Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To consider a Notice of Motion on the establishment of a Brexit Standing Committee which, in accordance with Standing Orders, was referred to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 5th March.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to consider the motion and to take such action thereon as may be determined.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

3.1.1    At the meeting of the Council on 5thMarch, the following motion was proposed by Councillor Canavan and seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown:

            ‘The referendum result to leave the European Union presents unprecedented political, social and economic challenges for our city, for the North of Ireland and indeed the entire island.

            Belfast, as a city, as demonstrated in motions adopted by this Council, supported remaining within the EU whilst also supporting the provision of special status for the North and remaining in the ‘single market’.

            As one of the world’s one-hundred resilient cities, with economic resilience being a key focus, it is imperative that we understand the full implications that Brexit could bring.

            To enable this, the Council will immediately establish a formal Brexit Standing Committee, made up of Elected Members, with appropriate officer support, to undertake all necessary work required to bring forward a report with recommendations to explore the impact of Brexit on Belfast and its citizens.’

3.1.2    In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred to the Committee for consideration.

3.1.3    The establishment of Committees in a Traditional Committee-Style Governance system is dealt with in Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.  The Council has previously agreed that the quota greatest remainder system will be used for the purpose of identifying the Party(s) entitled to nominate Members to a Standing Committee.

3.1.4    The Council already has 6 Standing Committees.  All of those Committees have a membership of 20, with the exception of the Planning and Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committees, which have a membership of 14.

3.1.5    The Committee is requested to consider the motion.  If it agrees to adopt the motion, then the Committee is requested to indicate how any Members should be appointed to the Committee.  For information, the following political breakdown would apply to a Committee with a membership of 14 or 20:

            14 Members

            SF – 4

            DUP – 3

            ALL – 2

            SDLP – 2

            UUP – 2

            PUP – 1

            20 Members

            SF - 7

            DUP – 5

            ALL – 3

            SDLP – 2

            UUP – 2

            PUP – 1

3.1.6    If the motion is supported, then a further report will be presented to Committee covering the following issues:

1.     The allocation of positions of responsibility for the Committee

2.     The re-allocation of the Special Responsibility Allowances to accommodate a new Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

3.     The revision of Standing Orders to accommodate the establishment of a new Standing Committee

4.     The revision of the Scheme of Delegation (if necessary) to accommodate the new Committee

5.     The remit for the Committee

3.2       Financial & Resource Implications

3.2.1    There will be increased costs on an ongoing basis in relation to the support for an additional Standing Committee but it is considered hat such costs can be met from within established budgets.

3.3       Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.3.1    None associated with this report.”

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by Councillor Carson,

      That the Committee agrees to the establishment of a Brexit Committee, consisting of 20 elected Members, and that a report be submitted on the remit for the Committee and those other issues as set out in paragraph 3.1.6 of the report.

            On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the proposal and seven against and it was declared carried.