Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported on behalf of Alderman Copeland and Councillors Cobain, Lyons and T. Kelly.

            The Lord Mayor (Councillor Black) and Councillors Canavan, Flynn, Garrett, Magee, McAteer, Newton, Verner and Walsh declared an interest in respect of the item “Bright Lights Event at Botanic Gardens” within the Special People and Communities minutes, as they had either accepted or indicated that they had accepted complimentary tickets for the 2021/22 event.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Black),

Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin and

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

Condolences

            The Lord Mayor and representative from all the Political Parties in the Chamber expressed their condolences to former Councillor S. Magennis and his family, upon the recent death of his wife, Tricia.

            Condolences were also paid to the family of Jim Fitzpatrick, proprietor of the Irish News, who had recently died at the age of 92.

            A Member also paid tribute to Mr. B. Bingham, MBE, former Northern Ireland international footballer and football manger, who had recently passed away and the Lord Mayor agreed to forward a letter of condolence to his family.  

Congratulations

            A Member offered congratulations to Councillor McMullan and his family, on the recent birth of his daughter, Olive.

            Congratulations and best wishes for a happy retirement were also extended to Mrs. Rose Crozier, who had retired after almost 42 years’ service with the Council. 

Hazelwood Integrated College

            At the request of a Member, the Lord Mayor agreed to extend an invitation to representative from Hazelwood Integrated College to attend a reception in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour to mark the college having been awarded the prize of secondary school of the ear in the Tes School Awards.

Publication of Pride Guide

            A Member referred to the 50th Anniversary of London Pride which was an important milestone and also welcomed the publication of the ‘Pride Guide’ and he encouraged the Members to attend the official launch on 22nd July.

US Supreme Court – Roe v Wade

            A Member referred to the recent decision of the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade and encouraged the access to abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Briefing with Financial Services Union

            A Members referred to the recent useful briefing with the Financial Services Union regarding the potential job losses at the Ulster Bank and thanked the Lord Mayor’s Unit for organising it.

Antrim Hurling Team – Joe McDonagh Cup

            At the request of a Member, the Lord Mayor agreed to write to the Antrim Hurling Team to congratulate the Team on its recent success winning the Joe McDonagh Cup and to invite representatives to attend a reception to mark the achievement.

Thanks from Lord Mayor

            The Lord Mayor stated that she wished to place on record her personal thanks to the numerous groups and organisations that had welcomed and congratulated her following her recent appointment as Lord Mayor.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received of the following changes in membership:

            Alliance

·        Councillor Nelson to replace former Councillor McAllister on the Cathedral Quarter Trust;

·        Councillor Maghie to replace former Councillor Mulholland on the Northern Ireland Local Government Association;

·        Councillor Murray to replace former Councillor Nicholl on the Lagan Rural Partnership Action Group, the Lagan Valley Regional Park Advisory Committee and the Forward South Partnership;

·        Councillor Long to replace former Councillor McReynolds on the Northern Ireland Amenity Council;

·        Councillor McMullan to replace former Councillor McReynolds on the Arc21 Joint Committee; and

·        Councillor Maghie to replace former Councillor McReynolds on the Eastside Partnership.

            DUP

·        Councillor Douglas to replace Councillor Newton on the East Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership; and

·        Councillor Thompson to replace former Alderman Kingston on the Greater Shankill Partnership Board.

Green

·        Councillor Smyth to replace Councillor Flynn on the Eastside Partnership.

            Sinn Fein

·        Councillor Duffy to replace former Councillor Baker on the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            The Council noted the changes.

            Moved by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

            Seconded by Councillor Walsh,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th June, 2022, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

City Hall: Proposed Recovery Plan

            In response to a Member’s request, and with the agreement of both the Chairman and Lord Mayor, the Council agreed that the Lord Mayor would convene a multi-agency meeting to help speed up and coordinate the City Recovery Programme. 

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the aforementioned amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th June were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor McMullan,

Seconded by Councillor Flynn,

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 7th and 21st June, be approved and adopted.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of the People and Communities Committee of 11th January, under the heading “Erection of Dual Language Street Sign at Clifton Street”, which was previously called in and for which a legal opinion has now been received (minute and legal opinion attached)

            Moved by Councillor McMullan,

            Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin,

      That the minute of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 11th January, 2022 re: Erection of Dual Language Street Sign at Clifton Street be approved and adopted.

            On a vote to adopt the minute, thirty-nine Members voted for and fourteen against and accordingly the minute was approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Murphy,

Seconded by Councillor Murray,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th and 22nd June, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Murphy,

            Seconded by Councillor Maskey,

      That the decision of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th June, under the heading “Renewed Ambition Programme Update”, in relation to MIPIM 2023, be amended to provide that the Council be represented by officers only, with no Political representation.

            On a vote, nineteen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-two against and it was declared lost.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Groogan,

            Seconded by Councillor Ferguson,

      That the decision of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th June, under the heading “Renewed Ambition Programme Update”, in relation to MIPIM 2023, be amended to provide that the Council would not have any representation at the event.

            On a recorded vote, seven Members voted for the amendment, twenty-five against and with nineteen no votes it was declared lost.

            Councillor Spratt requested that the minutes be amended to reflect that he had been in attendance at the 8th June Committee.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the aforementioned amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committees of 8th and 22nd June, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Matt Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 30th May and 15th June, be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Whyte,

            Seconded by Councillor Murphy,

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 14th June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Maghie,

            Seconded by Councillor Howard,

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd Shareholders Committee of 20th June, 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 Murphy,

            Councillor Thompson requested that the minutes be amended to reflect that she had attended the meeting.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the aforementioned amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Climate and City Resilience Committee of 9th June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hanvey,

            Seconded by Councillor Douglas,

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 28th June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

To be proposed by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor M. Kelly,

To be seconded by Councillor Bower,

“This Council supports taking measures to encourage a broader demographic to stand for, become elected and remain as local Councillors.

It recognises that hybrid meetings enable easier participation from those with young families and caring responsibilities and disabled people, amongst others, therefore, they are more likely to consider elected roles.

The Council, therefore, supports maintaining a mixture of online and in-person access to meetings.

Notwithstanding the outcome of the recent call for evidence from the Department of Communities on Remote/Hybrid meetings, the Council will write to that Department expressing its desire for the ability to continue to hold both full Council and Committee meetings in hybrid form.”

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor M. Kelly proposed:

“This Council supports taking measures to encourage a broader demographic to stand for, become elected and remain as local Councillors.

It recognises that hybrid meetings enable easier participation from those with young families and caring responsibilities and disabled people, amongst others, therefore, they are more likely to consider elected roles.

The Council, therefore, supports maintaining a mixture of online and in-person access to meetings.

Notwithstanding the outcome of the recent call for evidence from the Department of Communities on Remote/Hybrid meetings, the Council will write to that Department expressing its desire for the ability to continue to hold both full Council and Committee meetings in hybrid form.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Bower.

            The motion was put to the meeting and passed.