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 Alderman R. Patterson and Councillors Beattie, Carson, McAteer and Reynolds.

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 1st March be taken as read and signed as correct.

Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Awards

            The Lord Mayor congratulated Queen’s University and the Council on attaining first and second place, respectively, in the Public Sector category at the recent Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Awards ceremony and congratulated also Legal-Island, the organiser, on the success of the event. 

Expression of Sympathy

            The Council noted that the Lord Mayor had written recently to the Director of the Irish Coast Guard expressing his deepest condolences on the loss on 14th March of the crew of the R116 helicopter and paying tribute to all those who had been involved in the recovery operation.

Moved by Councillor Hussey,

Seconded by Councillor Hargey,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic and Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March be approved and adopted.

            Notice of Motion – Youth Services – Responses from the

            Department of Education and the Education Authority

              At the request of several Members, the Council agreed that the All-Party deputation from the Council should meet with the Chief Executive of the Education Authority as a matter of urgency and that, in the meantime, the Council’s Chief Executive request from him information on the extent of the funding cuts which had now been implemented across the City, including the number of workers who had been affected, and arrange for that information to be forwarded to all Members.

            City Hall Exhibition – Operational Arrangements

              At the request of Councillor Milne, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Committee outlining the measures which would be put in place to prevent a recurrence of an issue which had arisen when an email had erroneously described demonstrations taking place at the City Hall on International Women’s Day.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing additions, the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Garrett,

Seconded by Councillor Corr Johnston,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 7th March be approved and adopted.

Mr. Sam Skimin

            The Council’s attention was drawn to the fact that Mr. Sam Skimin, the former Head of Cleansing Services, had retired from the Council in the previous month.

            Several Members paid tribute to Mr. Skimin for the significant contribution which he had made during his twenty-three years in the Council and wished him well in his retirement. 

Food Waste

            At the request of several Members, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Committee providing further information on the publicity campaign associated with the implementation of the new food waste policy.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the meeting of the People and Communities Committee of 7th March were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Graham,

Seconded by Alderman McGimpsey, 

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th March be approved and adopted.

International Relations Update

and Programme 2017/2018

            The Lord Mayor referred to his recent visit to Washington over the St. Patrick’s Day period and thanked all those who had contributed to its success, including Mr. Dan Lawton, the US Consul General in Belfast, and the staff of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington.

External Market Application

            At the request of Alderman Rodgers, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing clarification on whether the requirement to obtain permission from the Council to operate a market or car boot sale extended to organisations such as sports clubs and churches which were using their own premises, on any discussions which had taken place around this issue previously and on the cost of obtaining permission to operate a market or car boot sale generally.

Draft Belfast Bicycle Network 2017 Consultation

            At the request of a number of Members, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Committee to enable further consideration to be given to a proposal which had been made by Councillor Craig that the Department for Infrastructure should be much more ambitious regarding the network and the timeframes.   

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing additions, the minutes of the meeting of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th March were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Armitage,

Seconded by Councillor Copeland and  

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 15th March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Johnston,

Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the special meeting and the monthly meeting of the Planning Committee of 14th March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            Scheme of Delegation – Draft Amendments

            At the request of Councillor Boyle, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Committee outlining the procedure governing the temporary listing of buildings in urgent cases, as alluded to under paragraph 3.9.2 (l) of the proposed revisions to the Scheme of Delegation.

            Planning Appeals Notified

            At the request of Councillor Attwood, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Committee setting out the measures which the Council could put in place to ensure that it could defend robustly decisions taken by that Committee, which had been subject to appeal.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing additions, the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee of 14th March were approved and adopted.

Proposed by Councillor Heading,

Seconded by Councillor McCusker,

"This Council recognises the excellent work undertaken by the Belfast Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS), being operated by Extern, in supporting families who have a range of long standing, entrenched and complex problems, ranging from self-harm, to addiction to suicide.

The Council expresses concern that funding for IFSS is under threat, with the loss of 47 jobs and the possible closure of a vital service for some of the most disadvantaged children and families in Belfast.

Accordingly, the Council agrees to write to the Health and Social Care Board and the Department of Health to seek an immediate resolution of this funding crisis."

(To be debated by the Council)

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

      "This Council recognises the excellent work undertaken by the Belfast Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS), being operated by Extern, in supporting families who have a range of long standing, entrenched and complex problems, ranging from self-harm, to addiction to suicide.

      The Council expresses concern that funding for IFSS is under threat, with the loss of 47 jobs and the possible closure of a vital service for some of the most disadvantaged children and families in Belfast.

      Accordingly, the Council agrees to write to the Health and Social Care Board and the Department of Health to seek an immediate resolution of this funding crisis."

            At the request of the proposer, the Council agreed to the replacement of the words “is under threat” within the second paragraph of the motion with the words “has been withdrawn” and to the deletion of the word “possible” within that paragraph also.

            The motion, as amended, was seconded by Councillor McCusker, who sought and was granted approval by the Council to amend the motion further to provide for an urgent meeting to be sought with the Health and Social Care Board to determine what alternative

measures were being planned to support those young people and their families who would be affected by the closure of the Belfast Intensive Family Support Service.

            After discussion, the motion, as amended, was put to the Council and passed.

