Agenda item

            The City Solicitor submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1            The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the progress of all motions for which it is responsible.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

 

·        note the updates on all motions for which it is responsible; and

 

·        agree to the closure of 30 motions and Issues Raised in Advance, as outlined in paragraph 3.8 below.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Background

 

3.1       Members will recall that the first update on motions was presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in March 2021.

 

3.2       This report provides an overview of the progress on those motions and Issues Raised in Advance which remained open following the March 2021 update and new motions which have been approved by the Committee since March 2021.

 

            Motion Updates

 

3.3       There are currently 95 active motions and Issues Raised in Advance for which the Committee is responsible.

 

            Closure of Motions and Issues Raised in Advance

 

3.4       At the SP and R Committee meeting on 20th November, it was agreed that motions could be closed for one of two reasons:

 

·        Category 1

·        Motions which contained an action that has been completed and recommend they are closed.

 

All motions within this category contained a specific task that has since been complete.  It is worth noting that, when Committee agree to action a motion, there are sometimes additional actions agreed alongside the motion.  As these are not technically part of the motion, they are taken forward through normal committee decision making processes.  The motion can, therefore, be closed, but additional actions related to it will continue to be progressed and reported to the committee.  These additional actions are not contained in this report but will be noted in the live database moving forward.

 

·        Category 2

 

Motions which have become Council policy and recommend they are closed. 

 

These motions did not contain a specific task that could be complete.  Instead, they were more strategic in nature and required changes in Council policy and/ or strategy for long term outcomes.  Those listed within this category have all been agreed by Committee and are now either Council policy or are currently being implemented through a Council strategy that is managed by a Standing Committee through the corporate planning process. 

 

3.5       Following an update of those motions and Issues Raised in Advance on the live database, it is recommended that Members approve the following Motions/Issues for closure.

 

            Category 1 Recommended Closures:

 

·        No Grey Zone Campaign (Reference Number 10) 

 

PCSP procured a ‘Talking about Consent’ project and advised that this project would include the PSNI’s ‘No Grey Zone’ messaging. Work is ongoing by PCSP regarding talking about consent and the aspect regarding premises could be taken forward once our premises are being used fully post COVID-19. Lead Officer has advised once final meeting has been convened we will report back via PCSPs.  The motion can be closed and work taken forward via PCSP partners.

·        Support for People with a Gambling Addiction (Reference Number 53)

 

Letter sent.  No responses received.

 

·        Needle Exchange Facility (Reference Number 100). 

 

PHA presented to the People and Communities Committee in June 2021 - this and related issues will be picked up in routine briefings on public health issues to Committee on a six-monthly basis. It is recommended that this motion is now closed.

 

·        Addressing Hate and Intolerance across all our communities (Reference Number 101)

 

·         Correspondence sent to TEO in November 20 regarding flexibility in funding and consideration of extension to the hate crime categories. Response reported to Shared City Partnership (SCP)/ SP&R Committee in March 21 – S75 is a matter reserved for Westminster and groups included in the hate crime categories can apply for GR funding if meeting T:BUC priorities.  A number of projects are being considered through SCP and PCSP regarding Hate Crime, however, a number of projects have been funded through the Community Recovery Fund to reduce isolation among groups which are included in the hate crime legislation.

 

·        Review of Housing Fitness Standards (Reference Number 103) 

 

Response from Minister for Communities noted by S P and R 23/10/20

 

·        Free car parking for health workers, patients and visitors (Reference Number 104)

 

Responses from Minister of Health and Minister for Infrastructure noted by SP and R 23/10/20

 

·        Climate Change Act (Reference Number 105)

 

 Response from DAERA Minister noted by the SP and R Committee 20/11/20.  Climate legislation now in development and BCC will input when appropriate

 

 

 

·        Moratorium on Licences for Fracking and Exploration of Fossil Fuels (Reference Number 111)

 

Responses from Minister for the Economy and Minister for Infrastructure noted by SP and R 20/11/20

 

·        Funding for the Arts and Creative Industries (Reference Number 112)

 

Response from Minister for Communities noted by SP and R 20/11/20

 

·        Job Retention Scheme (Reference Number 113) 

 

Job Retention Scheme was extended beyond October 31st

 

·        Implementation of Care Partner arrangements in Nursing and Care Homes (Reference Number 128)

 

Response from Minister of Health noted by SP and R 22/1/21

 

·        Access to Maternity Wards for Birthing Partners (Reference Number 129) 

 

Response from Minister of Health noted by SP and R 18/12/20

 

·        Clean Air Strategy (Reference Number 132) 

 

Response from DAERA Minister noted by SP and R 18/12/20

 

·        Invitation to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris (Reference Number 134) 

 

Letters issued

 

·        Disability Strategy (Reference Number 142)

 

No specific actions for the Council to take forward

 

·        Procurement - Employment Academy Framework (Reference Number 144) 

 

Report noted by SP and R in January 2021.  A 6-month review of impacts has been programmed in and will be reported to Committee to enable any adjustments to future plans

 

·        Health and Social Care Workers: Thank You Payment (Reference Number 147)

 

Response from Minister of Health noted by S P and R 19/3/21

 

·        Takeover of Private Healthcare (Reference Number 158)

 

Response noted by S P and R 19/3/21

 

Proposed Bank of Ireland Closures (Reference Number 166)

 

Letter sent 22/4/21 – Response noted by S P and R 21/5/21

 

·        Support for Sign Languages Act and Addition of Sign Languages to School Curricula (Reference Number 170)

 

Letter sent 22/4/21 - Response noted by S P and R 21/5/21

 

·        Equality for LGBTQI+ Community (Reference Number 173)

 

Letter sent 17/05/21 - Response noted by SP and R June 21

 

·        Immediate need to tackle the waiting lists for Diagnosing Autism in Children (Reference Number 174)

 

Amended letter sent 17/05/21 - Response noted by SP and R June 21

 

·        Charges for use of ATMs (Reference Number 175)

 

Letter sent 17/05/21 - Response noted by SP and R

August 21

 

·        Motion - Ban Conversion Therapy (Reference Number 177)

 

Letter sent 17/05/21 - Response noted by SP and R June 21

 

·        Private Members Bill to provide Safe Access Zones (Reference Number 183) 

 

No specific actions required from Council in motion

 

·        The Employment Rights (NI) Order 1996 (Reference Number 184)

 

No specific actions required from Council in motion

 

·        Request to the Irish Government and the UK (Reference Number 185) 

 

Letters sent 2/7/21

 

·        Ballymurphy Massacre (Reference Number 186)

 

No specific actions required from Council in motion

 

·        End Child Poverty (Reference Number 188) 

 

No specific actions required from Council in motion

 

·        Transfer of Regeneration Powers to Local Authorities (Reference Number 191)

 

Letters sent 22/7/2021 -   Joint Response from DfC noted by S P and R 20/8/21

 

3.6       Additional information in relation to these motions and Issues Raised in Advance are attached.

 

3.7       Financial and Resource Implications

 

            There are no additional financial implications required to implement these recommendations.

 

3.8       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

            There are no equality, good relations or rural needs implications contained in this report.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.