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.

            An apology was reported on behalf of Alderman Webb.

            Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mallon), Seconded by Alderman Stalford and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the special meeting of the Council of 25th September and the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st October be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Lord Mayor extended, on behalf of the Council, congratulations to Alderman Webb and his wife, Claire, on the recent birth of their daughter.

            The Lord Mayor informed the Council that this would be the last meeting which would be attended by Councillor Ó Muilleoir as he would be joining the Northern Ireland Assembly as an MLA.  She paid tribute to Councillor Ó Muilleoir for the service which he had provided to the Council and his constituents during his time as an Elected Member.

            The Chief Executive reported that the High Sheriff (Alderman L. Patterson) had received from the Northern Ireland Office a letter inviting her, in accordance with normal practice, to submit to the Secretary of State the names of three persons suitable for the appointment of the High Sheriff of Belfast for the year 2015. 

            The Council agreed to submit one name only for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff and, accordingly, the Lord Mayor invited nominations from the Council.

            Councillor McKee was proposed by Alderman Robinson and seconded by Alderman Stalford, whilst Councillor McNamee was proposed by Alderman Ekin and seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Hendron).

            On a vote by show of hands twenty Members voted for Councillor McKee and five for Councillor McNamee.

            Accordingly, it was agreed that Councillor McKee be nominated to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff for the City of Belfast for the year 2015.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party advising that it wished Councillor Newton to replace Councillor McKee on the Parks and Leisure Committee and to replace him also as the Chairman of that Committee.

            The Committee approved the aforementioned change.

            Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

            Seconded by Alderman Stalford,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th October be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Bonfire Management Programme 2014

Moved by Alderman Robinson,

Seconded by Councillor Kennedy,

      That the decision under the heading “Bonfire Management Programme 2014” be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

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

Requests for the Use of the City Hall

and the Provision of Civic Hospitality

            At the request of Councillor McVeigh, the Council agreed that the level of funding for hospitality which had been allocated to the Falls Youth Providers, as approved by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 19th September and the Council on 1st October, be increased by £300.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th October were adopted and approved.

            Moved by Councillor Newton,

            Seconded by Alderman Robinson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 16th October be approved and adopted.

Private Patrick Carlin –

Victoria Cross Recipient

            At the request of Alderman Stoker, the Council agreed that officers write to the Ulster History Circle requesting that consideration be given to erecting a Blue Plaque at the gates to the former Donegall Road Cemetery to mark the original burial place of Private Carlin.

Amendment

Falls Park Pitch Development

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Keenan,

      That the decision under the heading “Falls Park Pitch Development” be amended to provide that the Council agrees to delay proceeding with the development of the pitch at the Falls Park for a further period of one month, to enable an additional public information session, which would be facilitated by the Council, to be undertaken with local residents.

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

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 16th October were approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hargey,

            Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 21st October be approved and adopted.

Amendment

World Pipe Band Championships

Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

Seconded by Alderman Kingston and

      Resolved – That the decision under the heading “World Pipe Band Championships” be rejected and, accordingly, the Council affirms the previous decision of the Development Committee of 23rd April, 2013, and agrees to submit an in principle bid to host the World Pipe Band Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018, subject to adequate resources being identified.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 21st October were approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Corr,

            Seconded by Councillor McCarthy and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 8th October be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Alderman Ekin,

            Seconded by Councillor Spence and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 6th and 22nd October, 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 Alderman Rodgers and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 9th October, 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, Alderman Stalford proposed:

       “This Council:

1.     Recognised in 2000 that it is inherently cruel and unjustifiable for circuses to use animals that are coerced into performing tricks or engaging in behaviours that they otherwise would not do in the absence of coercion and adopted a policy to prohibit circuses containing animal acts from using Council-owned property;

2.     Believes that there should be a United Kingdom-wide ban on circuses that use animals; and

3.     Would encourage other councils throughout Northern Ireland to adopt the same policy stance as that taken by the Council in 2000.”

The Motion was seconded by Councillor McNamee.

            After discussion, the Motion was put to the meeting and passed unanimously.