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 the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mallon) and Councillor Cunningham.

            Moved by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Hendron),

            Seconded by Alderman Stalford and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 3rd November be taken as read and signed as correct.

The Deputy Lord Mayor welcomed to her first meeting Councillor McAteer, who had replaced the former Member Councillor Ó Muilleoir on the Council.

            Alderman R. Patterson expressed her gratitude to those Council officers and participants who had contributed to the success of the event which had taken place at the Belfast Castle on 19th November to celebrate International Men’s Day.

            Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

            Seconded by Councillor Attwood and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st November be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hanna,

            Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 6th November, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Reconsidered Item: 22 and 23 Shaftesbury Square

Moved by Alderman Stoker,

Seconded by Alderman Browne and

      Resolved – That the decision under the heading “Reconsidered Item: 22 and 23 Shaftesbury Square” be rejected and accordingly the Council rejects the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the meeting of the Town Planning Committee of 6th November were approved and adopted.

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

“This Council calls on all Members and officers to sign the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Charter.  This five-point Charter recognises the rights and priorities of people living with MND and their carers, sets out what good care looks like for them and is designed to raise awareness and understanding of this devastating disease.

The Council also requests the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to give consideration to hosting a civic reception within the City Hall and for the City Hall to be illuminated for that event in appropriate colours to allow campaigners to raise awareness on this important issue.”

The Motion was seconded by Alderman Kingston.

            In accordance with Standing Order 11(e), the Deputy 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 McNamee proposed:

      “This Council, cognisant of its responsibility as an equal opportunities employer and civic leader, seeks to establish a BME (Black Minority Ethnic) steering group to encourage and promote ethnic representation within the Council's workforce and seeks to address the issue of under?representation of people from the BME community in political life, supplementing and strengthening the work already undertaken as part of the Workforce Race Action Plan 2012-2015.”

                  The Motion was seconded by Councillor Keenan.

            In accordance with Standing Order 11(e), the Deputy 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, Alderman Robinson proposed:

      “In wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful, Prosperous New Year, Belfast City Council recognises the unique contribution which the festive season makes to the overall vibrancy of Northern Ireland's economy.

      The Council, therefore:

-     endorses Small Business Saturday which is taking place on 6th December;

-     calls upon the Minister for Regional Development to remove bus lane restrictions each Saturday in the lead up to Christmas;

-     agrees to make available, free of charge, on Saturdays during December and over  the New Year period its car parks in Ormeau Avenue and Raphael Street; and

-     highlights the various messages issued by the Council and other agencies promoting public safety over the festive season.”

            The Motion was seconded by Alderman Stalford.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Hanna,

            Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

      That the Notice of Motion be amended to provide that the words “calls upon the Minister for Regional Development to remove bus lane restrictions each Saturday in the lead up to Christmas” be deleted.

            The amendment was put to the meeting and passed unanimously.

            The Motion, as amended, was thereupon put to the Council as the Substantive Motion and passed unanimously.