Agenda item

            Pursuant to the decision of the Council of 1st April, the Committee reconsidered the minute of the meeting of 13th March under the above-mentioned heading, a copy of which is set out hereunder:

      “The Director reported that a request had been received from the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council seeking financial support to assist in the costs associated with sending the Northern Ireland team to the 20th Commonwealth Games, which would be held in Glasgow in July and August. He pointed out that over seventy countries would be participating in 2014 and reminded Members of the significant achievements of Belfast competitors at previous Games. 

      The Director reminded the Committee that the Council had, in 2002, 2006 and 2010, agreed to provide financial assistance to the Commonwealth Games Council to offset the costs associated with bringing the team to the Games. Such expenditure had been authorised under the specialised expenditure powers as set out within Section 37 of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee agree to make a contribution of £5,000 to the Commonwealth games Council.

      Accordingly, it was

      Resolved – That the aforementioned expenditure in respect of the Council’s contribution to the Commonwealth Games Council be approved under Section 37 of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, it being the opinion of the Council that the expenditure would be in the interest of, and would bring direct benefit to, the District and the inhabitants of the District, with the Committee being satisfied that the direct benefit so accruing would be commensurate with the payment to be made.”

            The Chairman reported that Messrs. S. Tosh and C. Heatley, representing the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, were in attendance and with the permission of the Committee they were admitted to the meeting.

            Mr. Heatley stated that the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council would, subject to the securing of adequate funding, be sending a record 114 athletes to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He provided an overview of the costs associated with the preparation, travel and accommodation for the team. He reminded the Committee that local athletes had excelled at recent Games, particularly in 2010 at Delhi. He pointed out that a majority of local competitors who had been awarded medals had been from Belfast.  He requested that the Committee reconsider the amount of funding which it had endorsed at its meeting on 13th March. The deputation then left the meeting.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Alderman Rodgers,

            Seconded by Councillor Hanna and

Resolved – that the Committee agrees to rescind its decision of 13th March and agrees further that the Director re-examines the Department’s budgets for 2014/2015 to identify a sum of £15,000 to be allocated to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council; and agrees that such expenditure be authorised under Section 37 of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, it being the opinion of the Committee that the expenditure would be in the interest of and would bring direct benefit to the District and the inhabitants of the District, with the Committee being satisfied that the direct benefit so accruing would be commensurate with the payment to be made.