Policy and Resources Committee 16 September 2005
From Nigov
B171
Policy and Resources Committee
Friday, 16th September, 2005
SPECIAL MEETING OF POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor A. Maskey (Chairman); the High Sheriff (Councillor D. Browne); and Councillors Cobain, D. Dodds, Maginness, McCausland, Moore, Newton, O’Reilly, Rodgers, Rodway and Smyth.
Also attended: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Austin, Campbell, N. Dodds, Hanna, Humphrey, P. Maskey, Mullaghan, O’Neill, Patterson and Stoker.
In attendance:
- Mr. P. McNaney, Chief Executive;
- Mr. G. Millar, Director of Improvement;
- Mr. C. Quigley, Director of Legal Services; and
- Mr. J. Hanna, Senior Committee Administrator.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Hartley, Lavery and McCann.
Review of Public Administration – Further Consultation
The Committee considered a report, copies of which had previously been circulated, in relation to the Council’s proposed final response to the Review of Public Administration. A copy of the report, with the exception of appendix 1 referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
During discussion, the following comments were made:
- that the Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping would not, at this time, be supportive of new planning powers for District Councils; and
- there is a requirement to strike a balance between decisions which should be taken at a local and regional level as there are areas of public administration where it is inappropriate to administer at District Council level for reasons of efficiency and effectiveness
After discussion, the Committee agreed:
(a) to endorse the proposed draft response as set out in appendix 2 and the Executive Summary as set out in appendix 3, subject to the inclusion of the foregoing comments; and
(b) that the Political Groupings inform individually the process in relation to the preferred number of Councils under the new administrative arrangements but Belfast City Council would make the argument that, no matter which option was chosen, it should ensure that Belfast’s position as the core economic driver should not be prejudiced and that consideration should be given also in the review as to how Councils in the Belfast Metropolitan Region could work together to best collaborative advantage to ensure the region was successful in economic, social and environmental terms.
Chairman
