Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies were reported on behalf of the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McDonough-Brown), Aldermen McCoubrey and McGimpsey and Councillors Howard and McReynolds.

            The following Members declared an interest in respect of the minute of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting of 12th April, under the heading “Summer Community Diversionary Festivals Programme”:

·        Councillor Corr Johnston – her wife was the Chairperson of the Hubb Community Resource Centre;

·        Alderman Copeland – her daughter was employed by the Greater Village Regeneration Trust;

·        Councillor O’Donnell – was employed by the Short Strand Partnership;

·        Councillor Corr – his son was employed by Féile;

·        Councillor Baker – his brother was employed by Féile;

·        Councillor Black – managed an organisation which had applied for grant assistance;

·        Councillor Johnston – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership;

·        Alderman Spence – had been appointed recently as the Chairperson of the McDonald Centre;

·        Alderman Haire – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership;

·        Councillor Long – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership but declared a dispensation to raise an issue as he had been appointed to that organisation by the Council;

·        Councillor Newton – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership;

·        Councillor Armitage – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership;

·        Councillor Kyle – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership; and

·        Councillor Dorrian – on the Board of the EastSide Partnership.

(Aldermen Copeland and Spence and Councillors Baker, Corr and O’Donnell left the meeting whilst the matter was under discussion.)

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hargey),

Seconded by Councillor Corr-Johnston and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st April be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Lord Mayor referred to the fact that Aldermen L. Patterson and R. Patterson and Councillors Armitage, Attwood, Milne and Nic Biorna would not be seeking re-election to the Council at the forthcoming Local Government Elections and, together with a number of Members, thanked them for the contribution which they had made to the Council and their constituents during their period of service.

            The Council noted information which had been provided by the Chief Executive around the documentation which candidates were required to present in order to gain admittance on 3rd/4th May to their count centre in the City Hall.  

            The Lord Mayor referred to the murder on 18th April of the journalist Lyra McKee and to the atrocities which had occurred on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, for which Books of Condolence had been opened in the City Hall, and, on behalf of the Council, extended her deepest sympathies to Ms. McKee’s partner and family and to the people of Sri Lanka.

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, congratulated Councillor Pankhurst and his fiancée, Aynsley, on the recent birth of their daughter, Marcie.

            The Lord Mayor reported that the death had taken place earlier in the day of the husband of Mrs. Sue Corbett, the former Head of Media Relations, and, on behalf of the Council extended to Mrs. Corbett her deepest sympathy and condolences.

Moved by Alderman Rodgers,

Seconded by Alderman Browne,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 12th April be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Governance Arrangements for the new Council

2019-23 – Standing Committees

Moved by Councillor McAteer,

Seconded by Councillor Campbell,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 12th April, under the heading “Governance Arrangements for the new Council 2019-23 – Standing Committees, in so far as it relates to the Brexit Committee, be rejected and accordingly the Council agrees that the Brexit Committee be reconstituted. 

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

Amendment

Governance Arrangements for the new Council 2019-23 –

Standing Orders – Standing Order 13: Notices of Motion

Moved by Councillor Dudgeon,

Seconded by Councillor Collins,

That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 12th April, under the heading “Governance Arrangements for the new Council 2019-23 – Standing Orders – Standing Order 13: Notices of Motion, be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. 

            On a vote by show of hands, seventeen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-two against and it was declared lost.

Amendment

Summer Community Diversionary

Festivals Programme

Moved by Councillor Long,

Seconded by Councillor Nicholl,

That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 12th April, under the heading “Summer Community Diversionary Festivals Programme”, be rejected and accordingly the Council agrees that the scoring criteria for the award of funding be set at a level of sixty points or higher and only those applications achieving that score be considered for the funding and accordingly the funding would be awarded to Twaddell and Woodvale Residents’ Association and the Féile (Féile August Diversionary Dance Night) and the remainder of the money be allocated to reserves.

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

Adoption of Minutes

Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 12th April were thereupon approved and adopted. 

Moved by Councillor Nicholl,

Seconded by Councillor Magennis and  

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 2nd April be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Lyons,

Seconded by Alderman Kingston and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 3rd and 8th April be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor O’Hara,

Seconded by Councillor Garrett and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 10th April, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Garrett,

Seconded by Councillor Campbell and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Pre-Determination Hearing and the monthly meeting of the Planning Committee of 9th April, 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 Councillor O’Hara and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Brexit Committee of 11th April be approved and adopted.