Minutes:
The Chief Executive provided the Council with an update on the latest actions and plans which the Council’s Emergency Planning teams had been involved in. She also advised the Members that business continuity planning was in place for each of the Council’s critical services.
She advised the Council that, in response to the decisions taken at its meeting on Friday, 13th March:
· the City Hall was closed to the public, with the exception of registering births, deaths or marriages, or for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies which had already been booked;
· all other functions or events in the City Hall would be cancelled until further notice;
· Malone House and Belfast Castle would be closed to the public, apart from those functions which had already been booked at those venues;
· The Tropical Ravine, the Palm House and Belfast Zoo were closed to the public until further notice; and
· Pitches and pavilions would be closed until further notice.
She explained that the Special Council meeting had been called by the Lord Mayor to discuss a proposal calling on all Leisure Centres across the City to close, as well as to discuss any other issues relating to the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak.
Moved by Councillor Beattie
Seconded by Councillor Murphy
This Council, in light of the Coronavirus outbreak, calls on Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to close all of its Leisure Centres in Belfast immediately.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Matt Collins,
Seconded by Councillor Ferguson,
In the interest of public health, and to protect staff and the public, this Council will temporarily close major services to the public, including leisure centres, and events centres like the Ulster Hall and the ICC Belfast. We urge management organisations such as GLL and other organisations to continue to pay staff in line with the Council’s approach. Community Centres will also shut, but can remain in use for exceptional or unnecessary meetings and to help the vulnerable where needed. All workers who can be redeployed or can work from home will be facilitated. Parks and Cemeteries will remain open, but playgrounds will shut. Necessary services, such as recycling centres and cleansing will remain open. The Council also calls on bars to shut over the St. Patrick’s Day period. While this shutdown occurs, Council management and elected representatives will work with the relevant Stormont departments to develop a relief system for workers and the self-employed throughout this crisis.
Councillor Beattie accepted the amendment.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Long,
Seconded by Councillor Dorrian
In light of the developing coronavirus situation, and in line with current scientific evidence, the Council agrees to request that GLL implements a phased closure of leisure centres with an initial reduction in hours at every centre in line with the policy of social distancing and using a risk mitigation plan.
We recognise that there is likely to be phased closure of further venues where social distancing will not be practical.
We also give the authority to the Chief Executive, in discussion with Party Leaders, to seek closure of all Leisure Centres once the scientific guidance from the Chief Medical Officer advocates this.
We encourage citizens to act sensibly and take sensible precautions and we would encourage pubs to close on St Patrick’s Day and follow their industry advice in order to help promote social distancing.
Adjournment
The Council agreed to adjourn for a period of time to allow the Members time to watch the announcement from the Prime Minister and to give consideration to the proposals.
(The Council stood adjourned from 5.00p.m. until 6.15p.m.)
Given the announcement from the Prime Minster, Councillor Beattie withdrew his earlier proposal.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Beattie
Seconded by Councillor Matt Collins,
In light of the developing Corona virus situation, and the most recent statements from the Government, the Council agrees the following:
· To call on the ICC and Ulster Hall Ltd. to close to the public forthwith with appropriate protection provided to staff;
· To call on GLL to close Belfast Leisure Centres with appropriate protections provided to staff;
· To close community centres to the public but enable them to be used for community support purposes as appropriate;
· To close St. George’s market to the public;
· To retain critical services with priority given to:
o Waste Collection and disposal and household recycling centres
o Births, Deaths and Marriages registration
o Burials and cremations – limiting the number of people in the Chapel and at the grave side to 30
· That Parks would remain open but that playgrounds which could be closed would be closed; and
· To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in respect of other venues and staff measures including working from home in discussion with Party Group Leaders.
In light of the updated advice from the Government, Councillor Long withdrew his earlier amendment.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Kyle
Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,
That the 8th bullet point be amended to read
“Burials and cremations – limiting the number of people in the Chapel to 30 and to encourage social distancing at the graveside.”
Councillor Beattie accepted the amendment.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Kyle,
Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,
That, given the important of Playparks for the health and wellbeing of children, the Council agrees not to close Playparks at this time.
On a vote by show of hands, twenty one Members voted for the amendment and twenty eight against and it was declared lost.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor O’Hara,
Seconded by Councillor Flynn,
The Council agrees to write to the executive seeking urgent clarity on a package of proposals which will support the most vulnerable in society and those who have or are at risk of losing their jobs; and
The Council calls on all people to stay away from the Holylands area over St. Patrick’s Day, following the guidance from government on social distancing. Our health service & first responders do not have the capacity to deal with any gatherings or Anti-Social Behaviour at this time.
Councillor Beattie accepted the amendment.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Matt Collins
Seconded by Councillor Ferguson
This Council calls on bars and clubs across the City to be more responsible and not to open on St. Patrick’s Day.
Councillor Beattie accepted the amendment.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Flynn
Seconded by Councillor O’Hara
This Council calls on GLL to freeze memberships for zero charge, for as long as the closures continue.
Councillor Beattie accepted the amendment.
Accordingly, the motion, as amended, was put to the Council in the following form and agreed:
“In light of the developing Corona virus situation, and the most recent statements from the Government, the Council agrees the following:
· To call on the ICC and Ulster Hall Ltd. to close to the public forthwith with appropriate protection provided to staff;
· To call on GLL to close Belfast Leisure Centres with appropriate protections provided to staff;
· To close community centres to the public but enable them to be used for community support purposes as appropriate;
· To close St. George’s market to the public;
· To retain critical services with priority given to:
o Waste Collection and disposal and household recycling centres
o Births, Deaths and Marriages registration
o Burials and cremations – limiting the number of people in the Chapel to 30 and that social distancing would be encouraged at the graveside.
· That Parks would remain open but that playgrounds which could be closed would be closed;
· To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in respect of other venues and staff measures including working from home in discussion with Party Group Leaders;
· To write to the executive seeking urgent clarity on a package of proposals which will support the most vulnerable in society and those who have or are at risk of losing their jobs; and
· The Council calls on all people to stay away from the Holylands area over St. Patrick’s Day, following the guidance from government on social distancing. Our health service & first responders do not have the capacity to deal with any gatherings or Anti-Social Behaviour at this time.
· This Council calls on bars and clubs across the City to be more responsible and not to open on St. Patrick’s Day.
· This Council calls on GLL to freeze memberships for the Belfast Leisure Centres, at no charge, for as long as the closures continue.