Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported on behalf of the Chairperson (Councillor Hanvey) and Councillors Kyle, McAteer and Pankhurst.

            The minutes of the meeting of 23rd August were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council, at its meeting on 1st September.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

The Committee was informed that the following motion, which had been proposed by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor M. Kelly) and seconded by Councillor Smyth, had been received for consideration by the Council at its meeting on 3rd October:

            The Committee agreed that the motion be considered in two parts, with the first part, as set out hereunder, being adopted by the Committee:

“Parenting Week 2022 is Monday 17th to Friday 22nd October, this Council recognises and acknowledges the vital importance of parents in society.

Furthermore, it notes that in Parenting NI’s latest Cost of Living Survey, 99% of parents are concerned about rising costs and the impact which this is going to have on their family and 69% of parents said that their financial has situation deteriorated in the last six months.

In order to bring attention to and attempt to redress this situation, the Council formally supports Parenting Week 2022 and parents in Belfast. The Council pledges to work towards ensuring that parents are given enough support to be the best parent they can be to improve the outcomes of their children, especially during the current cost-of-living crisis.”

The Committee agreed that the second part of the motion, as set out hereunder, be referred, in the first instance, to the People and Communities Committee for consideration:

“To support parents, the Council commits to providing a list of existing initiatives which it delivers, with a view to working with the voluntary and community sector, as well as other partners, to explore if such initiatives may be improved, as well as seeking to bring forward new programmes during the cost-of-living crisis. The Council also commits to seeking parents’ views on any further support it will provide to families to ensure that parent voice is a significant factor in the design and implementation of new initiatives that will help tackle the cost-of-living crisis for parents.”