Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen McKee, R. Patterson and Spence and Councillors Bunting, Campbell, McConville and Nicholl.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor McAllister),

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Copeland) and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 4th September be taken as read and signed as correct.

Change                                The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, extended her deepest sympathy to the families of those people who had, on the previous night, lost their lives as a result of a shooting incident in Las Vegas and confirmed that a Book of Condolence would be made available for signature in the City Hall.

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, condemned the recent intimidation of four families in Cantrell Close in the East of the City, which had forced them to vacate their homes. 

            At the request of Alderman Rodgers, the Council extended its best wishes to the Northern Ireland football team who would, on 5th October, be hosting Germany in a World Cup qualifying game.

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, extended congratulations to Councillor Corr Johnston on the birth of her twins, Martha and Alexander.

The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Alliance Party indicating that it wished to replace former Councillor Jones with Councillor McDonough-Brown on the Northern Ireland Local Government Association and Councillor Long with Councillor McReynolds on the Active Belfast Limited Board.

The Council approved the changes.

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd and 28th September be approved and adopted.

Update on City Region Growth Deal

            The Council agreed that the Lord Mayor, together with the Party Leaders and the Chief Executive, should meet at the earliest opportunity with Mr. M. Ryan, Bombardier Aerospace, to explore ways in which the Council could support the company, in light of a recent preliminary ruling in the United States of America which, if approved, would lead to the imposition of a significant tariff on its imports of Bombardier’s C-Series jet.

            The Council agreed also that the delegation should seek to meet with Mr. D. Lawton, US Consul General in Belfast, to express its concerns in relation to the ruling.

Amendment

Consultation Report on Draft Linguistic Diversity

Policy and Language Strategy Action Plan

Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

Seconded by Alderman Browne,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd September under the heading “Consultation Report on Draft Linguistic Diversity Policy and Language Strategy Action Plan” be rejected and, accordingly, the Council agrees to adopt the linguistic diversity policy and to approve the appointment of one Language Officer. 

            On a recorded vote, twenty Members voted for the amendment and thirty-three against and it was declared lost.

Request for a Matter to be Taken

Back for Further Consideration

            Introduction of a System of Proportionality

            for the Position of High Sheriff

                   Councillor Dudgeon requested that the Chairperson agree to the minute of the meeting of 22nd September under the heading “Introduction of a System of Proportionality for the Position of High Sheriff” being taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

                   The Chairperson declined the request.

Amendment

Introduction of a System of Proportionality

for the Position of High Sheriff

            Moved by Councillor Dudgeon,

            Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd September, under the heading “Introduction of a System of Proportionality for the Position of High Sheriff”, be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

            On a recorded vote, sixteen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-two against, with three “no votes”, and it was declared lost.

Moved by Alderman Sandford,

Seconded by Councillor Armitage and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 12th September be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor O’Donnell,

Seconded by Councillor McCabe, 

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 13th September be approved and adopted.

City Centre Investment Fund Update

            At the request of Councillor Boyle, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for information providing details of those applications which were being recommended to progress to Stages 2 and 3 of the City Centre Investment Fund process, once the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee had taken a decision on the funding.

Adoption of Minutes

                          Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the meetings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 13th September were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Carson,

Seconded by Councillor Howard and 

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

Moved by Councillor Lyons,

Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 19th September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Operation of the Planning Committee

            In response to an issue which had been raised by Councillor McVeigh around the rationale for including this item within the minutes of the meeting, the Chief Executive confirmed that clarification would be provided at the next meeting of the Planning Committee and that the Member would also be provided with clarification.

Proposed by Councillor McVeigh,

Seconded by Councillor Hargey,

“This Council recognises the devastating impact that unemployment and benefit cuts can have upon citizens, families and communities.

The Council will explore, as part of a wider employability initiative and with the help of the Executive, the implementation of a Citizens’ Basic Income (CBI) scheme.  In order to inform this process, the Council will undertake a feasibility study into how it might support a pilot study concentrated within our most deprived communities.

The CBI initiative would mean, for those identified as part of the initiative, the replacement of benefits and pensions with an unconditional flat rate payment.  Citizens would then be able to work and earn additional income on top of the basic payment.  Such a scheme has the potential to help eradicate poverty and homelessness in the City.”

(To be referred without discussion to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

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

“This Council recognises the devastating impact that unemployment and benefit cuts can have upon citizens, families and communities.

The Council will explore, as part of a wider employability initiative and with the help of the Executive, the implementation of a Citizens’ Basic Income (CBI) scheme.  In order to inform this process, the Council will undertake a feasibility study into how it might support a pilot study concentrated within our most deprived communities.

