Agenda and minutes

Prior to the meeting commencing, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen Convery, McKee and R. Patterson and Councillors Boyle, Carson, Collins, Jones and Mullan.

No declarations of interest were reported.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Kingston),

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Campbell) and

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

Request to Film ProceedingsExpression of Sympathy

            Several Members referred to the death on 28th May of the father of the Lord Mayor and extended to him their deepest condolences.

            The Lord Mayor thanked the Members for their kind remarks.            

Manchester Terror Attack

            The Council noted that, following the recent attack in Manchester, the Lord Mayor had written to Councillor Eddy Newman, Lord Mayor of Manchester, and to Mr. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to express his deepest sympathy at the loss of life and to pledge his support to the people of the city.

Mr. Eamon Deeny

            Councillor Graham informed the Council that Mr. Eamon Deeny, Head of Corporate Communications, would be leaving the Council in the near future to take up employment with the Northern Ireland Office. 

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked Mr. Deeny for the contribution which he had made during his time with the Council and wished him success in his new role.

            The Chief Executive reported that requests had been received from a number of broadcasting companies to film the installation of the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor.

            The Council agreed to accede to the requests.

            The Chief Executive drew the Council’s attention to a report which identified the persons who had been selected by the Nominating Officer of each Political Party to hold the following Positions of Responsibility in Year 3 of the current Council term:

            The Council agreed to appoint the Members to the positions of responsibility for 2017/2018, as set out above.

            The Lord Mayor reviewed his term in office and expressed his appreciation for the support which he had received from his Political Party, his family, the Deputy Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, the previous High Sheriff and other Members. He thanked also the Chief Executive and staff from across the Council who had assisted him over the course of the year and wished the incoming Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor every success over the forthcoming year.

            The Deputy Lord Mayor reviewed her year in office and thanked the Lord Mayor, her Political Party, her family, other Members and Council staff for their support. She concluded by wishing Councillor McAllister and Councillor Copeland well in their role of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, respectively.

            Representatives of each of the Political Parties on the Council paid tribute to the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor for the manner in which they had fulfilled their duties during their year in office.

            The Chief Executive reminded the Council that it had, earlier in the meeting, approved the Positions of Responsibility for 2017/2018 and that Councillor McAllister had been nominated to serve as Lord Mayor and Councillor Copeland as Deputy Lord Mayor for the period to end on the date of the annual meeting of the Council in 2018.

            Accordingly, Councillor McAllister and Councillor Copeland were installed in Office and subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

            Councillor McAllister thanked her Political Party for nominating her to serve as Lord Mayor, highlighted her main priorities for the forthcoming year, which would focus upon the theme ‘Global Belfast’, and paid tribute to the previous Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor for the manner in which they had carried out their duties.

            Councillor Copeland paid tribute also to the previous Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, thanked her Political Party for nominating her to serve as Deputy Lord Mayor and outlined the main objectives for her term in office.

(The Lord Mayor, Councillor McAllister, in the Chair.)

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from two Political Parties of the following changes to Committees:     

            Alliance

·        Councillor Jones to replace Councillor McDonough-Brown on the Licensing Committee; and

·        Councillor McDonough-Brown to replace Councillor Jones on the Planning Committee.

            Sinn Fein

·        Councillor O’Donnell to replace Councillor Carson on the City Growth and Regeneration Committee;

·        Councillor Carson to replace Councillor Magennis on the Licensing Committee; and

·        Councillors Beattie and Campbell to replace Councillors Clarke and O’Donnell on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

Seconded by Councillor Hussey,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic and Policy and Resources Committee of 19th May be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Designation of Belfast District (or

the City Centre) as a Holiday Resort

Moved by Councillor Nicholl,

Seconded by Councillor Corr Johnston,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th May, under the heading “Designation of Belfast District (or the City Centre) as a Holiday Resort”, be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.  

            On a vote by show of hands, ten Members voted for the amendment and thirty-seven against and it was declared lost.

