Minutes:
The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services provided the Committee with an update on the Bloomfield Walkway bonfire, including discussions which had taken place on the previous day with representatives of the Department for Infrastructure, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The Chief Executive reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 5th July, it had agreed that she should write to the Executive Office and to the Northern Ireland Office to raise concerns around the invidious position being faced by councils in dealing with bonfire issues. The Committee had agreed also that the Department for Infrastructure should be advised of its decision to support the contingency arrangements which it was putting in place around the Bloomfield Walkway bonfire, by making the Council’s contractor available and contributing to the costs of any works, as had been requested, and that it should be advised also of its responsibilities as the landowner and occupier.
She reported that a response had been received from the Northern Ireland Office, which had confirmed that the Secretary of State had no decision-making powers in relation to bonfires and that they were the responsibility of the locally devolved administration and statutory agencies, including councils. The response had confirmed also that decisions relating to the protection of property and life rested with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. She tabled for the Committee’s consideration a draft response which she was proposing to forward to the Northern Ireland Office, which had highlighted, amongst other things, the need for decisions to be taken at a Governmental level, the Committee’s concerns around the Bloomfield Walkway bonfire and the need for a strategic approach to be adopted for bonfires and related issues, to be led by the Northern Ireland Office and involving all relevant stakeholders.
The Chief Executive reported further that the Executive Office had indicated that, in the absence of a functioning administration, it was unable to address the issue of bonfires in the short-term and that the Department for Infrastructure had confirmed that it was still fully committed to protecting life and property around the Bloomfield Walkway bonfire.
With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor Boyle raised a number of concerns on behalf of local residents in the Bloomfield Walkway area.
After a lengthy discussion, it was
Moved by Councillor Attwood,
Seconded by Councillor Long,
That the Committee agrees that the letter of response, as tabled by the Chief Executive, be forwarded to the Northern Ireland Office.
On a vote by show of hands, nine Members voting for the proposal and six against, and it was declared carried.
The Committee agreed further:
i. to continue to support the contingency arrangements being put in
place by the Department for Infrastructure around the Bloomfield
Walkway bonfire; and
ii. that a special meeting of the Committee be held at 2.00 p.m. on
Monday, 9th July to receive an update on this site.
The Committee noted that the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services would be putting in place contingency arrangements to protect staff over the coming days, should the need arise.
Call-in
The Committee agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 47 (2) (c), that the decisions would not be subject to call-in, on the basis that an unreasonable delay could be prejudicial to the Council’s or the public’s interest.