Agenda and minutes

The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported for Councillors T. Brooks and McCusker.

Councillor Long declared an interest in item LA04/2024/0168/F within the Planning Committee minutes, in that he was the applicant.

Councillor Bunting declared an interest in the item “2024 Summer Community Diversionary Festivals (SCDF) Programme” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that the organisation for which she was secretary, had applied for funding under the Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT).

Alderman Copeland declared an interest in the item “2024 Summer Community Diversionary Festivals (SCDF) Programme” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that her daughter worked for the GVRT.

Councillor McCabe declared an interest in the item “2024 Summer Community Diversionary Festivals (SCDF) Programme” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that the organisation for which she worked, Feile an Phobail, had applied for funding.

Councillor I. McLaughlin declared an interest in the item “Invite to participate in Building Cultural Networks Convention on Cultural Expression” in that he worked for one of the organisations on the steering group.

As none of the abovementioned became the subject of debate, the Members were not required to leave the meeting.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Murphy),

Seconded by Councillor Beattie and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 7th May, be taken as read and signed as correct.

            Casement Park

            Councillor Doherty stated that a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) delegation would be visiting Belfast the following week to review plans for the hosting of the European Championships in 2028.   He highlighted that the progress with the redevelopment of Casement Park was urgent and that the Executive needed to engage with the UK Parliament to expedite the re-build.

            Condolences

            Councillor Lyons extended his condolences to the family of Gerry Dawe, a great Irish poet, who had recently passed away.  The Lord Mayor agreed that a letter would be sent to his family on behalf of the Council.

            Welcome

            Councillor Long and the Lord Mayor welcomed Councillor Abernethy to his first Council meeting and wished him well in his new role.

Congratulations

            Councillor McCormick congratulated the East Belfast Football Club on winning the Northern Amateur Premier Division title for the first time in 30 years.

            Alderman Lawlor and the Lord Mayor congratulated Councillor McCormick and his wife on the recent birth of their daughter, Sofia.

            World Bicycle Day

            Councillor Nelson advised the Council that it was World Bicycle Day and that Sustrans was running its Active Travel Challenge in June and he encouraged as many people as possible to sign up.

            Little Amal

            He also paid tribute to the officers and the Belfast 2024 Team who had contributed to the successful events which had been held across the City for “Little Amal”, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child, which had been really positive.

            The Chief Executive drew the Council’s attention to a report which identified the persons who had been selected by the Nominating Officer of each Political Party to hold the following Positions of Responsibility in year two of the current Council term:

            The Council agreed to appoint the Members to the positions of responsibility as set out above.

            The Chief Executive advised the Council that a request to film parts of the Council meeting had been received from a number of media outlets.

            The Council acceded to the request.

            The Lord Mayor reviewed his year in office, which he stated had been one of the greatest honours of his lifetime.  He stated that he had been privileged to have been invited to visit all four corners of the City and to celebrate the diversity within it.  He paid tribute to the huge number of young people that he had met during his time in office and to those who were working to make the City better for everyone.  He thanked his Political Party for nominating him to the role and his family, particular his wife, Bridgeen.  He thanked the Deputy Lord Mayor, the two High Sheriffs which he had worked alongside, his staff, other Members and Council staff for all of their support and wished the incoming Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor every success for the year ahead.

            The Deputy Lord Mayor referred to a number of memorable events from her year in office and paid tribute to the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, her Political Party, her family and Council staff for the valuable assistance which they had provided.  She stated that she had been grateful to have worked with a number of important charities during her time in office, including Outburst Arts, Friends of the Earth, the Womens Resource and Development Agency and DKMS blood stem cell donation.  She wished the incoming Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor well in their forthcoming term of office.

            Representatives of a number of Political Parties paid tribute to the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord for the manner in which they had fulfilled their duties during their year in office.

            The Chief Executive reminded the Council that it had, earlier in the meeting, approved the Positions of Responsibility for 2024/2025 and that Councillor Murray had been nominated to serve as Lord Mayor.

            Accordingly, Councillor Murray was installed in Office for the period to end on the date of the annual meeting of the Council in 2025 and he subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

            Councillor Murray thanked his Political Party for nominating him to serve as Lord Mayor.  He stated that he was honoured to be the first openly gay Lord Mayor of Belfast.  He outlined his main priorities for the forthcoming year, which included a focus on breaking down barriers within the City and helping those who were homeless.  He paid tribute to the previous Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor for the manner in which they had carried out their duties.  He stated that he was looking forward to the year ahead and to working with the Deputy Lord Mayor and the High Sheriff.

(The Lord Mayor, Councillor Murray, in the Chair.)

            The Council was again reminded that earlier in the meeting Councillor McCormick had, under the Positions of Responsibility for 2024/2025, been nominated to serve as Deputy Lord Mayor.

            Accordingly, Councillor McCormick was installed in Office for the period to end on the date of the annual meeting of the Council in 2025 and he subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.       

            He paid tribute to the previous Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, thanked his Political Party for nominating him to serve as Deputy Lord Mayor and outlined his main objectives for his term in office.  He stated that he was looking forward to the year ahead and to working with the Lord Mayor and the High Sheriff.

(The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor McCormick, in the Chair.)

            The Chief Executive drew the Council’s attention to a report which identified the following persons who had been nominated by the Nominating Officer of each Political Party to the Council’s Standing Committees for 2024/2025:

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

People and Communities Committee

City Growth and Regeneration Committee

Licensing Committee

         The Chief Executive advised the Council that notification had been received from the Alliance Party indicating that it wished Councillor Abernethy to replace Councillor McMullan on:

·        the Fairtrade Steering Group;

·        the Shared City Partnership; and

·        the Eastside Partnership.

         He also advised the Council that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party indicating that it wished:

·        Councillor R. Brooks to replace Councillor Bunting on the Belfast Dublin Economic Corridor; 

·        Councillor Verner to replace Councillor D. Douglas on the Community Planning Partnership; and

·        that it wished to give up its position on ARC21 as it was unable to nominate a Member who could attend during working hours.

The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

            Moved by Councillor Murphy,

            Seconded by Councillor Ferguson and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th and 31st May, 2024, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Verner,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 2nd May, be approved and adopted.

            Blanchflower Stadium –

            Preferential Use Agreement

            At the request of a Member, the Chief Executive confirmed that the Needs Based Assessment, which would be brought back for the Committee’s consideration, would include an analysis based on gender.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor de Faoite

Seconded by Smyth and

      Resolved - That the decision under the heading “Update on Events Social Value Levy Fund” be amended to provide that, in relation to the Ormeau Park fees, discussion be held between the Councillors representing the Botanic, Titanic and Lisnasharragh District Electoral Areas before going to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for approval.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 2nd May were thereupon approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Nelson

Seconded by Councillor Duffy, and

      Resolved- That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 8th and 29th May, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Carson

Seconded by Councillor Murphy, and

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

            Moved by Alderman Lawlor,

            Seconded by Councillor Kelly,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 23rd May, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            Amendment

            Moved by Councillor de Faoite,

            Seconded by Councillor Doherty,

                  That the decision under the heading “Official Announcements”, be rejected.

            On a vote by show of hands, six Members voted for the amendment and forty-eight against, and it was accordingly declared lost.

      Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 23rd May were thereupon approved and adopted.