Proposed by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Kyle,

"This Council notes the importance of credit unions, as member-owned financial co-operatives, democratically controlled by their members, which ensure people in local communities have access to credit at affordable rates.

The Council notes that there are 158 credit unions in Northern Ireland, with 93 as part of the Irish League of Credit Unions and 42 with the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions.

The Council notes that there is an opportunity, in line with its commitment to develop co-operatives, to develop a partnership/joint venture with credit unions to deliver projects with social value including but not limited to social and affordable housing.

Accordingly, the Council agrees to engage with the credit union movement and investigate innovative models for project delivery."

(To be referred without debate to the

City Growth and Regeneration Committee)

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

      “This Council notes the importance of credit unions, as member-owned financial co-operatives, democratically controlled by their members, which ensure people in local communities have access to credit at affordable rates.

      The Council notes that there are 158 credit unions in Northern Ireland, with 93 as part of the Irish League of Credit Unions and 42 with the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions.

      The Council notes that there is an opportunity, in line with its commitment to develop co-operatives, to develop a partnership/joint venture with credit unions to deliver projects with social value including but not limited to social and affordable housing.

      Accordingly, the Council agrees to engage with the credit union movement and investigate innovative models for project delivery.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Kyle.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Milne,

Seconded by Councillor Corr Johnston,

“This Council recognises that all individuals have the right to healthcare, which includes that healthcare should be physically accessible and within safe reach for all sections of the population. People should not face fear and intimidation when accessing healthcare services.

Therefore, the Council condemns all harassment and intimidation taking place outside facilities in Belfast and Northern Ireland that offer reproductive healthcare, including attempts to physically block access to facilities, verbal intimidation, and the filming and recording of staff and clients entering and leaving the building.”

(To be debated by the Council)

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

      “This Council recognises that all individuals have the right to healthcare, which includes that healthcare should be physically accessible and within safe reach for all sections of the population. People should not face fear and intimidation when accessing healthcare services.

      Therefore, the Council condemns all harassment and intimidation taking place outside facilities in Belfast and Northern Ireland that offer reproductive healthcare, including attempts to physically block access to facilities, verbal intimidation, and the filming and recording of staff and clients entering and leaving the building.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Corr Johnston.

            On a recorded vote, fifty Members voted for the motion and none against, with three ‘no votes’, and it was declared carried.

Proposed by Councillor Campbell,

Seconded by Councillor McAllister,

“This Council acknowledges the positive role which the LGBT community plays in our City, whose visibility creates a more welcoming and vibrant City.  Recognising that one of the Council’s primary aims is to make the environment of the City Hall more balanced, inclusive and reflective of all of the citizens of the City, the Council agrees to commission a stained glass window to celebrate the contribution of our LGBT citizens and install this in an appropriate location in the City Hall.”

(To be referred without debate to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

            Prior to the motion being proposed and seconded, it was

            Moved by Councillor Dudgeon,

            Seconded by Alderman McGimpsey,

      That the Council agrees to suspend Standing Order 13(f) to permit the motion on a Stained Glass Window for the LGBT Community to be debated by the Council rather than being referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. 

            On a recorded vote, forty-two Members voted for the proposal and eleven against. As the number of Members voting in favour of the proposal was less than 80% of those present and voting, as set out within Standing Order 25, the proposal was lost. 

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Campbell) proposed:

      “This Council acknowledges the positive role which the LGBT community plays in our City, whose visibility creates a more welcoming and vibrant City.  Recognising that one of the Council’s primary aims is to make the environment of the City Hall more balanced, inclusive and reflective of all of the citizens of the City, the Council agrees to commission a stained glass window to celebrate the contribution of our LGBT citizens and install this in an appropriate location in the City Hall.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor McAllister.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Heading,

"This Council recognises the upcoming redevelopment of Andersonstown Leisure Centre and the positive potential which this investment could bring to the City.

It also notes concerns which have been raised by Trade Union representatives about jobs during and after the redevelopment. The Council is opposed to any job losses as part of the redevelopment. It also believes that any displacement process should be done transparently and equitably, to ensure that current staff are treated fairly during this process.

Finally, the Council considers it crucial that all current staff should be afforded the right to return to Andersonstown Leisure Centre after the redevelopment and under their current employment contracts, with no changes to their terms and conditions, if they so wish to. The Council calls upon GLL to work with Council staff, elected representatives and the relevant Trade Unions to ensure that action is taken which leads to the best possible deal for leisure workers."

(To be referred without debate to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

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

      “This Council recognises the upcoming redevelopment of Andersonstown Leisure Centre and the positive potential which this investment could bring to the City.

      It also notes concerns which have been raised by Trade Union representatives about jobs during and after the redevelopment. The Council is opposed to any job losses as part of the redevelopment. It also believes that any displacement process should be done transparently and equitably, to ensure that current staff are treated fairly during this process.

      Finally, the Council considers it crucial that all current staff should be afforded the right to return to Andersonstown Leisure Centre after the redevelopment and under their current employment contracts, with no changes to their terms and conditions, if they so wish to. The Council calls upon GLL to work with Council staff, elected representatives and the relevant Trade Unions to ensure that action is taken which leads to the best possible deal for leisure workers."

      The motion was seconded by Councillor Heading.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Communities Committee.