The CBI initiative would mean, for those identified as part of the initiative, the replacement of benefits and pensions with an unconditional flat rate payment.  Citizens would then be able to work and earn additional income on top of the basic payment.  Such a scheme has the potential to help eradicate poverty and homelessness in the City.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Hutchinson.

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

Proposed by Councillor Dudgeon,

Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

“This Council has grave concerns about traffic congestion in the City centre, particularly at the back of City Hall, resulting from recent new arrangements.  A major source of the problem at peak times is the prohibition on vehicles (except buses and emergency services) going from Donegall Square East into Adelaide Street from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

This means that cars must either go into Chichester Street, turn right into Montgomery Street, then right into May Street and left into Adelaide Street, or use Donegall Square East, then Donegall Square South and Bedford Street to go in an eastern or south-eastern direction.  There is no other reasonable way for vehicles to go from the west or south west of the City to the south and east, despite the description of the route as a rat run.

Cars accessing Adelaide Street between June, 2015 and August, 2016 were caught by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) camera in Donegall Square East on 18,000 occasions, resulting in £1 million of fines.  This proves the difficulty faced by drivers and especially visitors to the City.

The Council, therefore, calls on DfI, working in conjunction with Translink, to end the prohibition on traffic entering Adelaide Street from Donegall Square East.  This would also enable the removal of the large and unsightly electronic warning sign in Donegall Square Eastand free up the traffic island on which it sits.”

(To be referred without discussion to the

City Growth and Regeneration Committee)

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

“This Council has grave concerns about traffic congestion in the City centre, particularly at the back of City Hall, resulting from recent new arrangements.  A major source of the problem at peak times is the prohibition on vehicles (except buses and emergency services) going from Donegall Square East into Adelaide Street from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

This means that cars must either go into Chichester Street, turn right into Montgomery Street, then right into May Street and left into Adelaide Street, or use Donegall Square East, then Donegall Square South and Bedford Street to go in an eastern or south-eastern direction.  There is no other reasonable way for vehicles to go from the west or south west of the City to the south and east, despite the description of the route as a rat run.

Cars accessing Adelaide Street between June, 2015 and August, 2016 were caught by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) camera in Donegall Square East on 18,000 occasions, resulting in £1 million of fines.  This proves the difficulty faced by drivers and especially visitors to the City.

The Council, therefore, calls on DfI, working in conjunction with Translink, to end the prohibition on traffic entering Adelaide Street from Donegall Square East.  This would also enable the removal of the large and unsightly electronic warning sign in Donegall Square Eastand free up the traffic island on which it sits.”

The motion was seconded by Alderman Rodgers.

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

Proposed by Councillor Mullan,

Seconded by Councillor Boyle,

“This Council opposes the proposed ending of the Primary School Curriculum Sports Programme by the Department of Education, from 31st October 2017, and expresses deep concern at the impact which the potential loss of this award winning cross community programme will have for primary school pupils, primary schools and the sporting coaches involved.

The Council agrees to write to and seek an urgent meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education to highlight this concern.”

(To be debated by the Council)

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

“This Council opposes the proposed ending of the Primary School Curriculum Sports Programme by the Department of Education, from 31st October 2017; and expresses deep concern at the impact which the potential loss of this award winning cross community programme will have for primary school pupils, primary schools and the sporting coaches involved.

The Council agrees to write to and seek an urgent meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education to highlight this concern.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Boyle.

            At the request of Councillor Heading, the proposer agreed to amend her motion to provide for the addition of the following sentence at the conclusion of the first paragraph: “The Council notes with great concern the cut made to the extended schools budget of 14% and the further cut of £56 for each child attending primary or nursery school.”

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

Proposed by Councillor McCusker,

Seconded by Councillor Attwood,

“This Council notes with growing concern the rise of drug related deaths and suicides in the city and across Northern Ireland and calls on local and central government to make tackling this epidemic a priority.

The council agrees to seek an urgent cross party meeting with the Health and Social Care Board, the Public Health Agency, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the community and voluntary sector working on the front line dealing with this growing problem to agree a co-ordinated action plan.”

(To be debated by the Council)

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

“This Council notes with growing concern the rise of drug related deaths and suicides in the city and across Northern Ireland and calls on local and central government to make tackling this epidemic a priority.

The council agrees to seek an urgent cross party meeting with the Health and Social Care Board, the Public Health Agency, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the community and voluntary sector working on the front line dealing with this growing problem to agree a co-ordinated action plan.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Attwood.

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

            The Council noted that, in order to ensure that there was a co-ordinated approach to addressing addiction related issues, the actions called for within Councillor McCusker’s motion would be progressed alongside those within Council O’Hara’s motion on Mental Health and Addiction Support Services which had been passed by the Council at its meeting on 2nd May and which had already commenced.