Agenda and minutes

Special Meeting, Council - Monday, 1st July, 2019 5.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, City Hall, Belfast

Contact: Mr. Henry Downey  (02890270550) Email: downeyh@belfastcity.gov.uk)

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Summons

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Deputy Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

 

2.

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman Spence and Councillors Donnelly, Groogan, Long and Smyth.

 

3.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            No declarations of interest were reported.

 

4.

Notice of Motion

Additional documents:

5.

Removal of Banners and Paramilitary Flags in Belfast

Councillor Beattie to propose:

 

“This Council is alarmed at the increasing number of offensive displays of banners and paramilitary flags across Belfast.

 

Paramilitary flags and banners supporting British regiments are being used to divide, offend and cause hurt to victims.

 

The British Ministry of Defence and the Parachute Regiment do not endorse these flags or banners and have stated they should only be displayed in certain circumstances.

 

Re-traumatising victims with offensive displays is wrong and should have no place in our society.

 

Standing by and allowing our citizens to be divided and hurt is no longer an option.

 

This Council agrees to take legal action against the Department for Infrastructure, enforcing them to remove:

 

1.    all Paramilitary Flags, unless permission is granted by the Department for Infrastructure with protocols that protect citizens; and

 

2.    all banners without planning permission on Department for Infrastructure property, unless permission is granted with protocols that protect citizens.

 

Signed by:

 

Councillor Beattie                   Councillor Magee                   

Councillor D. Baker                 Councillor Magennis              

Councillor S. Baker                 Councillor McAteer                

Councillor Canavan                Councillor McLaughlin

Councillor Corr                        Councillor Murphy

Councillor Garrett                   Councillor Walsh

Councillor Groves

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

      “This Council is alarmed at the increasing number of offensive displays of banners and paramilitary flags across Belfast.

 

Paramilitary flags and banners supporting British regiments are being used to divide, offend and cause hurt to victims.

 

The British Ministry of Defence and the Parachute Regiment do not endorse these flags or banners and have stated they should only be displayed in certain circumstances.

 

Re-traumatising victims with offensive displays is wrong and should have no place in our society.

 

Standing by and allowing our citizens to be divided and hurt is no longer an option.

 

This Council agrees to take legal action against the Department for Infrastructure enforcing it to remove:

 

1.      all Paramilitary flags, unless permission is granted by the Department for Infrastructure with protocols that protect citizens; and

 

2.      all banners without planning permission on Department for Infrastructure property, unless permission is granted with protocols that protect citizens.”

 

            The motion was seconded by Councillor D. Baker.

 

Amendment

 

Moved by Councillor Ferguson,

Seconded by Councillor Matt Collins,

 

      That the motion standing in the name of Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor D. Baker be amended to provide for the deletion of everything after the words “This Council” in the first sentence and the insertion of the following:

 

“condemns the increasing number of offensive displays of banners and paramilitary flags across Belfast and the recent erection of banners such as “Support Soldier F”, which gave great offence to victims of the parachute regiment. 

 

Paramilitary flags and banners supporting British regiments are being used to divide, offend and cause hurt to victims.

 

The British Ministry of Defence and the Parachute Regiment do not endorse these flags or banners and have stated they should only be displayed in certain circumstances. 

 

Re-traumatising victims with offensive displays is wrong and should have no place in our society.

 

Standing by and allowing our citizens to be divided and hurt is no longer an option.

 

This Council agrees to take legal action against the Department for Infrastructure, enforcing it to remove: “Support Soldier F” banners and other such materials which have serviced to re-traumatise victims of the Paratroopers, and are erected on Dfi property.”

 

            On a recorded vote nine Members voted for the amendment and forty-six against and it was declared lost.

 

 

 

For 9

 

Councillors Matt Collins, Michael Collins, de Faoite, Ferguson, Heading, Lyons, McCusker, McKeown and Whyte.

 

 

Against 46

 

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Finucane);

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McReynolds);

The High Sheriff (Alderman Sandford);

Aldermen Copeland, Haire, Kingston, McCoubrey and Rodgers; and

Councillors D. Baker, S. Baker, Beattie, Black, Brooks, Bunting, Canavan, Carson, Cobain, Corr, Dorrian, Flynn, Garrett, Graham, Groves, Hanvey, Hargey, Howard, Hussey, Hutchinson, M. Kelly, T. Kelly, Kyle, Magee, Magennis, McAllister, McAteer, McDonough-Brown, McLaughlin, McMullan, Mulholland, Murphy, Newton, Nicholl, O’Hara, Pankhurst, Verner and Walsh.

 

 

 

Amendment

 

Moved by Councillor McAllister,

Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

 

      That the motion standing in the name of Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.