(The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Copeland, in the Chair.)

Requests for Funding

            At the request of Councillor Kyle, the Chief Executive undertook to submit to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and to the Shared City Partnership a report providing further information around funding, equality and other issues associated with the proposal by Féile an Phobail and Belfast South Community Resources to deliver a pilot diversionary programme in the South and West of the City. 

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th May were approved and adopted.

Moved by Alderman Sandford,

Seconded by Councillor Johnston and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 9th May be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor O’Donnell,

Seconded by Councillor Walsh and  

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 10th May be approved and adopted.

(The Lord Mayor, Councillor McAllister, in the Chair.)

Subject to the receipt of legal opinion, to adopt the minute of the meeting of 12th April, under the heading “Gasworks Northern Fringe Masterplan”, which was called-in.

            Prior to the following minute being proposed and seconded, the Chief Executive reminded the Council that, at the meeting of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee on 12th April, those Members who were also on the Planning Committee had, on the basis of advice which they had received from the City Solicitor around a related planning application, withdrawn from the meeting whilst the matter was under consideration.

            She confirmed that that advice applied also to this meeting and, accordingly, those Members of the Planning Committee who were present withdrew from the Council meeting until the matter had been concluded.

Moved by Councillor O’Donnell,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,  

      That the minute of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 12th April, under the heading “Gasworks Northern Fringe Masterplan”, be approved and adopted.

Request for the Matter to be Taken

Back for Further Consideration

            Councillor Hargey requested that the Chairperson agree to the minute being taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

            The Chairperson acceded to the request, however, it was declined by the Council.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

Seconded by Councillor O’Hara,

      That the decision of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 12th April, under the heading “Gasworks Northern Fringe Masterplan”, be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

              On a recorded vote, twenty-three Members voted for the amendment and fifteen against and it was declared carried.

Moved by Alderman Spence,

Seconded by Councillor Armitage and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 17th May, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Lyons,

Seconded by Councillor Armitage and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 16th May, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Proposed by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Heading,

“This Council supports the Right to Work: Right to Welfare (R2W) group’s ‘People’s Proposal’, aimed at introducing a simple but vital checklist for social security decision-makers.

The Council supports this aim and agrees to write to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Communities calling for the issuance of guidance to all decision-makers, requiring them to ensure that both due process and impact assessments are undertaken and fully complied with in the decision-making process."

(To be debated by the Council)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Heading proposed:

“This Council supports the Right to Work: Right to Welfare (R2W) group’s ‘People’s Proposal’, aimed at introducing a simple but vital checklist for social security decision-makers.

The Council supports this aim and agrees to write to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Communities calling for the issuance of guidance to all decision-makers, requiring them to ensure that both due process and impact assessments are undertaken and fully complied with in the decision-making process."

The motion was seconded by Councillor Lyons.

After discussion, the motion was put to the Council and passed.

Proposed by Councillor McAteer,

Seconded by Councillor Hargey,

“This Council calls upon the European Commission to agree a special designated status for the North of Ireland, following Brexit.

The Council agrees to write to the President of the Commission, to the Prime Minister, Teresa May, and to the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to press the case for special status.”

(To be debated by the Council)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor McAteer proposed:

“This Council calls upon the European Commission to agree a special designated status for the North of Ireland, following Brexit.

The Council agrees to write to the President of the Commission, to the Prime Minister, Teresa May, and to the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to press the case for special status.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Hargey.

            The proposer agreed, at the request of Councillor Lyons, to amend her motion to read as follows:

“This Council calls upon the European Commission to agree a special designated status for the North of Ireland, following Brexit. This special status should incorporate provisions included within the Good Friday Agreement, in particular Strand Two, and uphold the human rights and equality protections currently in place which are derived from our current membership of the European Union.

The Council agrees to write to the President of the Commission, to the Prime Minister, Teresa May, and to the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, seeking a meeting to press the case for special status.”

