Agenda and minutes

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

The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Councillors Kelly and McNamee.

            The Lord Mayor reported that Alderman Smyth had resigned from the Council at the end of December and he welcomed his replacement, namely, Councillor Hutchinson.

            Representatives of each of the Political Parties paid tribute to the former Alderman Smyth and to Alderman R. Newton, who was attending his last meeting, in view of his pending resignation, for the contribution which they had, over the years, made to the Council and their constituents.

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, congratulated Councillor Hanna and her husband on the recent birth of their daughter.

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Members, extended congratulations to Mr. Andrew Hassard, Director of Parks and Leisure, and Mr. Tim Husbands, the former Head of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls, on being awarded the Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

            It was reported that Mrs. Hazel Francey, Good Relations Manager, would be retiring from the Council at the beginning of February after twenty-eight years of service. 

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Members, thanked Mrs. Francey for her contribution to the work of the Council during that time and wished her well in her retirement.

            The Lord Mayor referred to the recent threat of tidal flooding in parts of the City, which had necessitated the implementation of emergency response arrangements on behalf of the Council and a number of statutory organisations. He commended the work of the Elected Members, staff of the Council and those organisations who had worked tirelessly to ensure that appropriate measures had been put in place to minimise the threat of flooding to households and businesses in the affected areas. 

            Representatives of each of the Political Parties endorsed the comments made by the Lord Mayor, following which it was agreed that a letter be forwarded to those members of staff who had been involved in the Council’s response to the emergency, acknowledging the valuable contribution which they had made. 

            Moved by Councillor Hendron,

            Seconded by Alderman Ekin and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 2nd December be taken as read and signed as correct.

            At the request of Councillor Mullan, the Council agreed that the above?mentioned Notice of Motion be referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for further consideration.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Progressive Unionist Party indicating that it wished Councillor Hutchinson to replace Councillor Kyle on the Belfast Statutory Transition Committee and the former Alderman Smyth on the West Belfast District Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

            The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

            Moved by Alderman Robinson,

            Seconded by Councillor Hendron and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 13th December be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor McKee,

Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 5th December be approved and adopted.

            Cherryvale Playing Fields – 3G Pitch

            At the request of Councillor Hendron and with the permission of the Council, the Chairman (Councillor McKee) agreed that the minute under the heading “Cherryvale Playing Fields – 3G Pitch” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration. 

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing omission, the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 5th December were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 3rd December be approved and adopted.

            At the request of Alderman Rodgers, the Council agreed to the amendment of the decision under the heading “Transport Issues – Update” to provide that all Members of the Council be invited to attend the presentation by the Department for Regional Development.

            Olympia Community Centre

            At the request of Alderman R. Patterson and with the permission of the Council, the Chairman (Councillor Hargey) agreed that the minute under the heading “Olympia Community Centre” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration. 

Recruitment of Head of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls

Moved by Councillor Keenan,

Seconded by Councillor Mallon,

      That the decision of the Development Committee under the heading “Recruitment of Head of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls” be amended to provide that the selection panel be comprised of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, together with Councillor Kelly (or their nominees).

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

            Subject to the foregoing amendment and omission, the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 3rd December were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Corr,

Seconded by Councillor M.E. Campbell and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 4thDecember be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Corr,

Seconded by Councillor M. E. Campbell and

      Resolved - That the Council agrees to pass the Resolution in respect of the Belfast City Council Traffic Regulation (South Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013, as set out on the summons and within the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 4th December, and to be effective from 6th January, 2014.

Moved by Alderman Ekin,

Seconded by Councillor Spence and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 11th December, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Alderman M. Campbell,

Seconded by Councillor M.E. Campbell and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 12th December, 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 Ó Donnghaile proposed:

      “This Council notes with sadness the death of the former South African President Nelson Mandela, acknowledges his role in bringing freedom, justice, equality and peace to all the peoples of South Africa and notes, in thanks also, his contribution in assisting the development of the peace process here in Ireland. This Council sends the sympathies of the citizens of Belfast to his family and the Government of the Republic of South Africa."

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Attwood.

            The proposer agreed, at the request of Councillor Reynolds, to amend the motion to provide for the exclusion of the words “and notes, in thanks also, his contribution in assisting the development of the peace process here in Ireland.”

            The motion, as amended, was thereupon put to the meeting and passed unanimously.

In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Corr proposed:

      “This Council recognises the increasing social and economic hardship experienced by people in our communities as a result of growing unemployment and cuts to welfare benefits. The Council accepts that it has a duty to use the powers available to it (including but not limited to planning, regulation and procurement powers), to generate positive outcomes for the most marginalised in our communities and hereby commits to including at every available opportunity a ‘Real Jobs’ clause in contracts tendered by the Council to procure goods, services and capital works. The ‘Real Jobs’ clause will guarantee ring fenced, fully paid jobs and apprenticeships for the long-term unemployed (12+ months).”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Keenan.

            In accordance with Standing Order (11e), the Lord Mayor confirmed that the matter would be referred without discussion to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Attwood proposed:

      "This Council notes the International Relations Framework which aims to enhance Belfast internationally for trade, investment and study.

      The Council notes that, in 2008, the Organisation for Economic Co?operation and Development undertook an economic review of Belfast which recommended that, post the Review of Public Administration, if Belfast was to realise its true economic potential, there was an urgent need to establish a new delivery vehicle, known as the Belfast Investment Development Agency, which would focus on securing strategic investment, attracting inward investment and investment in the built environment and communication infrastructure.

      The Council agrees to pro-actively consider the establishment of an economic delivery vehicle similar to the Belfast Investment Development Agency."

            The motion was seconded by Councillor McCarthy.

            In accordance with Standing Order (11e), the Lord Mayor confirmed that the matter would be referred without discussion to the Development Committee.