Agenda and minutes

            In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.

With the permission of the Lord Mayor, Alderman R. Patterson referred to the announcement earlier that day that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expecting their first child. 

            Accordingly, the Lord Mayor agreed that he would write to the Royal couple to convey best wishes on the announcement

With the permission of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Webb expressed his gratitude to all the Members and officers of the Council who had partaken in the annual ‘Movember’ charity appeal.

            The Council endorsed the sentiments of Councillor Webb.

The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

An apology was reported on behalf of Alderman Ekin.

The Chief Executive reported that a number of requests to film and record the proceedings of the meeting had been received from broadcasting organisations.

            It was

            Moved by Alderman Stalford,

            Seconded by Alderman R. Patterson,

      That the representatives of ‘An Phoblacht’ be excluded from the meeting.

            On a vote by show of hands twenty-one members voted for the proposal and twenty-nine against and it was accordingly declared lost.

            The representatives of the broadcasting organisations were admitted to the meeting.

1^st November, 2012

            Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor,

            Seconded by Councillor Lavery and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly and Special Meetings of the Council of 1st November be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party indicating that it wished Alderman McCoubrey to replace Councillor Kingston on the West Belfast District Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

            The Council approved the aforementioned change of membership.

Minutes of meetings of 9^th and 23^rd November.

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

            Seconded by Councillor Lavery,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 9th and 23rd November and the Voluntary Transition Committee of 9th November be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Flying of the Union Flag at the Belfast City Hall

            Moved by Councillor Hendron,

            Seconded by Councillor Jones,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd November under the heading “Flying of the Union Flag at the Belfast City Hall” be amended to provide that this Council should adopt the practice of flying the Union Flag on designated days, as applied at Parliament Buildings. This reflects the agreed sovereignty of Northern Ireland confirmed in the Good Friday Agreement and accepted by all its signatories.  By doing it regularly and with dignity, we recognise that we live in a society and City made up of people who are British, Irish and both.  The designated days’ solution does justice to these principles; the agreement by all on British sovereignty; the fact of a shared society; and the need for respect and avoiding all triumphalism and the arrangements currently operating at Stormont. It also reflects the preferred determination of the Equality Commission.

            A division on the amendment was demanded.

            A poll having been taken, there voted for it twenty-nine Members and against it twenty-one Members and it was declared carried:

THE COUNCIL STOOD ADJOURNED FOR 50 MINUTES.

Further Amendment

Flying of the Union Flag at the Belfast City Hall

            Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

            Seconded by Alderman Browne,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd November under the heading “Flying of the Union Flag at the Belfast City Hall” be further amended to provide that the Council’s Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and the Historic Centenaries Working Group be requested to consider a proposal that the Union Flag be flown 365 days a year in the civic space in the Garden of Remembrance in the grounds of the City Hall with a view that a report thereon be submitted for consideration by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 14th December.

            A division on the amendment was demanded.

            A poll having been taken, there voted for it thirty-four Members and against it sixteen Members and it was declared carried:

Minutes of meetings of 12^th and 15^th November.

            Moved by Councillor McCabe,

            Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

      That the minutes of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 12th and 15th November be taken as read and signed as correct.

Amendment

Suffolk Football Club

            Moved by Alderman Stoker,

            Seconded by Alderman Rodgers and

      Resolved - That the decision of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 15th November under the heading “Suffolk Football Club – Proposed Changing Facilities” be amended to provide that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee include within its Capital Programme’s list of uncommitted programmes the provision of a two-room changing pavilion and meeting area at the Suffolk Playing Fields.

Amendment

Scale of Charges 2013/2014 – Cemeteries/Crematorium

            Moved by Councillor Hartley,

            Seconded by Councillor McVeigh,

      That the decision of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 15th November under the heading “Scale of Charges for Parks and Leisure Services 2013/2014 – Cemeteries/Crematorium” be rejected and the Council agrees not to increase burial and cremation charges for Belfast residents in 2013/2014.

            On a vote by a show of hands sixteen Members voted for the proposal and thirty-one against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Amendment

Proposed Redevelopment of Windsor Park

            Moved by Alderman Stoker,

            Seconded by Alderman Rodgers and

      Resolved - That the minute of the meeting of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 12th November under the heading “Proposed Redevelopment of Windsor Park” be amended to provide that monthly progress reports be submitted to the Committee on the project.

Amendment

Scale of Charges 2013/2014 – Belfast Zoo

            Moved by Councillor Hartley,

            Seconded by Councillor Corr,

      That the decision of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 15th November under the heading “Scale of Charges for Parks and Leisure Services 2013/2014 – Belfast Zoo” be rejected and the Council agrees that the number of children gaining admittance to the Belfast Zoo on a family ticket be increased from three to five.

            On a vote by show of hands seventeen Members voted for the proposal and twenty-eight against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments in relation to the Suffolk Football Club and the Proposed Redevelopment of Windsor Park, the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 12th and 15th November were approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 6^th and 20^th November.

Moved by Alderman Stalford,

            Seconded by Councillor Ó Muilleoir,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 6th and 20th November be approved and adopted.

Amendment

St. Patrick’s Day 2013

            Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

            Seconded by Alderman Stoker,

      That the decision of the Development Committee of 20th November under the heading “St Patrick’s Day 2013” be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

            On a vote by show of hands twenty-five Members voted for the proposal and twenty-four against and it was accordingly declared carried.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the aforementioned amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 6th and 20th November were thereupon approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 7^th November.

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

            Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,

      That the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 7th November be approved and adopted.

Request for item to be taken back for further consideration

            At the request of Alderman Stoker, the Council agreed that the minute of the meeting of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 7th November under the heading “Local Community Safety Services” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the omission of the above-mentioned item, the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 7th November were thereupon approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 21^st November.

Moved by Councillor Hussey,

            Seconded by Councillor M. E. Campbell and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 21st November, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 29^th October, 8^th and 22^nd of November.

Moved by Councillor L. Patterson,

            Seconded by Councillor Kingston and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 29th October, 8th and 22nd November, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

In accordance with Notice on the Agenda Councillor McCarthy proposed:

      “This Council views with interest the collective switching scheme which operates in Belgium whereby a large number of households band together and ask energy companies for the best deal they can offer to the group as a whole.  Such a scheme has been shown to result in very significant reductions in household bills.

      Fuel poverty in Northern Ireland is a major problem.  A family is considered to be ‘fuel poor’ if it spends more than 10% of its income on heating and lighting.  A recent study has estimated that up to 44% of households in Northern Ireland fall into this category.  The Council has been campaigning for some time to help reduce fuel poverty in the City and has already introduced a fuel stamps’ scheme to help households save for energy bills. 

      The introduction of a scheme similar to that in Belgium would be a welcome step in helping lift a large number of families out of fuel poverty.  To this end, the Council will investigate the possibility of the introduction of such a scheme in Belfast, including opening up discussions with energy providers and liaising with community and other groups throughout the City to ascertain the level of interest and how this might best be achieved.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Hanna.

            Prior to the Notice of Motion being considered, the Lord Mayor reminded the Council that Standing Order 11(e) specified that, if the subject of any Motion of which notice had been given came under the province of any Committee, it would, upon being moved and seconded, stand referred without discussion to that Committee, or to such other Committee as the Council may determine for consideration.

            Accordingly, the Lord Mayor indicated that the Motion would be referred to the Health and Environmental Services Committee without debate.

Alderman R. Newton indicated that he wished to withdraw the Notice of Motion standing in his name and resubmit it for consideration by the Council at its meeting on 7th January.