            On a recorded vote, twenty-seven Members voted for the motion, as amended, and nineteen against and it was declared carried.

Proposed by Councillor Nicholl,

Seconded by Councillor Campbell,

“This Council welcomes the publication of the Belfast Youth Forum's research report ‘Poverty: It's not a Choice -Young People's Views of Poverty in Belfast’, notes the recommendations of the report, commits to dispelling myths and stereotypes about poverty and pledges to do everything in our power to eradicate poverty in our City”.

(To be referred without discussion to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Nicholl proposed:

“This Council welcomes the publication of the Belfast Youth Forum's research report ‘Poverty: It's not a Choice -Young People's Views of Poverty in Belfast’, notes the recommendations of the report, commits to dispelling myths and stereotypes about poverty and pledges to do everything in our power to eradicate poverty in our City”.

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Campbell.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Garrett,

Seconded by Councillor McAteer,

“This Council recognises the positive role that has come about through the devolution of planning powers from the Assembly to local councils within the review of public administration.

Planning powers delivered through local councils offers open, accountable and democratic decision-making by councillors elected by the citizens of Belfast.

Devolved planning powers also offers a unique ability through major development proposals to exercise its power in attaining ‘Section 76 Legal Agreements,’ more commonly referred to as ‘Developers Contributions’.

The Council will seek to ensure that any contribution framework that it adopts has the ability to target social need far beyond the ‘City Core’ and benefit residents in each quarter of this City.  It will also look favourably on the creation of an accumulative contribution fund within this framework to bring about wider community benefit, target social need as well as fulfilling the legal obligations of Section 76 Planning Agreements, Developers Contributions.”

(To be referred without discussion to

the Planning Committee)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Garrett proposed:

“This Council recognises the positive role that has come about through the devolution of planning powers from the Assembly to local councils within the review of public administration.

Planning powers delivered through local councils offers open, accountable and democratic decision-making by councillors elected by the citizens of Belfast.

Devolved planning powers also offers a unique ability through major development proposals to exercise its power in attaining ‘Section 76 Legal Agreements,’ more commonly referred to as ‘Developers Contributions’.

The Council will seek to ensure that any contribution framework that it adopts has the ability to target social need far beyond the ‘City Core’ and benefit residents in each quarter of this City.  It will also look favourably on the creation of an accumulative contribution fund within this framework to bring about wider community benefit, target social need as well as fulfilling the legal obligations of Section 76 Planning Agreements, Developers Contributions.”

            The motion was seconded by Councillor McAteer.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Planning Committee.

Proposed by Councillor McVeigh,

Seconded by Councillor Reynolds,

"This Council recognises the huge contribution which the Fire Service has made to the life of the City and the safety of its citizens.  This year sees the 100th anniversary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), a Trade Union that represents the rank and file of our brave fire fighters.

In recognition of that milestone, the Council agrees to erect a suitable monument within the City Hall, its grounds or another suitable public space.  The Council will enter into discussions with the FBU about the type and design of an appropriate monument”.

(To be referred without discussion to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor McVeigh proposed:

"This Council recognises the huge contribution which the Fire Service has made to the life of the City and the safety of its citizens.  This year sees the 100th anniversary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), a Trade Union that represents the rank and file of our brave fire fighters.

In recognition of that milestone, the Council agrees to erect a suitable monument within the City Hall, its grounds or another suitable public space.  The Council will enter into discussions with the FBU about the type and design of an appropriate monument”.

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Reynolds.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

Proposed by Councillor Reynolds,

Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

"This Council agrees to become an official sponsor of 'Shrouds of the Somme', a unique art installation intended to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, and to explore the possibilities of workshops with the artist and of an installation/partial installation in Belfast."

(To be referred without discussion to the

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Reynolds proposed:

"This Council agrees to become an official sponsor of 'Shrouds of the Somme', a unique art installation intended to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War and to explore the possibilities of workshops with the artist and of an installation/partial installation in Belfast."

            The motion was seconded by Councillor Hutchinson.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.