back to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the meetings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 6th, 20th and 26th January were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Garrett,

Seconded by Councillor Heading and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 4th, 10th and 24th January be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Graham,

Seconded by Alderman McGimpsey and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 11th and 24th January be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Armitage,

Seconded by Councillor Magennis and  

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 18th January, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Johnston,

Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson and

             Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 17th and 24th January, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

      Moved by Councillor Walsh,

      Seconded by the High Sheriff (Alderman Haire) and

             Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committee of 12th January be approved and adopted.

Councillor McCusker to move:

"This Council notes with deep concern the proposed cuts in youth services in Belfast, which could see the loss of 131 posts in youth organisations.

The Council recognises the important and vital contribution of our youth services to Belfast and believes that these cuts will have a major negative impact on local communities.

The Council opposes these cuts in youth services and agrees to seek an urgent cross-party meeting with the Education Authority and the Minster of Education or senior Department of Education officials to raise our concerns and calls for the funding to be reinstated."

(To be discussed by the Council)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor McCusker proposed:

"This Council notes with deep concern the proposed cuts in youth services in Belfast, which could see the loss of 131 posts in youth organisations.

The Council recognises the important and vital contribution of our youth services to Belfast and believes that these cuts will have a major negative impact on local communities.

The Council opposes these cuts in youth services and agrees to seek an urgent cross-party meeting with the Education Authority and the Minster of Education or senior Department of Education officials to raise our concerns and calls for the funding to be reinstated."

The motion was seconded by Councillor Attwood.

After discussion, the motion was put to the meeting and passed.

Alderman Rodgers to move:

“This Council expresses its concern at the 16% increase in on-street car parking charges in Belfast, from £1.20 per hour to £1.40 per hour, announced by the Infrastructure Minister.

This decision will adversely affect City Centre retail trade and will advantage the out-of-town shopping centres which are able to offer free car parking.

This decision shows a complete lack of understanding by the Minister as to what local people and business have said about parking tariffs in Belfast.

The Council is strongly opposed to this decision and agrees to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister and/or his senior officials to try to persuade them to reverse this unnecessary move.”

(To be discussed by the Council)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Alderman Rodgers proposed:

“This Council expresses its concern at the 16% increase in on-street car parking charges in Belfast, from £1.20 per hour to £1.40 per hour, announced by the Infrastructure Minister.

This decision will adversely affect City Centre retail trade and will advantage the out-of-town shopping centres which are able to offer free car parking.

This decision shows a complete lack of understanding by the Minister as to what local people and business have said about parking tariffs in Belfast.

The Council is strongly opposed to this decision and agrees to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister and/or his senior officials to try to persuade them to reverse this unnecessary move.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Boyle.

            The proposer declined a request from Councillor Armitage to amend his motion.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Armitage,

Seconded by Councillor Long,

      That the motion, as proposed by Alderman Rodgers, be amended to provide for the deletion of the third and fourth paragraphs and the insertion of the following: “The Council agrees to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister to ensure that there is improved consultation with all stakeholders, including the Council, regarding the transportation issues within the City, including for those who use cars and public transport and those who cycle and walk.”

            On a vote by show of hands, thirty-three Members voted for the amendment and nine against and it was declared carried.

            The motion, as amended, was thereupon put to the meeting as the substantive motion and passed.

Councillor O’Hara to move:

“Belfast is a rich and diverse city containing many different nationalities.

 Many consider themselves as British, others Irish and citizens of the 

 Irish nation.

Recognising and respecting all traditions, this Council urges the Irish government to implement the recommendations of the constitutional convention and to allow the citizens of Belfast to participate in Irish Presidential elections.

Such a provision recognises the rights of Irish citizens in the North without threatening in any way others right to their British identity.”

(To be discussed by the Council)

            At the request of Councillor O’Hara, the Council agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 13(i), that the motion standing in her name be withdrawn from the agenda.

Councillor Boyle to move:

“This Council recognises that it is responsible for a range of enforcement services such as on-street drinking, littering and night time noise.  It is not clear that these services operate in all areas at all times of the year. 

The Council, therefore, agrees that a comprehensive review is carried out by the relevant Council Departments into the delivery of enforcement services across the City, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that such services are delivered on all 365 days of the year.”

(To be referred without discussion to the

People and Communities Committee)

            At the request of Councillor Boyle, the Council agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 13(i), that the motion standing in his name be withdrawn from the agenda.