Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen McCoubrey, McKee and Sandford and Councillor Milne.

Resricted ItemNo declarations of interest were reported.

The information contained in the following report is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

The Director of Finance and Resources presented the Members with the proposed Cash Limit for the People and Communities Committee for the year 2017/18, as recommended by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 20th January, 2017.

            He outlined to the Members the next steps in the rate setting process which would lead to the district rate being set by the Council at its meeting on 1st February. 

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting held on 6th December, a proposal had been agreed to reduce the 3G pitch hourly rate hire charges by 25%.  The Director of Finance informed the Committee that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 20th January, had agreed not to fund the loss of £17,500 income from the district rate and had also agreed that the matter would be referred back to the People and Communities Committee for its consideration in the context of the 2017/18 committee cash limit.

            A supplementary report from the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services was then tabled at the meeting for the Members consideration which included 3 cost saving options.

            The Members considered the 3 options and following detailed consideration it was

            Moved by Councillor Jones,

            Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

            That the required saving of £17,500 be made by making pro rata savings from the following projects:

·    a reduction in the partnership funding to Heathy Cities by £8,290;

·    a reduction in the partnership funding to Keep NI Beautiful for Eco-Schools by £1,842; and

·    a reduction in the programme funding to the Park Life Scheme by £7,368.

            On a vote by a show of hands, 8 Members voted for the proposal and 3 against and it was declared carried.

            After discussion, the Committee:

1.     agreed that the report would not be subject to call-in, given that it would cause an unreasonable delay and would be prejudicial to both the Council and the public’s interests in striking the district rate by the legislative deadline of 15th February, 2017;

2.     agreed that a cash limit of £76,242,845 be set for the People and Communities Committee, for the year 2017/2018, with the individual service cash limits detailed in the report;

3.     agreed that the required saving of £17,500 to fund the reduction of the 3G hourly hire charges pitch would be made by a reduction in partnership and programme funding to the Healthy Cities (£8,290); Keep NI Beautiful for Eco-Schools (£1,842); and the Park Life Scheme (£7,368); and

4.     noted the next steps in the rate setting process.